Advice re biting hamster please

[MyTitsAreBetterThanYours]

I bought a hamster for my son last Friday. It is around 8 weeks old and over the past few days I have learnt something - it's very vicious. We let it settle in and get used to new surroundings, gently introduced it to a hand in the cage etc etc...and it is very jumpy, very bitey and will not tolerate being touched at all.

All of this is of course very disappointing to a small boy. We have had lots of hamsters over the years and this is the first problem we have had.

So, my question... could I call the pet shop and request a swap? Or is this just insane?

[weaselm4]

I think they just have different personalities, TBH. I've got a nervy one this time, which is a bit disappointing as I've always had laid back ones before. We can hold him though. Must be really frustrating for you.

Have you tried handling him with really thick gloves so he gets used to being held, but so that it's not so painful for you!?

[MyTitsAreBetterThanYours]

Yes, I popped a pair of gloves on but he just...leaps about in a very nervy fashion and you're almost having to grab him and clutch him which I don't want to do!

Just seems a shame to not be able to handle him.

Just weighing up whether the pet shop will tell me to piss off or not. They're a small independent

[MyTitsAreBetterThanYours]

well I called the shop and they were sympathetic and helpful but the bottom line is probably that they wont exchange - I get this as it's an animal, not a pair of boots. She will speak to the owner though and see.

In the meantime, we will try again.

[FalseStartered]

that's only a few days, hamsters need about 48hrs to settle without being touched at all, then you can start to intrude on their personal space

a good tip we were given (and it's worked) is to 1st of all move the cage about when he's awake, so he gets used to the feeling of being lifted

for the next few days after that continue with moving the cage about, and then start putting your hand into it, making sure you never smell of food

do you have an exercise ball? you can get your hamster more acquainted with moving by lifting it about while inside this too, ours is quite tame now, and comes out for a chat on a regular basis

give it time, but don't give up

[Naoko]

If it's 8 weeks old and you've only had it since Friday, it's not vicious, it's scared! Sit by the cage and just talk to him when he's awake so he gets used to you being there. Then after a while (and I'm talking a process of days, not hours) open the door - don't stick your hand in, just open it, talk to him, maybe offer something tasty but let him come to you.

If, eventually, you want to get him out, it can be a good idea to lift him inside something , like a playtube or something like that. Remember though that you want him to feel safe; the safer he feels the more confident he'll get, and he has to feel that the cage is his secure refuge so don't go randomly upending everything he tries to hide in. Take it slowly and remember that this is a very young, very tiny creature that has been removed from everything it knows by a massive member of another species; he's frightened!

[neontetra]

I had one like this. I used to let her run around in the bath so she had space but I wasn't worried about her escaping, given that I couldn't catch her. Then I'd rest my hand in there, in a thick glove (I'm a wuss!) Gradually she'd investigate it, if only to bite it! Over time I'd pick her up for a few seconds, then more. Eventually she was quite tame. Took patience difficult to expect of a young boy, though. Good luck - hope it works out.

[sparkle101]

Agree that it needs to have a good few days of being left alone before being handled at all. IME there are three main reasons a hamster may bite:

1. If it has just been woken up and then being picked up. Needs to be a good five minutes of acclimatising before even attempting to go near the cage
   

1. If owner has not washed hands, their eyesight is very poor and if they can smell any type of food they will bite. They will also bite if they can smell other animals. Good idea to wash hands thoroughly and dry and before you pick up hamster rub your hands in the woodshavings of their cage so you smell of them and its not too scary.
   

1. (Probably most important) In the wild when hamsters get attacked it is usually by birds who pick them up by the scruff of the neck and take them away. Therefore it is a natural reaction to turn and bite if they cannot see what is going on over their head, therefore always scoop up in both hands, maybe a good idea to lift the lid off the cage (if that type of cage) and try and handle the hamster just in the base by scooping up, never corner them and wait until they come out. This may well be the issue as a hand in a cage means very limited space for the hamster who then feels threatened and will have a nibble!
   

Hamsters can suffer from an illness called wet tail and this can become more likely when they are stressed therefore important to not stress it out too much and keep sugary treats down to a minimum, it is always nice to offer a treat to encourage the hamster out however too any sugary treats = not good!!!