A lot of people who are thinking of getting a glider ask if they bite, and the answer is "yes, but it's usually not a problem once they're bonded."

I just had something happen with Peepers this morning that I thought I'd share because it might help others avoid some "tasting" bites.

This morning when I took her out, she started really biting my hands a lot, not in a mean way, but "sampling" and it was really hurting. I was starting to get concerned that she was developing a bad habit that I didn't want her to have, and was wondering how to stop it since Pssst-ing at her or blowing at her didn't seem to be working. Then I remembered that the last thing I did before I went to bed last night was to slather my hands with hand cream, so I'm sure that's what it was. After I washed my hands, she stopped.

So if you have a glider that seems to bite a lot, but it doesn't seem to be out of fear, just remember to wash your hands, preferrably with an unscented soap before handling them and you'll probably get less bites. Not only hand lotion, but if you ate a candy bar, or used hair styling products or shampoo, or were cooking or even if you washed your hands with a fruity smelling soap, they'll pick up on it and see if they can squeeze some of that good smelling stuff out of their "human tree" like sap!

Good advice Peeper! Sometimes little things like hand lotion the day before slips our minds and we then are trying to figure out why our babies are nipping us.

hmm. That I think might be it with tails. Shes new to us so hasnt gotten used to use yet. Shes not nippin as much anymore so I think she was just tastin so that she knows who we are. But thats a terrific thought.

That use to happen to me as well. That's why I would always wash the lotion off my hands and did not use scented soap.

I use scented soap... smells like apples.. however my gliders have never bit my hands.. the only bites I have recieved from my gliders are..

Panga.. one to the side of the head (really hurt when I washed my hair that night)
Tipsy.. never bit me but, did bite my fiance... a few times
once under the arm and one on the chest (ouchy)
Rascal... bit me one time... I don't think she wanted to come out that day though because normally she would just dive right into my hood when I opened the cage.. and I had to take her out of the pouch. She got my arm which kinda hurt a little bit and I wasn't expecting it because she never crabs.. and didn't even crab that day.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" /> Gator!!! Welcome back!! You've been missed!!

If you were to use the same kind of scented soap all the time, would your glider get used to it?

So I guess what I mean is does the scented soap's presence in general cause the biting or is it just the lack of familiarity with the aforementioned?