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> From: g. m. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: escaped and captured
> Date: 20 June 2000 23:21
>
> Catching hamsters is a LOT easier!
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Gerbils stay near their tank and will return, Hamsters will keep on
> wandering and end up far away.
>
> --
It depends how tame your gerbils are. The ones you handle the most are
much less likely to run away when you try to catch them. Also older
gerbils (18 months onwards) are less adventurous.
I have a little trick that usually works but only if your gerbils are tame
and you are expert at handling them.
What you do is get the escapee's partner and hold him/her by the base of
the tail on the floor near to where the escapee is lurking. The escapee
will smell his/her friend and come right up to him/her. Wait a minute or
so until the pair are engossed at trying to smell each other's scent gland.
You then grab the escapee with your free hand. Grabbing by the base of the
tail is usually more effective than round the tummy BUT it is also risky as
you can pull off the tip of the tail if you grab it in the wrong place.
Sue
