|
|
Post by gooda on Apr 9, 2004 12:57:36 GMT -8
my gerbils seem to get frightened very easily. sometimes when i will walk close to their terrarium, they will run extremely fast and hide in the nearest available hiding place. is this because they are not very tame? i would think untame gerbils would bite, but neither of mine have done that. once my male gerbil nibbled a little to hard, but i know it wasn't out of defense or anger. i've tried the food in your hand technique, and it has been somewhat successful with my male, but my female will not accept food from my hand. i've only had them for about three months, and after about two months my female gerbil gave birth to nine pups. so, could it be that they are just protective of their pups? i'm very confused about all of this. i know from having hamsters that it can take a little while for them to be so tame to you and your hand, that it's like they don;t even care that your hand is is the cage with them. i guess what i'm trying to say, is it normal for gerbils to be a little skiddish at first, or are they just nervous because they have pups in their enclosure with them. does anybody know anything about this?  |
|
|
|
Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 10, 2004 1:55:41 GMT -8
It is normal for gerbils to be somewhat skiddidh at first! Especially when you have purchased your gerbils where they were not able to tame the gerbil for you. That she has pups may also be a very little reason, however because I think they were never very tame, the real reason is that they are just not tame yet!  When I come near the tanks of my gerbils, they come immediatelly to the window and want to be fed or out! And when I place my hand in their tank they will come and snif my hand! Also when I let them walk around freedly in my living room, they come to me and I can easily pick them up for return to their tank. So you see that they can be tame, however they won't sit still on your hand palm so that you can pet them, they are too lively for that! What I normally do it taking the gerbils out of the tank and place them on my couch where I'm sitting or laying on! (somewhere else is of course also possible) There I handle them and let them walk around and on me, so that they can get used to me! Be aware that they won't jump of the couch, but usually they are affraid to do that in the beginning (not always)! And feeding them in the cage and on the coach helps also. I hope this helped you a bit! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by gooda on Apr 10, 2004 19:09:10 GMT -8
thank you very much, peter. i appreciate your advice and help. i will try what you have told me. thanks again
|
|
