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Post by gerbilwigglebeen on Jun 14, 2009 16:24:39 GMT -8
[glow=red,2,300][/glow] Hey everyone, I have two gerbils, got them in December. They are nice, but they sometimes bite if I let them climb into my hand when there are no treats in my hand. I have heard about softly blowing on gerbils when they bite, but it is not going well. They don't like me more for doing that. They are quite nice, just his one problem. Any ideas on how to get them friendly with humans? Please help i seriously need help with this.Here is an example of a situation: Earlier in the day, i put sunflower seeds in my hand and they climb on my hand and are perfectly nice. Later, I put my hand in the cage the same way as I did when there were seeds, only with NO seeds, and they inspected my hand and then bit me. I blew on them like I was supposed to, then they bit me again. This has happened many times and it is bothering me. Luckilythey don't bite hard.
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Post by fiona on Jun 14, 2009 16:30:37 GMT -8
I'm new to the world of gerbils too so I probably can't help too much.
I read a lot of information about taming. I think the best tip is so put your hand in the cage but just doing little jobs like moving bedding or re-arranging the furniture so that they see your hand as a non-threat. Try putting seeds into your hands regularly though, I've heard that after a while they get accustomed to you.
My baby gerbils (I only had them three days) are okay *fingers crossed*.
One -Tilly- nibbles at my hand but only in a "Are you food?" kind of way LOL. I have blown a small puff of air on her face and it seems to be working because she doesn't nip much at all now...
The other - Morgan- never nibbles but sniffs me a lot.
Don't forget that gerbils "nipping" is just them being inquisitive or finding out about you. Only if it's a "nasty" bite then it's not so good...
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Post by maxduo on Jun 14, 2009 22:30:23 GMT -8
They're gonna nibble and taste you for a while possibly. I had one who stopped after I puffed on him 3 or 4 times and another that kept it up for days.
Make sure when you handle them, you wash your hands beforehand. If they smell food on you, they will be getting a little taste test haha.
Really just watch them and if they bite you maybe puff at them or just say: "NO," sternly. It'll take a small amount of time.
Also though they are going to be uneasy with you for a day or two after you get them, and I figure any agitation can also make it last a bit longer. So just keep your cool with them and be gentle, if they are biting hard let them have a little time to just see and hear you out of the cage some to maybe get more used to you. And like Fiona says, mine seem to not care when I just rearrange my tank. Flash tends to follow my hand around and watch still.
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Post by gerbilwigglebeen on Jun 15, 2009 6:50:09 GMT -8
Thanks. Mine don't really care if I re-arrange the tank, its only when I let them climb into my hand with no treats. Any other advice would be great!!
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Post by maxduo on Jun 15, 2009 11:36:10 GMT -8
In that case the only advice I really have is to wash your hands really well before hand....  Hopefully they'll grow out of it soon. |
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Hopefully they'll grow out of it soon.