>me. OK, here goes: 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!
I keep three different kinds of hamsters, gerbils, and three rats and
a mouse.
Gerbils aren't into biting. They may nibble a little, like 'let's taste
this, hm?' and that's about it. It doesn't hurt. If a gerbil bites, it
was startled severely, abused when younger, or has not been
really tamed AND has pups in the cage.
As far as the being nervous, don't be. Get young gerbils, check
out and see if anyone in your area has some young ones that
are ready to go to new homes; (6-8 weeks old) and handle
them a few times under the watchful eye of the keeper first,
before taking your new gerbils home.
Hamsters are more prone to biting, especially dwarf campbells.
With gerbils I'm fairly fearless, as they have not been the fang-ers
the hamsters are....and hamsters are pretty good if well tamed
and a few specific things are watched for (wait until they're awake
and moving before trying to pick them up, don't pick up a female
a few days before delivery; beware if they have babies because
they will defend the babies, etc).
If it really bothers you, wear thin gloves when you first get your
gerbils, that way if one would nip the glove would take most to
all of it. Don't be afraid of gerbils. They are not nippy, especially
if you get them young and lavish lots of time and attention on
them...they get super tame and very curious and you'll have one
riding on your shoulder as you walk about the house in no time!
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
