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biting
Jan 20, 2005 11:59:26 GMT -8
Post by xxmariexx on Jan 20, 2005 11:59:26 GMT -8
I've only had my gerbil for about 3 days.She's let me handle here,until today and she bit me,but it didn't hurt she didn't bare down her teeth.I've probably been handling her too much.I handle her probably a dozen times a day maybe I should lay off and let her get use to me?She is rather tame,except she seem that she's doesn't always want to be handled.She's 5 weeks old we are guessing by her size..She's half the size of a average sizes gerbil..
I kind of upset me because my last gerbil always let me hold her and never bit once,so this is a first for me.Strangely I feel unliked by the gerbil.She eats from my hands,and comes up to the cage when I'm near it.
btw shes my avatar I believe she's a lilac.
any suggestions?
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biting
Jan 21, 2005 1:49:56 GMT -8
Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jan 21, 2005 1:49:56 GMT -8
Gerbils tend to put their teeth in everything including our fingers They do this to 'taste'. As you said they did not bite hard. If she does it often you could softly blow in her face when she does it. Let her know you don't like it. I can imagine that you get scared when it happens for the first time! But believe me....when a gerbil really want to bite you, your finger will bleed badly! I can tell you this from experience.
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biting
Jan 21, 2005 2:35:12 GMT -8
Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 21, 2005 2:35:12 GMT -8
Peter is exactly right of course. Your gerbil isn't being nasty, otherwise it would have hurt real bad...like Peter I know form experience. Does she live alone? How old is she? Keep handling her BUT do respect her privacy (gerbils need time to sleep etc). talk to her a lot, that helps her get to know you give it time, relationships, even with gerbils, take a while to build. and of course each gerbil has its own personality, hse cannot be the same as your previous gerbil, anymore than you can be the same as your neighbour.
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biting
Jan 21, 2005 12:48:37 GMT -8
Post by sweetie on Jan 21, 2005 12:48:37 GMT -8
I remember the first time I got a BITE. I was crushed. It took me a while to figure out why she did that. She had never bit me before so why start now. I was not even handling her. I was refilling her dish.
After I looked at the situation, I figured it out. I smelled like one of the other gerbils from a different tank. I failed to wash my hands before entering her domain. She was protecting her territory from the intruder.
Gerbils nibble and bite for many reasons. If you smell different for example food or another animal. They nibble if they are stressed or don't want to be bothered. They bite when defending thier territory.
I sense that you are shaken by the experience. Do not take it personally. Wash your hands prior to interacting with her. Handle her only a few times a day, continue to give her treats and talk to her. She will be able to sense your hesitation/fear so try to be calm yourself when you approach and handle her.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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