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Post by elsaandanna on Oct 1, 2021 23:42:44 GMT -8
Elsa is usually very soppy and cuddly, she comes out and just sits purring on my hand, but recently she has started nipping, first on fingers and earlier she bit my nose as I was taking her home. What is happening and what should I do?
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Post by Markpd on Oct 2, 2021 1:56:06 GMT -8
How did she manage to get close to your nose??
As for nipping the hand, they usually do that to show that they want to get off your hand, (for whatever reason). Btw, you mention 'taking her home', how long is she in your hands and what transport are you using?
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Post by elsaandanna on Oct 2, 2021 2:15:12 GMT -8
How did she manage to get close to your nose?? As for nipping the hand, they usually do that to show that they want to get off your hand, (for whatever reason). Btw, you mention 'taking her home', how long is she in your hands and what transport are you using? I was leaning close with the door open to give her a treat, she's in my hands for about a minute, and I just let her jump on as it's in the same room so it's not very far to go
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Post by barryozzy on Oct 2, 2021 7:35:17 GMT -8
Are you washing your hands before you pick her up? Or are you using a different soap? Maybe she thinks you have a treat, or can smell something on you.
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Post by elsaandanna on Oct 2, 2021 8:43:01 GMT -8
I am using a different soap, maybe that's why
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Post by Markpd on Oct 2, 2021 16:45:20 GMT -8
How did she manage to get close to your nose?? As for nipping the hand, they usually do that to show that they want to get off your hand, (for whatever reason). Btw, you mention 'taking her home', how long is she in your hands and what transport are you using? I was leaning close with the door open to give her a treat, she's in my hands for about a minute, and I just let her jump on as it's in the same room so it's not very far to go Oh I see, sorry I thought you meant you were transferring her long distances, when you said 'taking her home', I thought you meant taking her back to your home (so an outdoor journey) and not back to her home!
And yea I think Barryozzy is on the money with his suggestion.
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Post by elsaandanna on Oct 3, 2021 0:46:21 GMT -8
Yeah. I got her out earlier for a short time, and it went well with no nipping, so it's probably just getting used to the new scent of the soap
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Post by tanzanyte on Oct 12, 2021 13:32:08 GMT -8
I hope it is the soap and that's solved that. Your nose may have just been testing as generally we have soap, or creams or sun lotion on our faces and so they smell different. Our boys sniff at our faces when they are on our shoulders and I think my daughter said that Pepsi did gently nibble at her ear once.
We have a very cuddle affectionate boy and he has very recently starting nibbling us if we stop stroking him. It may be something to watch for as with our previous gerbils nibbling has always been the sign for take me home, I've had enough. However Max isn't like this and will happily sit being stroked for 5-10minutes. I now keep stroking and he's stopped doing it so it may be something to watch out for if you do find the nibbling creeps back in.
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Post by Markpd on Oct 16, 2021 7:49:09 GMT -8
That's amazing tanzanyte! You're very lucky with Max
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Post by tanzanyte on Oct 21, 2021 7:43:23 GMT -8
We are very, very lucky with Max. Thankfully he took over from Vanilla as my daughters support gerbil and he does an amazing job. I usually get some cuddles when she has him out. Whereas Pepsi is happy on my shoulder and that's about it. The girls are a nightmare though. They panic big time when they are held and Little My will occasionally nibble. Funny how they are so different even when you treat them all the same.
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