I wonder if this is an inherited thing. Since she's so grouchy, I would
not try to pet her as I think they have an instinctive fear of things
approaching from above, even if they know it's you and aren't really
afraid, that instinct still might make them uncomfortable about it.
(Most of mine don't care that much for being petted, although they don't
bite - they just move away if I persist.) Perhaps this instinct is
especially strong in her. Does she bite at other times? I mean, does
she run up and bite your hand from the other side of the cage, or is it
just when you try to handle her? If it's just when you try to handle
her, then I'd refrain from doing so for now. You certainly don't want
pups observing her biting you to make you go away - they'll learn the
exact opposite of what you want them to learn!
The fact that she was raised from a pup yet still does this is, and that
her mother did also, makes me think this might be inherited. Or learned
from the mother. I think I would not breed from a gerbil that acted
this way. Perhaps one of the pups will turn out to be more friendly and
you could breed her instead. But I wouldn't necessarily give up on
taming her either - I'd just breed from a gerbil that would provide a
better example to her pups.
Just my two cents worth. :)
Don Naseth wrote:
> Thank you for your opinion, Jackie. Then I won't give up on her...
> yet... I'm not sure what you mean by "jittery" -- she has always been
> very "hyperactive" I guess is the word I would use to describe her...
> like her Mom. But I never had her Mom from a baby to raise and I've
> had Thumper from a "pinky" and she was a "good" baby but as she got
> older and got TEETH she got worse and worse... especially when
> cornered she would "flip out" and jump like 3 feet into the air --
> very unlike her brother, Bambi. I feel sad that she is so "cute" --
> seems like such a "waste". )o: Shelley of TPC ----- Original Message
> -----
>
> From: Evans
> To: Shelley and Don
> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 9:31 PM
> Subject: Re: good gerbil/bad gerbil thing
> I remember reading a post awhile back that said when a
> gerbil bites you the LAST thing you should do is jerk your
> hand out the cage and leave the gerbil alone. This is
> exactly the result she wants. The trick is that she learns
> to be left alone she has to do something positive - like
> take a seed from your hand without biting. Since you didn't
> mention that she's in any other way a jittery gerbil, then
> I'm thinking it's just that she doesn't like your presence
> in the tank - not that she will not tolerate humans. Also,
> with pups in the tank, she's sure to be more defensive. I'd
> wait till the pups are in another cage, and then attempt to
> "tame" her. Just my opinion! -Jackie
>
> > 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)
>
> >
>
>
>
--
Tana and The Little Rascals
http://members.home.net/tlr-gerbilry
