Post by kelshay on Jun 17, 2014 4:43:21 GMT -8
Hi, not posted in a while, since our 4 boys declanned. They now have separate tanks, each pair have a 30" tank with lots of toys etc and have been much happier since being separated. Much easier to handle and no squabbles going on anymore.
When we were out a couple of weeks ago, we noticed a lone female gerbil who had been in the adoption section for a year. We talked with the staff and apparently she had been taken ill as a youngster when first delivered to the shop, so was singled out for treatment. After she was well she was so territorial and aggressive she would attack any other gerbils she was in with so she remained alone, and she then would launch and bite hands when they are in her space. She remained in the adoption section for 10 months in a tiny cage with bare minimal handling from what we can tell. So we decided to bring her home and give her more space and toys to enjoy. The lady who got her out and into the box wasn't exactly gentle with her, and plucked her out and dropped her into the box quickly saying shes been bitten by her before and didnt want to risk it again. Her adoption form for reason for being there simply said 'personality'. The sales woman seemed a bit confused as to why we would want to take her on, but was more than happy they didnt have to deal with her anymore by the looks of it.
She is living in a 30" tank now, toys to play in/on and chew. She has a strange habit of when we put our hands in the cage she jumps at them, so far (touch wood) she hasnt bitten anyone, she just kind of runs, jumps, kicks and hides in a tube again. I go into her tank daily, gently move stuff around, and then give her a treat for behaving. She seems to be realising that we arent there to roughly grab at her and drop her into a box while being cleaned out then shoved back in again. I gently lift her out, hold her for a few seconds (building up time slowly) and put her back in with a treat afterwards. Lots of talking to her too. She is in our living room so people around most of the time. She has gotten a bit better over the past few weeks, and will now gently take a treat from fingers without launching around her tank.
Do you think she will ever get over her apparent anger/distrust of anything moving in her tank?
It seems such a shame she had a bad and boring first year of life, but hopefully she will calm down soon.
When we were out a couple of weeks ago, we noticed a lone female gerbil who had been in the adoption section for a year. We talked with the staff and apparently she had been taken ill as a youngster when first delivered to the shop, so was singled out for treatment. After she was well she was so territorial and aggressive she would attack any other gerbils she was in with so she remained alone, and she then would launch and bite hands when they are in her space. She remained in the adoption section for 10 months in a tiny cage with bare minimal handling from what we can tell. So we decided to bring her home and give her more space and toys to enjoy. The lady who got her out and into the box wasn't exactly gentle with her, and plucked her out and dropped her into the box quickly saying shes been bitten by her before and didnt want to risk it again. Her adoption form for reason for being there simply said 'personality'. The sales woman seemed a bit confused as to why we would want to take her on, but was more than happy they didnt have to deal with her anymore by the looks of it.
She is living in a 30" tank now, toys to play in/on and chew. She has a strange habit of when we put our hands in the cage she jumps at them, so far (touch wood) she hasnt bitten anyone, she just kind of runs, jumps, kicks and hides in a tube again. I go into her tank daily, gently move stuff around, and then give her a treat for behaving. She seems to be realising that we arent there to roughly grab at her and drop her into a box while being cleaned out then shoved back in again. I gently lift her out, hold her for a few seconds (building up time slowly) and put her back in with a treat afterwards. Lots of talking to her too. She is in our living room so people around most of the time. She has gotten a bit better over the past few weeks, and will now gently take a treat from fingers without launching around her tank.
Do you think she will ever get over her apparent anger/distrust of anything moving in her tank?
It seems such a shame she had a bad and boring first year of life, but hopefully she will calm down soon.
RIP Martha gerbil x
