Donna Anastasi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>Back on the topic of biting gerbils...
>
> I was surprised that gerbil experts on the list where able to generate
>so many (a dozen or more) reasons why your gerbil might bite you.
>
> I've been clawed by bunnies, nipped by hamsters, and bitten by baby
>rats, but never yet by my or anyone elses gerbils. I was under the
>impression that of the rodents, gerbils were one of the least likely to
>bite. In fact I am always pleased and proud at how much control they show
>when I need to restrain, check, or otherwise bother them. (And the only
>time I'm careful about washing my hands is in touching pups).
>
> Have many people on the list been nipped or bitten by their gerbils?
>(not including the exploratory mouthing or nibbling) Or is this rare?
>
>-- Donna A.
In my experience gerbils almost never bite. When they do there is a
reason for it, but anyone who handles gerbils will eventually feel their
teeth even I it is not particularly painful.
Even so, gerbils bite so rarely that, for example, at gerbil shows where
a judge will handle 60-120 gerbils that are not familiar to the judge, I
can only think of one show where the judge was bitten.
I have only ever had blood drawn twice - both were when breaking up
fights. But I have seen the signs of gerbils that were not happy. For
example, pushing with the head, or letting you feel their teeth are both
signs that a "proper" bite is on the way.
--
Julian
************************************************************************
* Jackie and Julian *
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* National Gerbil Society *
* http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ *
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