Super Cute gerbil squeaking when being petted

via YouTube Capture

[devinhemmings]

The gerbil looks like a nicely toasted marshmallow 🥺🥺🥺
Update: THE OTHER ONE LOOKS LIKE A TOASTED MARSHMALLOW TOO 🥺🥺🥺 (but not as toasty)

[Little_Sprite]

I love it when gerbil squeak. It's so cute, and perfectly normal for a happy, healthy gerbil.

[gerbily]

He isn't hurting the gerbil, and the gerbil looks at healthy as ever! He looks like he enjoys it!

[XionVanitasShi]

When I pet my gerbil, Zero he squeaks. Then after a few he almost falls asleep from me rubbing his sides and his head. He's about 5-6 months old so he's still a baby. I got him from a friend when he was 3 months old

[iamfemkkiamNakira]

aw this is cute
normally when a gerbil squeaks it doesn't like whatever is going on
but since she/he is not running or trying to get away its probably a sign of affection.

[Bird-Seed]

Gerbils make a high pitched squeak - but mainly as youngsters. Adults usually vocalize only when playing, excited or stressed. 

This gerbil is clearly not in any stress, it's eyes are relaxed and it continues to stay were it is and eat. They squeak often while being groomed, so this gerbil may think you're grooming it, and wants you to let it eat. 

Gerbils spin away from other creatures whilst eating to keep the other creature from taking it's food. Fun fact- a gerbil will only spin one way ever. A gerbil that spins right will never spin left while eating. 

I have had 8 gerds in my life and one of them is now 6 years old, so I have a bit of experiance. 

[loriw]

That's the cutest thing! Squeaking starts at 0:42

[imadoinwat]

THAT’S IT! That’s the noise that my gerbils keep making whenever they snuggle up to each other!

[isafuchs]

Those saying the gerbil is distressed/hurt never owned one before... If it didn't want to be touched it would run, not stay and let it's owner pet it!

this looks like a really happy and healthy gerbil ♡

[MarshTheDarsh]

What beautiful markings these gerbils have! I just got 2 and had forgotten what brilliant little pets they are

[africkinamerican]

awwww
Don't listen to the hysterical trolls below, the gerb clearly liked it
Fun fact: gerbs are ALWAYS talking, but you will only hear them if you are close and you have very good high-frequency hearing (which many people lose as they age).

[gracio]

Woah!! I wasn’t expectin it to squeak that high you have beautiful gerbils

[null]

I don't want gerbils...





I need them

[tripjet]

If it "squeaks, " maybe you should oil it?

[fordguy]

Nope. That gerbil is NOT happy about being touched like that. Two of mine do that when touched or picked up a certain way with the same frozen, hunched position. This is because touching or grasping their sides is VERY similar to being caught by a predator and contrary to popular belief, the first instinct isn't to run or bite but scrunch up and squeak loudly. This makes them harder to pick up and the squeak could startle a predator enough that it drops the gerbil and leaves it alone. Scrunching up and freezing when touched also keeps the predator's chase/kill instinct from being triggered. If you CORNER a terrified gerbil THEN it absolutely will bite.
Rodents in general don't like being grasped or touched around their torso and haunches. My mice (domestic and Egyptian Spiny) also behave this way, though the spiny mice would squeak then bite. Yeah, the sound is cute and the gerbil isn't in any danger or being hurt, but it still doesn't like what is happening. Single or two finger petting on top of the head and back is usually fine as the gerbil isn't being "surrounded" by potentially deadly grabby appendages.

[Rich_]

After researching for 3 hours, basing on my own experience, and on the look of the gerb in the video, I can tell that they're enjoying that.

Even though squeaks may mean fear or pain, it's not the case now. We can see the gerb chilling out right there, it's almost asleep. If it were scared- or in pain, it wouldn't look so calm. If your gerb does this, while looking copletelly relaxed, it's because they are enjoying your rubs


It all is based on tastes, though; many gerbs don't like to be touched at all, they will get away, try to bite, etc.
But other gerbs, in the other hand, love getting some rubs, and they're not afraid to show it. This squeak is how they show their liking and affection

[nachoreyes]

I have 6 Gerbil's🐁🐭🐁🐀🐹🐰 they are all my love my kids.💋💋. My babies they are small... But a huge ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[jehobden]

Gerbils are my favorite rodents. I grew up w/ gerbils & occasional hamsters & mice. Back then all gerbils had the same brown color until black gerbils showed up in the late 1970s, My school from 8th grade sent away for some black gerbils, and they were adorable.

[themusicalgerbil]

And then at the end, the other one took the food. Sneaky devil.

[elfplushie]

So cute! I'm getting two gerbils soon. Yours seem like they love it when you pet them like that!