Handling Duprasi

Duprasi are generally very docile in nature, especially the males, and make an excellent first pet for someone who is interested in more exotic species but hasn't got the experience or confidence to deal with the faster rodents. Since Fat-tailed gerbils don't have complicated dietary requirements, are slow moving and unlikely to bite, they may also make a good alternative for a child who wants something slightly more unusual than a hamster.

Fat-tailed gerbils do have a keen sense of smell so if you have recently handled other pets or food, you may want to wash your hands before picking them up. Unless woken from a deep sleep, Duprasi are very unlikely to bite and are quite content to sit on your hand unlike their more active cousins, the Mongolian Gerbils. Fat-tailed Gerbils can be cage-defensive and it's best not to wake them up abruptly or disturb their nest, especially during the day when they are less active.

To pick a Duprasi up you can either place your hand palm up and wait for them to come to you, or you can gently scoop it up from its sides using both hands. You may also want to place a toilet roll or similar in and simply pick this up once your Duprasi has climbed inside.

An agitated Duprasi may vibrate in your hand, and one way to soothe them is to gently turn upside and stroke their tummy. This may calm them down and could even soothe them to sleep!