>>Why is it such a bad idea to put food in your hand? That way they get
used to sit on your hand.<<
I don't think it is a bad idea to put food in your hand. I think it is
just a bad idea to always have food in your hand. The gerbil will likely
associate the hand with food. If there is nothing in it, it may decide to
try eating the hand. Having food in your hand sometimes, and not having
food in your hand other times works fairly well. We have always given
treats from our hands. When we put a hand in the aquarium, the boys
generally check it out pretty thoroughly, just in case. But only Sam
consistently tries to nibble our fingers when our hands are empty. We
often put our hands in to pet them a little or to see if any of them want
to climb up our arms. It is really cute to have a gerbil reach up with its
front paws to grab a hand above its head, pull it down, and give it a
through inspection and/or climb into it and on up the arm. 8-)
Elaine Lynch
Bilbo, Frodo and Sam
AGS member
