bitting hamster?

Question

I purchased a syrian hamster today for my kids xmas ,while taking it from the small box I got from the pet shop and puting it in the cage its going to live in I neerly lost a finger and it was hyper to say the least .How can these beasts be tamed without loosing my fingers.It is a young hamster , should I let in settle in its new home for a while?

Answer 1

Gibbo knows his stuff, do what he says.

Answer 2

You should always let the hamster adapt to its new home for 24 hours before handling it or doing anything else, put food and water in its cage and let it get used to its new surroundings.

If you were shoved in a box and taken to a strange place with strange smells and noises i think you would feel a bit frightened and lash out at the first thing "it's animal instincts".

Once you have let him settle in you can start calling its name and letting it get used to yours ands the childrens voices, when you do want to pick him up but you are afraid of it biting to begin with you can use gloves.... it WILL NOT be used to being handled and its a process that needs to be gradually introduced. Try giving it some treats or some fruit or veg to let it know that you mean no harm.

In time it will get used to the smells, voices, and handling etc it will take a week or so but dont give up in the end it will be rather fun watching the little critter.

Hope this Helps x x

Answer 3

Yup. I too have been bit by the killer hamster ( and yeah, I got about that much sympathy from the kids!). In my case it happened whilst I was trying to detach the hamster from the cat, so I assume it's a danger/stress reaction by the hamster. In my case after the one bite, the hamster settled down, and we had no further problem. Let your hamster settle in to its new cage and you will probably be the same. However, take my advice, and DON'T mention the bite to your partner or the kids! In my case it was about ten years ago, and I still get teased about the attack of the Killer Hamsters!

Answer 4

Give it a bit of time..its probably scared to death. How would you feel if someone took you out of your house..stuck you in a box and when you came back out,you were somewhere else totally different with strange people grabbing you... A young hamster from a pet shop guaranteed hasnt been handled much if any so be patient with it. Offer it bits of food from your fingers. If it bites when you are holding it then blow into its face,that usually gets them to let go.

Answer 5

First of all, always move slowly when handling your hamster, quick movements may scare him, and never pick him up if he just woke up (they can be very cranky in the morning). Also never pick him up if he is in a corner or tight space, hamsters will bite if they feel cornered.

As for taming him, start by using a pair of thick leather gloves (that he can't bite through) when handling him and handle it a lot. After a few days - a week start picking him up with both gloves then take one glove off and slowly pet the hamster with one ungloved hand. Continue handling him a lot. The next step is picking him up with a glove then taking both gloves off and handling him, and finally you will be able to pick up and handle your hamster glove free. Working through this progression has worked every time for me and I've had 12 or 15 hamsters in my life.

Your hamster bit you because he felt threatened. This progression will allow him to slowly get used to human scent.

Just remember that it's better to move through the progression too slow than too fast. Also be sure to always wash your hands before handling him. If he smells the scent of another animal or food on your hands he may bite out of self-defense.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas! Congrats on the addition to your family.

Answer 6

Let it settle for about 3 days and then everyday just put your hand in the cage with some food on it and let him/her smell your hand and eat the food. If it bites your hand take your hand away and try it again the next day. If it keeps happening, put a glove on and put your hand in the cage and let it bite you, it will bite you a couple times and then it will figure out that there is no use in biting. Or you can put and empty toilet paper roll in the cage, let him/her clime in and then dump the hamster into your hand, it won't bite you for some reason.

Answer 7

Be very gentle when lifting him up. Hamsters are very short sighted and usually only bite out of fear. Try offering him some food when approaching him and don't let the kids over-handle him until he is confident that you are not going to hurt him. Don't forget, a human's hand is very big compared to his tiny body. It's no wonder that he gets scared. Try to avoid pulling your hand away when he reaches out to sniff you. That could make him jump and his reaction will be to nip. Just be patient - it all takes time!

Answer 8

Somehow you have to make everyone smell and act like a hamster of the opposite sex to yours so that the hamster is much more friendly towards them and maybe buys them presents and stuff. Unless of course you have a gay syrian hamster.

Answer 9

yes u should definitely let it settle in for a while - imagine if u were shrunk to the size of ur hand, transported in a lorry to some pet shop, then taken away again to some new scary place when ur only a baby! leave it in a quiet room by itself 4 a day or 2. as 4 the biting, it was probably scared by someone's hand closing in on it who it didn't know. let it get used to ur smell, and encourage it to come to u by putting food on the edge of ur hand so it takes it from u. eventually it won't see u as a threat! good luck!

Answer 10

ah my hamster was like that but you can tame it. this may seem weird to say but you actually put the hamster in the bath tub don't put water in the bath trust me it works what happens is the hamster gets used to the sent of you and your family i did this with my hamster and it did work he stopped biting and you could just do anything you want with him .good luck.

Answer 11

***READ MY ANSWER CAREFULLY!!!***

First of all syrian is all wrong for a first time hamster owner. Go back and exchange it for a chinese dwarf hamster. they have the best disposition of all and bite the least. Next when you first put him in its cage let it go for about a week. When it gets a good sense of what its territory is you should be good. get him out. He will probably still bite to defend his territory. If he does flick him on the forehead (NOT REALLY HARD. REMEMBER THEY ARE SMALL) if he scratches or bites flick again till he relizes that your sent means your the dominant figure. When he stops biting and scratching at you when you get him out you should be good to let your kid get him out. the first couple of times rub your hands all over theirs so the have your scent until it gets used to their scents as dominants.
Now remember hamsters are naturally nocturnal. Be sure to have a cage with NO METAL BARS OR BARS OF ANY KIND. the rodent will chew on them and the racket will wake the dead. I would actually recommend a 20 gallon reptile tank. Also Get a silent wheel. Petsmart is good for this.
If you get tubes for the hamster to run around in the tank is again a good idea. Hamsters are NOT dumb. they will eventually figure out to chew the rubber connecter peices and they will get out, but if you have him in a reptile tank no big he can't go anywhere.

If you have any questions further email me ( [e-mail] ) and I'll be happy to help