Re: good gerbil/bad gerbil thing

[Heather Kowbel]

Our "mommy" Molly was like this! (we bought her and the father and their 5 one week old babies from the store due to the woman who owned the store was HORRIBLE to them) What I did was I waited a week (just to let them all calm down from the move and to make sure that we didn't spook them into killing the babies) These parents were never held in their lives (they are about 8 months now) So trying to tame them was just plain scary! At first all I did was take the top of the cage off, rub the woodchips on my hand, and then I put it palm down on the opposite side of the cage and I just waited! Then as they got more used to it I started putting my hand palm up (I personally didn't use treats till after they were used to my hand cause I was scared of getting nipped while they were grabbing the treats) After a while they all got used to my hand being in there (I would sit by the cage with my arm in the tank watching TV lol) The one thing I had to watch (and I learned this the hard way) Was not to go *anywhere* near the nest!! The one time that I did Molly, the lovely mother that she is, decided to come over and put her teeth *through* my fingernail and into my skin!!!! I just walked away from the cage (I guess I have a good pain tolerance lol) cleaned it out......and then went back and put my other hand in the cage, though this time it was on the opposite end of the cage! It has been about a month and her, Donte (the father) and all of the babies are hand trained (The babies more so then the parents) and the only time they don't come over to my hand and say Hi is when I have done something to upset them (such as now while my boyfriend and I are in the process of moving out of a place that doesn't allow gerbils... to his fathers place...and in a week to our new house! I just didn't give up on trying (Even though I wanted to at times) Eventually I will get her to the point that she will love to be picked up (its slowly getting there) But I spent hours (not at one time) sitting there by their cage every day (I did 15-30 minute stretches... small at first and fairly often to longer and less often) Hope this helps! Heather & Aaron Donte & Molly Foxy & Jaws Skittles & Hoppy   PS- Does anyone feel sad for days after giving/selling one of their baby gerbils? Dear List   Just needed to "share" with you all that Thumper -- my lovely little new "accidental" mommy gerbil... my little white darling that looks so sweet and innocent.... the little brat bit me AGAIN tonite after I got home from the dentist. %$$#@!  I don't know what is it with these gerbils but I will NOT be selling any of her 3 babies and we are putting a stop to anymore (but I'm sure she is pregnanat again right now, but I can't do anything about this). Her Mom is the one we returned to the pet store after giving her chance after chance after chance to "be nice". It really hurt my feelings mostly cuz I've been so nice to her and trying to gently pet her and let her know that I will not hurt her -- she was laying there all tired out from her pups and looking so sweet and I figured she didn't have it in her to jump up and bite my finger as I was only offering her a huge handful of sunflower seeds. She came a little close with her little face and I thought it was only to take a treat and then bam!!!! She bit me! And I screamed and jerked my hand from the cage -- poor Daddy Bambi was scrambling all over the place after I scared him from my screaming -- and when I drew my hand from her cage, she was still attached by her mouth to my finger. Whew! Once again, good thing I stocked up on bandaids. What is it with these gerbils do that? My husband thinks we should never give up "hope" that we can turn a "bad" gerbil into a "good gerbil" with enough love but.... I wonder. Anybody have any input in this good gerbil/bad gerbil thing?   Shelley at TPC Pandora & Blade (good guys) Gerbie (of the wild) and Jin (good gerbs) Thumper the evil and Bambi (a good guy)