Amoret,
<< Thanks for all the responses to newbie. Tell me if this is correct please.
It sounds like most of you don't handle your gerbils much at all. Which
sounds like they are primarily for viewing.>>
That's not necessarily true. I handle my gerbils daily! I find it
something to look forward to after a boring day at school (;. I guess since
i'm so used to handling them, I don't find them skittish at all. In fact,
you can trane your gerbil to stay on your shoulder as you walk around your
house (:. Most gerbils that are handled a lot from birth enjoy being out of
their cage, and will even try jumping out as soon as they see their owner!
<< And you all love your gerbils so much you have this wonderful list!
Many of you have suggested I look into getting a guinea pig if I want
something to handle. I'll look into it, But I don't think I want something
that big if I did those chinchillas really look so much cuter! (but my
husband wants a small rodent, either a hampster or a gerbil) His neice has
had 3 hampsters and loved them all. She said she handled her hampster a lot
and all three died of old age. She said they lived about 3 years. She said
she liked the hampster better because she had friends with gerbils and they
were too skiterish.>>
Yep, guinea pigs are sweet. I used to own one, but he recently died.
It's strange how many of them have the same life span as gerbils! At least I
think this is true.. ours seemed to have been a little sick and he died
around the age of four. Anyone know the life expectancy of a guinea pig? I
had a hamster that lived for almost five years once. Hamsters are more easy
to handle, but I've had problems with biting in the past. And when hamsters
bite, they mean it. Of course this doesn't mean all hamsters are not
friendly, I just prefer gerbils because of their over-all sweater personality.
<< Do any of you know about hampsters? There isn't nearly as much info on
them as there is on gerbils. Which makes me think, are the gerbils better??
There is no hampster list and very few personal hampster pages. And I'm at a
loss for researching hampsters on the internet and I have no idea where to
find any breeders of hampsters. >>
Sorry, can't help you out there. The only thing I can tell you is that I
know someone did a post a while back about how a survey said that gerbils
have become more popular than hamsters in the last 2 years. It's really up
to you what you decide on getting. I bet there is a lot more information on
gerbils than hamsters, which can be better for finding out more about your
pet. Either way, it all comes down to what you want.
<< What is it you like best about your gerbils? >>
Hmm.. that's a toughie.. I would have to say their personality is what I
like best. Each one of my gerbil's have different characters, and I find it
amusing.
<< I'v found a breeder who has four males and two females, who lives only
just
over an hour away from me. I'd definately get two if I get gerbils. probably
stay safe and get two males, although many of you have had great luck with
females.
again thanks so much
Cordially,
Amoret >>
That's true. Two females will do just as well as two males. It's only
when there's a third gerbil involved that can cause problems. Many three
female tank set-ups have failed, ending in wounds or sometimes death, but two
along should live happy together for their entire lives!
//////////////////------------\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
| Kaitlynn Klug |
| Proud Member of AGS |
| Owner of The Mushroom Clan |
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\------------//////////////////
