your Amoret Phillips wrote:
>
> Thanks for all the responses to newbie. Tell me if this is correct please.
> It sounds like most of you don't handle your gerbils much at all. Which
> sounds like they are primarily for viewing.
Not true! You just have to handle gerbils differently.
They prefer to climb on you rather than sit in your hand and
be petted. It has nothing to do with tameness, it is just
the way gerbils are. They are too curious and too hyper to
sit still. Most young children want something to sit still
and be petted. If this is what is desired a gerbil will not
be suitable. Personally, I love having my gerbils climb
around on me and play with my hair!
> And you all love your gerbils so much you have this wonderful list!
> Many of you have suggested I look into getting a guinea pig if I want
> something to handle. I'll look into it, But I don't think I want something
> that big if I did those chinchillas really look so much cuter! (but my
> husband wants a small rodent, either a hampster or a gerbil)
I certainly hope you are not contemplating a single gerbil.
That is not good for the gerbil.
His neice has
> had 3 hampsters and loved them all. She said she handled her hampster a lot
> and all three died of old age.
I've never had a hamster but it is my understanding they are
more the sit-still-and-be-petted type.
She said they lived about 3 years. She said
> she liked the hampster better because she had friends with gerbils and they
> were too skiterish.
If they are skittish they have not been handled enough. But
they may have mistaken the huge amount of energy and
curiousity gerbils have for skittishness.
> Do any of you know about hampsters? There isn't nearly as much info on
> them as there is on gerbils. Which makes me think, are the gerbils better??
It all depends on what type of pet you want. As I and
others have stated, if you want a pet that will sit still
and be petted than you will not be happy with gerbils.
> There is no hampster list and very few personal hampster pages. And I'm at a
> loss for researching hampsters on the internet and I have no idea where to
> find any breeders of hampsters.
I bet somebody on this list has hamsters too and can help
you out. :)
> What is it you like best about your gerbils?
I love their sense of play! Put anything new into their
tank and they'll investigate it, smell it, climb on it, in
it, under it, chew on it, sleep in it, shove it around, you
name it. I also love the fact that they are thrilled to see
me and will climb up my arm the minute I get the lid off. I
think they are beautiful, with pretty fur and graceful tails
and sweet faces. They're so cute when they hear something
and sit up on their hind legs to look around! I could go on
and on but you get the idea. :)
>
> I'v found a breeder who has four males and two females, who lives only just
> over an hour away from me. I'd definately get two if I get gerbils.
Good! :)
probably
> stay safe and get two males, although many of you have had great luck with
> females.
>
> again thanks so much
>
> Cordially,
> Amoret
>
> Amoret Phillips | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Artist
> Non-escalating Verbal Self-Defense
> http://www.taxi1010.com
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