OUCH it bites

[ryans72789]

i got my gerbils 2 days ago ( as most of u no :) ) but recently the other one that was generally more friendly and liked to b handled has recently started biting, and i mean biting. it hurts and they bite down HARD. help someone please!!!

[Doom Gerbil]

Ryan when she bites blow gently on her face or firmly say NO.
Do not panic or get rough.
Hopefully she wills ettle dwon soon.
Gerbil bites are very painful, thankfully they are also rare.
It sounds as though she is scared or stressed so maybe you need to pick her up less or try letting out her out in a safe place (on your bed, in the bath, on the floor in a safe room or maybe a box or playpen).
Give her time and patience and I'm sure she will come round.
You haven't had them long have you?

[callimico]

i bought 1 of my gerbils from petco and he used to bite really hard too. every time he did i'd slowly move my hand away and wouldn't put it back in the tank til later. every time i put my hand in I'd offer a sunflower seed, if he bit me he wouldn't get the treat. He eventually stopped, but it took a couple weeks. i've heard you can also blow a small puff of air at the gerbil every time he nips and eventually he'll learn that if he does it something uncomfortable happens.
hope this helps...:)

[ryans72789]

thanks guys those sound like good ideas

[ryans72789]

ive only had it for 2 days

[Zouave]

ive only had it for 2 days


:rolleyes: Then leave the gerbil alone for awhile and let her settle in.

Gerbils should NOT be kept alone.

>> Gerbil bites are very painful, thankfully they are also rare. <<

VERY rare. It happened to me once over a year ago when a formerly friendly lovely female, Chrissie, who used to climb all over me, sat in my palm and then sunk her teeth into my palm. I was amazed. She did bite down hard and it hurt, unlike the one hamster bite I had. I have no ideas why it happened.

[SandyV]

Its probably because you have the scent of your new gerbil on your hands when you handle your other gerbil, and it smells strange to her. Try washing your hands between handling them. Gerbils are very territorial and it takes them time to adjust to new ones.

[ryans72789]

i got them both at the same time so i dont think thats the problem