Gerbil behavior

Question
Hi! I have a little 1 year old gerbil. He started out real friendly and played with my brothers gerbils and my older gerbil and liked people, but when my older gerbil died he started being real skittish and afraid. Now I can't even pick him up. PLease help!

Ellie

Answer
Hello Ellie,
I don't think there is that much that can be done except for trying to socialize and play with him more. Without his friend he is going to be more timid and shy because he doesn't have a friend to coax his full personality out. The best thing to do is to spend more time with him as he is so used to being with a companion he needs to know that you aren't going to hurt him.