Message:

Subject: Re: biting
Posted by W on August 21, 1998 at 11:30:32:

In Reply to: Re: biting posted by tanis on August 21, 1998 at 10:10:45:

: They are just curious, no crabbing. I think they are just checking to see what/who I am. I emailed Terry and she said she put on a big glove and let them bite to their hearts content, then when they got tired she played with them. She also mentioned a smack on the head or nose - well when I do that (just a light tap) they seem to get madder ! (aren't they just SO cute). Terry also suggested grabbing them and sticking them under the tap of water (they hate water) and she said that would distract them enough to stop biting.

: I haven't had the courage to pick them up yet. I just stick my hand in the cage and let them sniff me out and pet them - that's when they bite. I think I will try a glove and handle them some more. I read though that you are not supposed to use gloves since they recognize you by your scent...any thoughts on using gloves?

YOur post made me mad-whose advise was this?

I know biting hurts and is no fun, but you have to be patient and nice to your glider. Using a glove is not a
good idea-They will associate it with fear and biting, and be afraid of it. They will smell their scared scent on the glove
everytime it comes near them and never get over the biting thing.

Also, smacking your gliders on the head or nose is really mean. Glider noses are extremely
sensitive-they don't even like having their noses touched. Gliders are tiny and delicate-even a small
tap on the head can hurt-wouldn't you get madder if you were doing something and someone else
kept hitting your head?

As for dunking the gliders in water-they hate water and mine will bite me if I get them wet, and they are
not usually biters. Also, if water gets in a gliders nose and into its lungs, it could easily get pneunomia.

Have you ever heard the phrase "YOu can catch more bees with honey than with vinegar" ? This applies
to gliders and actually all animals. YOur glider will respond well to you if you treat it nicely and gently-it
will start to trust you and not think you are a threat to it. If you smack it or get it wet, of coarse its going
to bite you, its afraid of you and trying to protect itself and get away from you. Gliders can be extremely sweet,
friendly creatures if treated well, or they can be little mean, viscious, unfriendly terrors if they are not treated well.
If you want your glider to stop biting, be nice to it.

If you must punish your glider when it bites, try blowing on it. Gliders don't like to be blown on, but it
safest, least cruel thing I can think to do to them.

Follow Ups:

• Re: biting Tanis 12:30:19 8/21/98 (0)