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Post by paws on Sept 23, 2004 8:25:18 GMT -8
Ive don it a few times, and I feel really bad when I do it. I only do it to get them out of thin cracks of the sofa, so they dont get hurt, or to get them out of the cage (every now and again)
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Sept 24, 2004 2:43:56 GMT -8
I do it sometimes! When you pick them up at the base of their tale there is in my opinion no problem. It doesn't hurt! However, most of the times I will pick them up at their body. But NEVER pick them up at the middle or end of their tail, because than their tail can be lost!
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Post by blackie on Sept 26, 2004 6:45:15 GMT -8
I never pick up my gerbils by the tail, because I know it is wrong and they would hate it. I agree with Paws, that if it's an emergency situation, lets say the gerbil was about to fall down from a table or something, it would be better to grab it by the tail then to let it fall and get hurt. (However, a fall of less than one meter does not have to be dangerous if the gerbil lands on its feet) I've read that you can pick a gerbil up by gently holding on to the base of the tail and supporting its body with your hand. Actually the easiest thing is to just train your gerbils to get used to being handled and to hold them in both hands. To lift a gerbil or rat by the tail is like lifting a baby by an arm or a foot! Not very comfortable at all.
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Post by paws on Dec 16, 2004 14:06:00 GMT -8
These horrible little kids picked Phoenix up by his tail a couple of days ago (other ones not he ones that hurt paws and Sterling) ^by the last hairs of his tail and swwubg him about! I almost murdered them, inside my head, but I kept my temper, and told the dad why not to let his keds do it, but poor baby phoenix was terrified still.
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Post by amie on Dec 27, 2004 3:57:13 GMT -8
who were the kids? how old were they? those meanies
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Post by gracie on Dec 27, 2004 5:18:24 GMT -8
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Post by bettybob on Dec 30, 2004 8:17:23 GMT -8
when i bought tibbon the pet store guy picked him up by his tail
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Post by gracie on Dec 30, 2004 11:07:12 GMT -8
thats so mean? was he suppose to pick him up by his tail?
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Post by j on Dec 31, 2004 2:10:54 GMT -8
when i bought tibbon the pet store guy picked him up by his tail That's the safest and easiest way to handle petshop gerbils though. Petshop gerbils are the most skittish and aggressive. They bite and kick and most likely will end up flying out of their hands. Most petshop people have no idea how to handle gerbils anyway and they couldn't care less. It's just the easiest way to get them and plop them in a box. ;D It's dead skin and it doesn't hurt them anyway.. Their tails aren't like a dog or cat's tail where they actually feel pain or anything. If it hurt them, they'd squeak, bite and/or kick.
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 31, 2004 4:24:03 GMT -8
Let's clarify this Gerbils as a rule should not be picked up by the tail. IF it is necessary it should be at the BASE of the tail where it meets the body and IMMEDIATELY put a hand under to support them. NEVER EVER pick them up by the tuft or the niddle of their tail.
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Post by paws on Jan 2, 2005 15:49:48 GMT -8
Yesterday I thought paws was dead, so I tugged at the end of the tail to wake him up. He's OK though.
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Post by sandy on Jan 2, 2005 20:46:40 GMT -8
I should think that petshop people should be the first ones to be careful about picking up gerbils by the tail and possibly injuring them, because then that gerbil becomes damaged and not as easy to sell. Although I very seldom do it, if I have no other way to catch a gerbil I'll get the tail but very gingerly. I've never had a tail break yet.
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Post by RitzieAnn on Feb 7, 2005 16:33:38 GMT -8
Sometimes the tail is the only thing you can grab. As gerbil owners, we all know that sometimes they climb down cracks in couches or bed, or are about to fall off of something, and the only thing you can do is pinch their tail. I don't like to do it, but sometimes you have to. When it's the only thing I can grab, I just pinch it, not pick them up by it. If you just grab it (as far up as possible) then it give you a few seconds to grab them the RIGHT way!
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Post by lizzy on Feb 9, 2005 15:43:45 GMT -8
Sometimes by the base of the tail if you're very experienced, but I think this should only be done if the gerbil is very skittish and aggressive, or for a health check issue or something. When I had male gerbils a few years ago, I let my friend handle one. Big mistake. Next thing he only had half a tail and didn't even apologise. i was not pleased. (shes not my friend now )
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Post by mafff on Feb 10, 2005 4:54:05 GMT -8
I never done it and never will be even by the base of the tale!
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