Biting Hamster!!!

[JGuitaristR]

As some of you know, I recently got a hamster who had been previously owned. His name is Riley. When I'm holding him, sometimes he will bite me... and HARD too! Does anyone know why and if I can stop him from doing this? I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong. Thank you!

[primabella]

I'm bumping this back up because I don't know the answer but hopefully somebody can help you out.

[RockyRoad]

Our hamsters bite as well, and it draws blood. I cannot be of assistance because I too am looking for an answer as well.

[tikeyas_mom]

when hamsters come into a new home they are very unsure and scared. You are suppost to leave the hamster alone for the first week or couple of days to get used to smells and sounds and his/her surroundings.

Did you wash your hands befor you touched your hamster? because if you have previously touched another hamster/pet/or food item then the hamster could have smelt that and thought you were food.

Some times baby hamsters bite because they dont know what you are they are just checking you out.

If you did wash your hands were they WELL rinsed and not washed with perfumed soap? because hamsters can be attracked by the smell and take a nibble to see what smells so flowery.

Or your hamster just might not be tame. you have to be patient with hamsters and any pet. give it lotsa love and dont give up ok..

this is how you are suppost to get a hamster out of its cage without a fight and or struggle.... take off lid or top *yes the whole thing* and cup your hands around the hamster gently.
if you put your hand through a cage door it looks like a preditor is comeing in. so take off the lid or cage top and scoop with both hands... here is a pic on how to properly hold a hamster.....




Always use two hands when holding a hamster so that they dont jump.

I hope I helped.

[RockyRoad]

That's the way I hold my hamster, and how I pick him up. I guess Speedy is just scared because they have been separated and she is probably confused. Thanks for the information Tikeyas_mom.
Perrie only bites in the cage though, but when I take him out he's a real sweetheart. I can kiss him and everything. I guess it's because males are territorial...

[tikeyas_mom]

r they housed together ?? r they both males? well they might have had lack of sibling interacting as babies. meaning they were seperated to young of age. Dwarfs are very social also they are very speedy and hyper. Syrians are more layed back as they get older. Be patient they are in a new home and crud they will get used to being handled soon, I am used to hamster bits now that i have had 2 litters of pups lol ..

[RockyRoad]

No, they are male and female...the lady at the pet store lied to us. We separated them a few days ago, when we found out.
I will be sure to take all of this into consideration.

[tikeyas_mom]

No, they are male and female...the lady at the pet store lied to us. We separated them a few days ago, when we found out.

ok I knoiw how you feel. the pet store said that to me about my gerbils to. they said that they were both males. it really suxs because they bred. and I dont have an extra cage but you prbably dont care.

good luck with your hammies .

[CathyBogart]

Don't say the pet store lied, because it was most likely an honest mistake. I am ADAMENT to the customers that while I have made my "educated guess" we DO NOT guarantee sex on the animals, because it's too easy to make a mistake, especially with young animals.

Hamsters are very nearsighted, so remember this when you pick them up. Anything coming down on them from above can easily be mistaken for a predator.

I umm....Don't pick up hamters without thick leather gloves on....ever. I've been nailed by the little b***ers too many times!

[RockyRoad]

Why wouldn't I care?! Of course I care! I wish I lived closer so I could help you fgure something out. Good luck finding something, I know you are trying and you care so much about your pets.

Ooh, my pet store said they were both females.

I wish you the best of luck with your gerbils.

Wolfchan:

You're probably right, they probably did not lie. It was probably just a mistake, like you said.

[tikeyas_mom]

ya they probably just are inexperienced and ya they wouldent know I guess I still think they should know.

I umm....Don't pick up hamters without thick leather gloves on....ever. I've been nailed by the little b***ers too many times!

WRONG!!!! you must never pick up ANY pet with gloves on because that way they will not get used to your smell. it leads to NO progress in taming, I swear. DONOT wear gloves.

[CathyBogart]

Why should someone who is required to know about tons of different animals be blamed for making a mistake sexing a tiny animal that's really hard to sex to begin with? It's too easy to make mistakes, why are they "supposed" to know? It's probably not even a lack of experience so mych as the animals are not that dimorphic. My managet Jenn has more experience with small animals than anyone I know, but we have still sat for twenty minutes and debated the sex of a single dwarf hamster.



The gloves.....I don't OWN any hamsters, that is how I handle the ones at work. I have been bitten too many times, especially by dwarf hamsters, to risk it anymore. If the animal is a bit more freaked out when it gets out to the customer we sit on the floor with the animal in a bucket until it settles down, then I scoop it up......gloves still on.

On any given day, I get bitten by three or more animals. If I can preent one more (Especially a very painful one) then I will.

Last week, my co-worker came running into the back room where I was washing dishes and proceeded to bleed rivers of blood into the sink. Guess what? A hamster nailed him when he put his hand in front of it and tried to scoop it up gently. No thank you!

[tikeyas_mom]

it is because the hamsters are not well socialized, that is why they bite.

I have had hamsters my hole life and ya I just know that. I dont care if you use gloves at work that is your job. I was just saying dont use then if you OWN the hamster.