Very rarely. Very rarely indeed.
If you get a gerbil who really bites you – then you either have a really scared gerbil or a really poorly gerbil on your hands (as well as some blood no doubt).
Gerbils don’t need to defend themselves with their teeth really – they rely on their speed for that. And they have very few predators who can catch them on the ground – unlike hamsters who we know can bite everyone and everything whenever the mood takes them.
However a gerbils biting technique is often of the hanging on type.
And they REALLY hang on!
So, before you get to the really hanging on part – there are things you can do to limit the chances of scaring a gerbil in the first place, ways to prevent getting bitten in tense situations, and ways to make a bite less of a pain.
Tip 1: Pick up your gerbils by calling them over to you or by getting them to walk into a jar first
Always go for the friendly, polite approach when you can. Never just reach into a gerbil’s house or nest and try to pick them up, awake or asleep; that is just asking for finger trouble! Think of how grumpy most of us are when woken up.
Don’t chase them around their tank with your hand for ages either if you can help it, this just builds up their frustration. Give it a rest already they are probably thinking – can’t I get a moment’s peace?
Always wash your hand thoroughly as well before handling at any time – or at least rub them in the existing bedding if you have handled other pets or gerbils beforehand – so you smell of them rather than anything else.
Also, never pick up a gerbil by its tail (it won’t get you bitten, but please don’t do it anyway).
Tip 2: Don’t put your hand inbetween fighting gerbils – they won’t stop fighting
Always wear leather gloves and have a tub in your hand when introducing gerbils to each other for the first time.
NEVER split them up with – or try to pick them up with – your actual hands, that is just pure crazy. If your gerbils start fighting with their tank-mates, use a tunnel or toy to gently but firmly push them apart and use your catching jar to take the more injured one out for starters to give them a health check and keep them out until you can suss out the gerbil situation you are left with.
If you have seen the state these gerbils can get in after a serious fight – you would heed my words here – unless you don’t want to recognise your hand again.
Tip 3: Gerbils hang on for dear life when they do bite you…
If you get a savage bite, remember to lower your hand to the floor rather than lift it away to safety. Gerbils don’t like flying so they hang on for dear life.
Therefore it is essential that you try to put all four of your gerbils tiny feet on a solid flat surface as quickly as possible. Once grounded they will feel much safer and will be more likely to let go. The most painful minute of your life no doubt.
Do not try to shake them off or leave them hanging – unless you like the feeling of searing pain? They won’t let go easily because firstly they may still think they are fighting the other gerbil (or that giant scary hand) and secondly they won’t let go unless they have to as they know they will fall. And we certainly don’t want them to fall from a great height anyway, do we?
So please be nice to them – if only to get them to let go!
And after recovering your wounded finger back, please be very gentle with your gerbil, they will be absolutely petrified by now. Also, biting (outside of a split) means they were potentially fearing for their little life in the first place – or they are quite ill or in pain, so after all that thrashing and swinging about in mid air, their little heart will be working overtime.
Biting inside of an introduction can be quite another thing – but it is still stressful to them, if you have ever had an adrenaline rush – you will know where this is coming from.
Tooth-related Summary
So, summing up all the main reasons why gerbils do bite – you find that virtually all of them are because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time – not because your gerbil is evil.
Gerbils really are not the biting type – so if you understand a little more about why gerbils bite us devoted humans – perhaps this will help you to think of them during and after your pride-threatening nip and help make their life all the better afterwards.
Sometimes a bite is the first sign you have of pain or an illness in your little ones, so although I won’t say it was worth it, it is certainly something to think about.