Post by vexorg on Apr 1, 2015 0:59:13 GMT -8
I've often wondered what makes gerbils different. We've never had two the same, in general they used to be very timid and scared when first bought. We have had some recently unlike any others.
One of our current lot were a set of 4 from the same litter, bought at about 8 weeks (-ish). From the first day they were very bold, putting your hand in the cage brought them all out and running over your hand, even happily sitting on your hand.
Out of the four, one is a total explorer wants to climb and run and go anywhere. If you put your hand in the cage, he'll jump on to it and out the cage, or on to you hand then run up your arm to sit on your shoulder. Point your finger at him and he'll climb along it to your arm. If he thinks the cage is being opened then he waits and will push past as it opens. He doesn't like being held, only because he's out the cage and wants to run.
The next is also an explorer and climber, but more thoughtful. Rather than blindly running and jumping places, he seems to look and decide where he wants to go. He's content being held, will sit watching the world, if you hold up some card then he immediately starts chewing it, put your hand in from of his nose and he does the head bashing thing to move you out the way.
The third brother is much more aloof or appears to ignore people. Does his own thing without appearing to acknowledge you are there. He's also always been very sneaky/smart with treats, he'll take and many as he can carry and run off with them. The others all sit and eat them one at a time. Doesn't like being held, he normally tries to hide in your hand by putting his head down.
The last is very different. He will come to your hand in the cage, will never come out the cage, at most he stands on his tip toes looking out. When he is out then he kind of flops in your hand, ears normally down flat, arms and legs at weird positions. Often his back legs stick straight out, and front paws can be in any position sticking out. When walking out the cage he is totally flat and crawls everywhere. Although he acts like that, he always appears content when out, not stressed at all.
All four have always been together (until very recently) and treated the the same. What causes these very different personalities and traits?
Is it genetic, or learned behaviour, or some oner factor?
We've had others where no amount of training or taming will make them content to come in your hand in the cage.
One of our current lot were a set of 4 from the same litter, bought at about 8 weeks (-ish). From the first day they were very bold, putting your hand in the cage brought them all out and running over your hand, even happily sitting on your hand.
Out of the four, one is a total explorer wants to climb and run and go anywhere. If you put your hand in the cage, he'll jump on to it and out the cage, or on to you hand then run up your arm to sit on your shoulder. Point your finger at him and he'll climb along it to your arm. If he thinks the cage is being opened then he waits and will push past as it opens. He doesn't like being held, only because he's out the cage and wants to run.
The next is also an explorer and climber, but more thoughtful. Rather than blindly running and jumping places, he seems to look and decide where he wants to go. He's content being held, will sit watching the world, if you hold up some card then he immediately starts chewing it, put your hand in from of his nose and he does the head bashing thing to move you out the way.
The third brother is much more aloof or appears to ignore people. Does his own thing without appearing to acknowledge you are there. He's also always been very sneaky/smart with treats, he'll take and many as he can carry and run off with them. The others all sit and eat them one at a time. Doesn't like being held, he normally tries to hide in your hand by putting his head down.
The last is very different. He will come to your hand in the cage, will never come out the cage, at most he stands on his tip toes looking out. When he is out then he kind of flops in your hand, ears normally down flat, arms and legs at weird positions. Often his back legs stick straight out, and front paws can be in any position sticking out. When walking out the cage he is totally flat and crawls everywhere. Although he acts like that, he always appears content when out, not stressed at all.
All four have always been together (until very recently) and treated the the same. What causes these very different personalities and traits?
Is it genetic, or learned behaviour, or some oner factor?
We've had others where no amount of training or taming will make them content to come in your hand in the cage.
