From: "ANDREA SPIEGLE" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I've been thinking a lot lately of getting gerbils
> again, I remember them as being wonderful little critters. I have a
> slight problem though, when I was a kid I also had several not-so-nice
> hamsters and was bitten a few too many times. Now I sort of have a
> left-over childhood fear, I guess you could call it, of being bitten. I
> know gerbils are usually very friendly and not quick to bite, but I was
> wondering if anyone had any tips to help me get over this ridiculous
> nervousness. Thanks from the newbie!
>
Welcome.
The consensus seems to be that hamsters bite more frequently than gerbils
do, especially when the hamsters think they are protecting their pups.
Gerbils will nibble your fingers to taste, but without breaking the skin
or hurting. They will bite when surprised or if you happen to hold them
in an uncomfortable way. I've had just one chomp and that was because I
thoughtlessly reached into a trap to retrieve a gerbil. A mom once warned
me away from her pups but she was gentle about it.
You might ask a pet store if you can wash your hands and put them in among
gerbils, just to see what happens. Special note -- when bringing your
hand to a gerbil, approach from his front. A hand high and behind the
gerbil makes it react instinctively as if the hand is a flying hawk.
You can read GML Archives and do a search on words "bite" and "biting".
Here are three important web addresses that would be good to bookmark or
save in Favorites:
GML Archive
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html#03864
GML FAQ
http://io.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html
NGS Index
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/
good luck --
... Bill
Save the GGMLEs!
