My gerbil always bites me

[Skwaash]

Hi All.

I am new to this site, (just activated my account and this is my first post), and I need help.

I just recently purchased some gerbils for my kids for Christmas. (Okay, I admit it, I always wanted some when I was younger, so they are also for me too!!) We got three, all females, named (in size order) Honey, Tipper, and Tiny. We have had them for about a week or so, and there is one (Honey, the largest), that has bitten both my wife AND myself hard enough to break the skin, and we can't imagine why.

All I have to do is place my hand in the tank that she is in, and she comes up and bites me, and she bites HARD! We are alarmed, (and a bit disappointed), because we don't want her to continue with this behavior. We haven't done ANYTHING to harm her, (or any of the others) in any way, and we don't know what to do to train her otherwise.

Can anyone out there offer up any suggestions?? Here is there habitat info:

-- 10 gal tank (w/ S.A.M. cover that allows for add-a-toob expansion)
-- exercise wheel
-- gnawing block
-- shelter hut
-- plenty of bedding
-- water bottle
-- food dish

As I mentioned, there are currently 3 gerbils living together peacefully for the most part. They seem to chase each other around, but I have attributed this to being playful with each other as none of it seems very agressive, and it never lasts more than a second or two (just long enough for something else to catch their attention). The smaller two, (Tipper and Tiny), nip sometimes, but not nearly as hard as Honey, and certainly not wieh the same malice.

Is this normal? Are they just going thru a phase? Teething?? They are all approx 6-7 weeks old, and cute as buttons one and all, but this biting thing has me concerned... :(

Any Help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thanks!!

Respectfully,
Ken Rivera
Skwaash@hotmail.com
FKRivera@SurfErie.net

[LadyRachel]

Hi Ken,
Well first, I am not a gerbil expert by far, Santa also brought our pair, but from what I have read, the biting thing should go away as they get older...one of ours, Duo, comes up to me and bites, although not so hard as to draw blood, or break skin, but not in the tasting way that has been described on some of the sites. Personally, I push him away (not hard) and do a little puff of air in his direction, and so far, although it still happens, it seems to have lightened up (hardnes of the bite) and the frequancy has lessened.
One other thing...from all of my reading, you really shouldn't have more then two in a ten gallon tank. Maybe some of the biting has to do with the fact that she is just trying to show her dominance because she feels she doesn't have enough space. No clue if this right or not, but from the reading I have done, well it seems to have some sort of logic to it.

Rachel