They're really warming up to you. I know my pet rat took a while to to realize I was actually his friend haha. But once he did he was such a great pet.
Bradley, would you consider do some conditional training for your little gerbils? Having some animal training experience, may I suggest that you remove the food bowl (at least temporarily) so they do not have access to bradley buffet all day long. Dont worry, they wont die from starvation. Then at least 2x/day, you make a big O gong sound or some kind of flash/bang rackus. Then immediately you put your hand in there with the food. They will learn to link that food is rewarded only after sudden major stimulus. The inherent drive for food will make them learn very fast that they have to depend on you. Now their live is too content that they do not care about you and only allow a bit of tolerance for you. You might want to change it so they want to seek you for their own well being and refuge, not just an allowance. #askstuffandthings #stuffandthings #sundaystuffandthings #gerbils
Sounds like you have it figured out, but I'll repeat the comment I put in one of your other videos in case viewers also need a bit of help. I have tamed many gerbils, including ones that were aggressive and prone to biting. It does take time to tame them. I offer treats and then work up to putting a treat on the back of my hand (not the palm of my hand). By that time, they will usually lean up and touch me. From there, I will rest my hand palm down in the cage until they start running over it. One big thing--a tank without a topper does mean that you're reaching DOWN into the cage which is seen as predatory. I recently bought a Savic XL Gerbil Habitat and had it shipped from Belgium to the U.S. It has a cage with long shelf on top of a deep tank. This allows my gerbil to dig, dig, dig AND come up when she feels safe and interact with me. One of the 2 that I have now actually de-clanned from a sister and there was traumatic violence, so I'm going slow with her. It's totally worth it to work with gerbils. I've also found that gerbils from a retail store like Petsmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus never work with their pocket pets AND they take them away from their mother too soon which can lead to anxiety and biting. Best to find a good breeder (we have one in Yorkville, IL and many in Ohio) that won't breed aggressive pets and never sells them too young. The American Gerbil Society online does list official breeders. If anyone finds that they just can't get the results they want, I recommend finding an animal rescue that specializes in pocket pets, not the regular humane society which won't take care of them well. In my area, Fur Angels Animal Sanctuary near Chicago does a fantastic job as does Exotic Animal Rescue and Pet Sanctuary (EARPS) in Indiana. Both have experienced gerbil owners who also volunteer who will work to socialize and tame a gerbil who is surrendered. Good luck! I'm glad you posted this video. I think it will help a lot of people. p.s. I was in Petco the other day getting supplies and a woman and her son were looking at gerbils. It was clear that she was an experienced owner as she was telling him the difference between a hamster and a gerbil and the little boy said, "They don't bite like hamsters do?" Clearly they'd had the experience of having hamsters and as far as I can tell, most of them bite. :)
They always get very tame when they are alone and less tame when they are with other gerbils. Obviously better to have them in pairs but just an observation from many years of Gerbil ownership.
They're really warming up to you. I know my pet rat took a while to to realize I was actually his friend haha. But once he did he was such a great pet.
Does he have another rat because they absolutely need one to emotionally be happy
Such a sweet little one. Thank You for sharing your fuzzy friends with us.
Bradley, would you consider do some conditional training for your little gerbils? Having some animal training experience, may I suggest that you remove the food bowl (at least temporarily) so they do not have access to bradley buffet all day long. Dont worry, they wont die from starvation. Then at least 2x/day, you make a big O gong sound or some kind of flash/bang rackus. Then immediately you put your hand in there with the food. They will learn to link that food is rewarded only after sudden major stimulus. The inherent drive for food will make them learn very fast that they have to depend on you. Now their live is too content that they do not care about you and only allow a bit of tolerance for you. You might want to change it so they want to seek you for their own well being and refuge, not just an allowance.
#askstuffandthings #stuffandthings #sundaystuffandthings #gerbils
Only a matter of time and they will be helping with the cement work
Awwwww . . . . I think the subtitle could be, "Where's your brother?" :-)
Hopefully you'll get to hold them someday. The process of taming reminds me of the book "H is for Hawk" which covers much about falconry
Sounds like you have it figured out, but I'll repeat the comment I put in one of your other videos in case viewers also need a bit of help. I have tamed many gerbils, including ones that were aggressive and prone to biting. It does take time to tame them. I offer treats and then work up to putting a treat on the back of my hand (not the palm of my hand). By that time, they will usually lean up and touch me. From there, I will rest my hand palm down in the cage until they start running over it. One big thing--a tank without a topper does mean that you're reaching DOWN into the cage which is seen as predatory. I recently bought a Savic XL Gerbil Habitat and had it shipped from Belgium to the U.S. It has a cage with long shelf on top of a deep tank. This allows my gerbil to dig, dig, dig AND come up when she feels safe and interact with me. One of the 2 that I have now actually de-clanned from a sister and there was traumatic violence, so I'm going slow with her. It's totally worth it to work with gerbils. I've also found that gerbils from a retail store like Petsmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus never work with their pocket pets AND they take them away from their mother too soon which can lead to anxiety and biting. Best to find a good breeder (we have one in Yorkville, IL and many in Ohio) that won't breed aggressive pets and never sells them too young. The American Gerbil Society online does list official breeders.
If anyone finds that they just can't get the results they want, I recommend finding an animal rescue that specializes in pocket pets, not the regular humane society which won't take care of them well. In my area, Fur Angels Animal Sanctuary near Chicago does a fantastic job as does Exotic Animal Rescue and Pet Sanctuary (EARPS) in Indiana. Both have experienced gerbil owners who also volunteer who will work to socialize and tame a gerbil who is surrendered. Good luck! I'm glad you posted this video. I think it will help a lot of people. p.s. I was in Petco the other day getting supplies and a woman and her son were looking at gerbils. It was clear that she was an experienced owner as she was telling him the difference between a hamster and a gerbil and the little boy said, "They don't bite like hamsters do?" Clearly they'd had the experience of having hamsters and as far as I can tell, most of them bite. :)
Alright someone's been watching Wes Anderson movies 🍿
Haha. Maybe. ;-)
Excellent progress! You're very patient and kind with your gerbils.
Niiiice! Progress! Well done bro!
Looks like your month of work and patience has paid some dividends. Well done. Bradley .... the Gerbil whisperer.
Amazing video! The production value was very Wes Anderson! Great job! Northern New Jersey loves you and Conan and Subotie!
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm glad that some people realize that I was consciously being weird. ;-)
Bradley of Bellingham's Gerbil Kingdom! 😁
Hope you and yours are doing well up there in light of the insane rains, cheers from dallas my friend
Thanks! We're good. Update coming this week.
You are an incredibly patient man.
Best editing hands down lol. Did you create the background music? It reminds me so much of Caribou!
Thanks! I just got the music from the UA-cam audio library.
I'm loving the Life Aquatic vibes.
Question: have you owned or used a dip pen? If not, is their a fountain pen nib that might get same results. Thank you. Great vid
They always get very tame when they are alone and less tame when they are with other gerbils. Obviously better to have them in pairs but just an observation from many years of Gerbil ownership.
Yes they get more tame when their alone, they're social animals that need companionship and if their alone there forced to be with you.
Bradley, they are coming along. Conan likes his vittles, a lot.
This is easily the wackiest channel on UA-cam
Have you tried speaking Mongolian with them?
Not yet...
Did you record this music yourself?
Nope! It's from the UA-cam song library,
Great!
👍👍👌
..this is just sad