Gerbils make wonderful pets, but you have to understand that they are prey animals. In the wild, these tiny animals are prey to all kinds of prowling creatures. And seeing as how they have no defense mechanisms, their only recourse is to run and hide in their burrows.
Now, if you adopt an adult gerbil and expect it to be caring and affectionate on the onset, you’re expecting too much from the little guy or gal. Like any other pet, Gerbils take their time to get acclimatized to their new environment and family.
So, do gerbils bite? Yes, gerbils sometimes bite if they are not comfortable with you. A gerbil who feels threatened and unfamiliar with its new surroundings can and will bite hard enough to draw blood. This can be prevented through proper handling and learning to read your gerbil’s cues.
Before you get nervous to adopt a gerbil into your life, remember that most animals aren’t comfortable with new people until they have developed trust. Once your gerbil has warmed up to you, they will make for a fun and unique companion. So, let’s talk a bit more about preventing bites and why they happen.
Why Do Gerbils Bite?
Gerbils aren’t ferocious animals that hunt for their food. These little furballs are omnivores, but their carnivorous side makes do with scavenging from carrion and hunting insects. And, they are very social animals, as they live in groups in the wild.
So, it’s safe to say that gerbils, by nature, are timid and peaceful animals. Yet, they do bite, and you might too if you were suddenly lifted out of your home by some humongous creature looking for cuddles. Let’s look at some of the circumstances under which a gerbil may feel compelled to bite.
1. New Surroundings
It’s rare to see a baby gerbil up for adoption. If you do go out to adopt one, it’ll probably be a young or adult gerbil. Baby gerbils, or pups, require far more care than adult gerbils. Gerbil pups do not survive without the supervision of a mother gerbil.
But don’t go thinking that just because your gerbil is an adult that it is able to take on the world. Any animal takes some time to get used to a new environment, even us humans. Your gerbil is bound to be scared for a while until it decides there aren’t any threats in its new home.
The idea is to get the gerbil accustomed to your presence. Please don’t force your company upon the animal by trying to hold or cuddle it right off the bat.
Sitting by the enclosure and speaking in a calm tone will help your pet become familiar with you. It’s wise just to refill the food tray in the beginning, but after a couple of weeks, you can try to feed the gerbil with your hands.
It’s always wise to allow the gerbil to come to you rather than forcing it towards your hand to feed. And, if the gerbil does come to you, consider it a milestone in the development of a lasting friendship.
2. They’re Stressed
Gerbils make great pets for adults and children. However, children do not have the knowledge required to handle a gerbil.
If the gerbil is brought into a home with plenty of children that love to gather around the cage and try to pet it, your gerbil will be stressed. Loud noises, sudden movements, and persistent petting will give your fur baby stress. And, most gerbils under pressure react by biting anyone that tries to get close to them.
3. Underlying Sickness
If your gerbil is lethargic, shying away from human contact, and has even lost its appetite, then it may be ill. Unfortunately, when gerbils are unwell, they have no way to communicate with you, and they may bite simply to get you to stop nagging them.
Gerbils are small and their constitutions are quite weak. So, even the smallest of problems can affect your gerbil rather severely. Under such circumstances, it’s best to head for the vet.
Moreover, if you do get the feeling that your gerbil isn’t well, then it’s a good idea to provide it with a relaxed and calm environment so that it may recuperate quickly.
Improper Handling
As mentioned earlier, gerbils are prey animals. They are often prey to predator birds such as eagles or hawks. These birds attack from above. And, anything that approaches a gerbil from above is a threat to it instinctively.
If you want to avoid a gerbil bite, then make sure that you never take a stance that will naturally make it skittish. Hence, never try to grab your gerbil from above.
Furthermore, if your gerbil is familiar with your presence and does allow you to hold it, make sure to keep a grip that will prevent your pet from falling, but never tight enough to make it feel in danger. If your gerbil is held too tightly, it will, in all likelihood, bite you to show its annoyance.
Accidental Bites And Nipping
Now, many pet parents love gerbils enough to adopt more than one. In general, gerbils aren’t confrontational. But, they do have a hierarchy within their communities, and a fight may ensue to establish leadership. Now, it makes sense for you to want to break up their tiff, but be wary. A gerbil or two may accidentally bite you in the tussle.
Moreover, gerbils have a superb sense of smell. If your fur baby can smell something yummy on your hands or fingers, it may take a nip at you to see what the scent is all about. Most animal experts recommend that pet parents wash their hands before and after handling their pets.
Gerbils bite, but rarely does a gerbil bite come without prior warning. However, it takes a pet parent years of experience with gerbil companions to understand the signs. Read on to find out about the warning signals of gerbils before they bite.
What Are The Warning Signals Before Gerbils Bite?
You can see the signs of agitation in a gerbil quite evidently. Yet, not everyone can understand gerbil squeaks or body language to comprehend that they are being warned. So, let’s take a look at what some gerbils do before they go ahead and take a nip at you.
Gerbil Warning Sounds
An adult gerbil is a reasonably quiet creature. A gerbil pup may squeak more often to express different emotions, but you’ll hardly ever hear your gerbil make noise. When your gerbil does make noises, it’s time to pay attention and listen to what it’s trying to tell you.
- Loud Squeaks – A sure sign of a stressed gerbil is when an adult gerbil starts to squeak. If your gerbil is constantly squeaking, it means that it is feeling threatened.
- Teeth Chattering – Teeth chattering in gerbils is not an everyday habit. An adult gerbil will only chatter its teeth when it is terrified. There may not be any real danger for your gerbil, but if your gerbil is chattering its teeth, then you best take its enclosure to someplace where it can calm down, preferably a place with no loud noises or people around.
Body Language
Many warning signals can be seen through a gerbil’s body language before it goes for a bite. These include the following:
- Running Away – The most natural recourse for a gerbil is to dash to a safe place. If your gerbil is feeling threatened, it’s going to go straight for its nest box. And, if you do try to prevent that, then you’re asking for a bite.
- Standing Straight Up With Folded Paws – A praying gerbil is a position where your gerbil is standing on its hind legs with its front paws crossed. You’ll also notice that your gerbil will appear frozen in such a state. This means it is on high alert and may end up biting you if you try to break it out of its trance.
- The Head Push – Here’s another unmistakable signal from your gerbil to leave it alone. Any time your gerbil pushes your hand away with its head, it’s not trying to be cuddly or cute. It’s literally asking you to back out and give it some space.
Does A Gerbil Bite Hurt?
Looking at the size of your gerbil should give you a good idea of how bad a gerbil bite can be. Now, a nip from a gerbil won’t even cut skin, so it’s basically just a scratch. When it comes to bites, different people have varying pain tolerance.
If your gerbil bites you in annoyance, agitation, or even during a fight, then it’s likely the bite is going to hurt. And, it’s also likely that your gerbil will draw blood. Now, gerbil nips and bites both need to be treated.
If your gerbil ever bites or nips, make sure to clean the wound with an antibacterial wash. Using an antibacterial ointment will also help to get rid of any infection.
Conclusion
Keeping a gerbil means enriching your life with happiness and joy. However, adopting a pet means taking up quite a few responsibilities as well.
You need to be able to understand the needs and wants of your gerbil in order to give them the best life possible. And it will take time, but eventually, you will understand every nuance of your pet. Understanding and perseverance will help create a bond of trust and love between you and your pet.
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