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Mar 21, 2004 19:32:25 GMT -8
Post by aminalkrazy03 on Mar 21, 2004 19:32:25 GMT -8
HELP ME!!!! One of my gerbils has started the habit of biting me when ever he gets the chance to. If I even hold him for 5 seconds he chomp on me. If I feed them and he investigates, he chomps on me. I already tried the put your hand in the cage and let them get used to it crap but he just bit me when i did that. Is there anything I could try?
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Mar 22, 2004 1:03:58 GMT -8
Post by andrea on Mar 22, 2004 1:03:58 GMT -8
Have you got dry skin on your hands, ours do this because they are grooming us.. Also we found if you have anything tasty on your hands or have washed your hands in fruity soap..
We have found washing your hands in lemon or apple soap seems to put them off. Also they hate if your hands slighty wet or sweaty as this pulls the hair.
Is the gerbil biting hard or just nibling?.
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Mar 22, 2004 5:43:19 GMT -8
Post by Ritzie/Admin on Mar 22, 2004 5:43:19 GMT -8
Yes, sometimes they just nip, to see if it is tasty! ;D But I can imagine that it makes you sit up a bit! The tips from Anrea are also new for me, but I will certainly try it! And otherwise you can wear (leather) gloves during handling, just until he get used to be handled!
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Mar 22, 2004 6:13:44 GMT -8
Post by andrea on Mar 22, 2004 6:13:44 GMT -8
once we had a gerbil thats favourite treat was papaya bits.. well I made the mistake of buying papaya smelling soap from the body shop.. you can imagine what happened to my finger.. I am never going near a gerbil smelling of there favourite treat again!!..
She was absolutely fine after and I have never had problems with biting again, although our siamese male is a little naughty he sometimes has a nibble if he wants putting back in his tank.
Also we had to stop hand feeding sunflower seeds for this problem and waxworms are now given via a fork so they don't associate hands with treats!
Andrea
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Mar 22, 2004 17:39:50 GMT -8
Post by aminalkrazy03 on Mar 22, 2004 17:39:50 GMT -8
Well i don't use fruit soap and i don't have dry hands. So that kinda rules out that theory. Maybe he just got scared of me or something. But his roommate is a sweety. When he wants to bite me and i don't flinch, he really chomps on me. Once, the bite didn't stop bleeding for a couple minutes. I found out if i feed him a carrot while holding him, he won't bite. Only when he stops, he sometimes tries to nibble.
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Mar 23, 2004 4:50:19 GMT -8
Post by butsam on Mar 23, 2004 4:50:19 GMT -8
I had the same problem with one of them. Blow on their eyes gently when they do this, and tell them "No!". Eventually they will learn (after about a week or so). For the time being, make sure your fingernails are not visible, since they look like shells to the gerbils. (Keep your hand palm-up.) Try feeding them sunflower seeds from your palm, and other food from your palm. This will get them to realize your hand is a *good* thing, not a bad thing, and even though you would think that food in your hand would make you more likely to get bitten, actually the opposite is true--they will not bite you as much if you give them food from your hand as well as in your dish. Hand-feed 1-2 sunflower seeds a day per gerbil, and don't give them sunflower seeds in your bowl; they will love your hand after a short while Sam
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Mar 23, 2004 7:54:15 GMT -8
Post by Manix on Mar 23, 2004 7:54:15 GMT -8
Oh my Poor Cleo HATES being picked up or held. If I place my hand in the cage she lunges for it. When I manage to scoop her up (with a glove on) she lays her ears back and trembles. She scared of me and I nothing I do lessens her nerves. I tried making play time extra special for her by giving her sandbaths and treats but it simply annoys her.
I'm very careful when picking them up, I'm always let them have a moment to realize its me so I don't think I'm startling them.
My Male, Rin, is also nervous when I first pick him up, but never, ever does more than a harmless nip, and calms down after a moment. I've never had a gerbil be so edgy around me (and I've had several) and now I have two fraidy rats.
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Oct 22, 2004 7:48:50 GMT -8
Post by paws on Oct 22, 2004 7:48:50 GMT -8
If you sleep with a few tissues for one nite, then give it to them in the morning once or so a week, they will get used to your scent.
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Oct 22, 2004 8:10:34 GMT -8
Post by doomgerbiluk on Oct 22, 2004 8:10:34 GMT -8
interesting idea Paws
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Oct 22, 2004 8:49:47 GMT -8
Post by paws on Oct 22, 2004 8:49:47 GMT -8
I tried it with mine.... it really calmed them down and got them used to my scent. you could also do it while watching tv, reading a book or even posting on this forum ;D
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