At 09:25 PM 6/23/01, you wrote:
>Hi Michelle,
>
>I was wondering if you could elaborate on the bathtub
>technique? Do you reward the gerbil with say, a
>sunflower seed when it comes to you? How long would
>you do this? 10-15 minutes?
It's less to reward them than to get the gerbil to see you as a natural,
and not frightening, part of his environment. It works with birds,
too. But once he starts feeling comfortable, put the sunflower seeds in
your hand, on your pants leg, etc to get him to eat there. That'll help
the process. Seed on the bottom of the tub helps, too.
>Would it hurt to try this with a fairly tame gerbil?
>By hurt, I mean frighten them.. set back the taming..
>etc.
Should be a fun field trip.
Michelle
Flutist
--
Yal-di ha-tov veh ha-rach, Al ti-ra veh al tif-chad
My son, I have nothing I can give
But this chance that you may live
I pray we'll meet again, If He will deliver us --FX
