Write an article based on this "Understand the temperament of gerbils. Prepare your gerbil's home. Get your gerbils. Allow the gerbils to settle into your home. Make a taming plan."

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Before you can tame a gerbil, it's important to learn about their temperament. While they are loving animals, they can also be shy and aggressive if they are scared. Understanding your gerbil can help you successfully tame it. Gerbils are naturally shy but are social, inquisitive, and can bond well with their human family. They don't like to be left alone or isolated. Gerbils are very curious and active. If you have more than one gerbil, they will likely play with each other all day. Gerbils are very territorial and you'll want to be careful introducing a new gerbil to your home or an already existing gerbil community. Gerbils rarely bite and only may exhibit this kind of aggression if they are scared. Unlike other rodents such as rats, mice, or hamsters, gerbils don't produce the same bad odors. Purchase a cage that will fit your gerbil or gerbils before you obtain the animals. Having their "home" prepared and inviting will help you tame them more effectively. Place their cage in an area of the house with medium traffic so that you don't startle your gerbil with too much activity. Gerbils are curious and like to watch and be part of the action. They also need to get used to the fact that humans make noise and motion. Fill the gerbil cage with bedding such as corn cob, hay, or shredded cardboard. You can use alfalfa grass as a filler with any of these bedding options. Gerbils eat a mix of rodent pellets, seeds, fruits and vegetables, and insects. Keep a variety of food for them in the cage. Make sure you also put a water bottle in the cage so that your gerbil doesn't get dehydrated. However, gerbils originated as a desert dwelling creature, so don't expect to see your gerbil drinking a lot. Purchase accessories for the cage that will allow your gerbils to chew, hide, and indulge their curiosity. Gerbils are clean animals and you'll need to keep your gerbil's cage clean to keep him happy and healthy. Buy a pair of young gerbils. If you buy one gerbil it will be more work, in particular since there is less entertainment, so consider getting two. The younger the gerbil is, the more success you are likely to have taming your gerbils. Don't get a gerbil under 5 weeks of age to help ensure that they've had enough time with their mother and are healthy. Buy your gerbils from a reputable breeder if possible. This can also help ensure that your gerbil is healthy and doesn't have any deformities from inbreeding. Check to make sure your gerbil choices are healthy. The coat should be fully and glossy, the eyes bright and shiny, the nose clean, and the teeth straight. If you notice any problems, ask the breeder or decide on another gerbil that appears healthier. Moving a gerbil into a new space from another home is traumatic for the animal. Although your instinct may be to take them out and play, allow them some time to recuperate and settle into their new surroundings. This may help you tame them more effectively as well. Your gerbil may need a few hours to a few days in their new home for a few days before you start trying to handle them. Otherwise, they'll be too stressed to tame. Develop a plan that you can follow consistently since it requires time and patience to tame your gerbil. Making a plan will give you a chance to consider your gerbil's personality and different factors that may affect the process, such as if your gerbil is older or a baby. Keep the training fun for your gerbil and you. Even something as simple as running on your lap can be fun for a gerbil. When developing your training plan, make sure to keep your gerbil's personality in mind. Some gerbil's will naturally jump onto your arm while others may take time to get used to you. Since training is something you need to do regularly and over time, set short- and long-term goals. You can develop your plan by setting daily, weekly, and monthly intentions or goals for your gerbil. For example, you could have the goal one week of getting your gerbil to jump into your hands without smelling you first. Make a plan over the course of the week to expose your gerbil to your scent and your personality. Remember to keep the exposure short and consider giving your gerbil a treat to warm him up.. It's important that you can commit time over a longer period to taming your gerbil. Gerbil taming doesn't happen overnight and requires consistency.