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Post by mosin9130 on Aug 26, 2015 4:43:01 GMT -8
Hi, I want to pick out my first gerbil, I work at a pet store and yesterday I asked the pet care assistant to open the tank to see witch one of three was the most docile, there all females one just ran away or avoided my hand in the tank, I set my hand in there tank in and L shape manner to see who would climb on to of them came and started nibbleing on my fingers I kept my hand very still becues it tickled at first but then a white red eyed one started biting harder and harder until she drew blood from my thumb so I withdrew my hand from the tank slowly, I tried it a second time with the same results . I did wash my hands with hand sanitizer about 20 min. before trying to introduce my self to them. I understand that it might take some time for her to get use to me. I will try three more females that are in another tank and see how it goes but any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by betty on Aug 26, 2015 4:56:43 GMT -8
Gerbils live in pairs of groups called 'clans', and to make sure everyone stays happy they all have different characters within that clan to make sure there aren't any personality clashes. They are usually very wary of new things and smells as they are prey species - so them running away is perfectly normal gerbil behaviour and then for the next step - they come to investigate.
One will usually be more bold and the other quieter and will wait their turn at things. Obviously this is a very loose description and there are differences within that.
So if you buy a pair or all 3 of those girls (seeing as they are already together and we don't want to leave one poor female on her own) you could take them home and start working on befriending them in their own time. I am sure they will make great pets as virtually all gerbils do.
Good luck.
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Post by t1gg3er on Aug 26, 2015 5:40:38 GMT -8
It might also help if you rub your hands in their bedding so you don't smell completely alien to them. And don't assume the 'biter' is aggressive - she probably just isn't used to human interaction.
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Post by Shooting Star on Aug 26, 2015 7:29:55 GMT -8
Considering you're planning to breed, keep looking until you find one that will come explore your hand without biting, even if they run away initially.
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Post by betty on Aug 26, 2015 8:12:47 GMT -8
Ah sorry - didn't realise you were planning to breed with her. In that case - yes, make sure you pick the most confident one, the one who has the most character...
Are there no breeders round your way so you can get a bit of history on your female (which can help plan and help identify pup colours) - or do you know who supplies your pet store?
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Post by mosin9130 on Aug 26, 2015 8:58:25 GMT -8
Well I was trying to get my feet wet with one or more, I'm very interested in one cute white red eyed female she's the one that bit the heck out of me but I did not budge. there was one that just avoided me. They didn't bite aggressively it was like if they thought my fingers where food or a treat. these females are in tanks to be sold no one plays with them or touch's them except to be fed that's the most human interaction they get. and when customers come take a peak at them. There's another set of three females in another tank I'll check them out tonight and see how they react with me.
t1gg3er, that's a good idea roll my hands in there bedding good one, I wash my hands with the bathroom soap but it also has a scent of flowers and stuff. mabe the soap scent is something they don't like?
thank you for the replys
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Post by mosin9130 on Aug 27, 2015 5:00:38 GMT -8
t1gg3er thank's I tried the method you suggested and it made séance to me to rub my hands in there bedding, I slowly put my hand in the tank rub it in some of there bedding they approached my hand took a nibble on my thumb and pretty soon all three came over climb in my hand ran over it jump in it they even tried to climb up my arm.
Betty breeders where I live? I really don't think so. I do know of a girl or two that may have gerbils single sex's that I guess would be it, I wouldn't say they know about gerbils but I belive I know a bit more than they do, I'm really doing my homework on this one, I don't trust everything I read about gerbils but if it make séance I just might give it a try and see whet happens. Next pay period I plan on getting the male and the stuff he need's to start off with.
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