How should one pick up and handle a gerbil?

The easiest way to pickup a gerbil is to place your hand over the gerbil's back and encircle his body with your
thumb and forefinger. While holding the gerbil, one should stroke the head and back. The animal should be
calm before any attempt is made to pick it up. One should be careful not to squeeze the animal too tightly,
because it will struggle to escape. Many times, a gerbil will nibble on a handler's finger, not to inflict a bite, but
to let the handler know it has been held long enough and wants down. After a gerbil has become accustomed
to being handled, it will normally climb right into the owner's hand.
A gerbil should never be picked up the tail because the skin can tear and pull loose, exposing the tailbone.
The exposed portion of the tail will normally die and fall off.