I adopted a hamster over the weekend. When I put my finger near the cage, she acted desperate to get at me to bite. I tried slowly reaching into the cage later and she attacked. I've owned several hamster previously and none acted like this. Is there a way to train them not to bite, or is this something she will always do?
2007-01-29 11:34:37 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I had a lot of hamsters as a kid and never could break the biters. But if you wear gloves and hold it a lot it might tame down some. Pet it with your non-glove hand is what I would try.
2007-01-29 11:39:03 · answer #1 · answered by mikearion 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
You didn't say what kind of hamster you have, a Syrian, a Campbells dwarf, a Winter White dwarf, a Roborovski dwarf or a Chinese.
In the case of Syrians and Campbells dwarves, I've seen the "attacking" behavior. It has been much more severe in the Campbells. Campbells tend to be more territorial.
Regardless of the species, if you poke your fingers through the bars at them, you're likely to get bit by the mean ones and nibbled by the friendly ones.
If she's attacking by you just putting your hand into the cage, food or not, taming is going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible. The best advice I can give you is to take her back to the pet store and get another one. Be sure to hold the second one in the store before bringing it home to be sure it doesn't bite.
More and more pet store animals are beginning to demonstrate temperament problems due to the nature that commercial breeders are breeding them. Here's the scenario: the commercial breeder needs to send some more hamsters to their client, the pet store. He goes to the cage with hamster pups and starts to take them out. One hamsters bites him hard several times. The commercial breeder knows the pet store will complain if they receive this biting hamster so he doesn't send it. What does he do with the biting hamster? He could kill it or if it's a female, he'll use her to breed more hamsters. So he's actually selecting the meanest hamsters to breed from! Over several generations, the temperament of a line can completely shift. Other breeders and I are concerned that hamsters are beginning to get a bad reputation as biters.
-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com
2007-01-30 04:13:59 · answer #2 · answered by radiocricket 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My hamsters liked to bite everyone when I first got them. The way to get it to stop is to try and coax it out with a hamster treat or if you have a cage with a removable top...take it off and let it know that you are their first and then carefully try and pick it up. If that doesn't work try it again with the treat. Eventually it should get used to you, but it still might bite you a little at first with the smell of food so try to keep it on the palm of your hand and then maybe put the hamster on your shoulder. With time like my hamsters did it will not bite you!
2007-01-29 19:23:10 · answer #3 · answered by Elizabeth 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Is it a russian hamster? They are small and have a stripe down their back. Those tend to bite. Maybe it's just too soon for you to be approaching her, she's probably scared and needs to get used to her new surrounding. I would approach the cage but not put my hand in except to feed until she gets used to you.
2007-01-29 11:41:00 · answer #4 · answered by strawberry 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
What i going to recommend u need a lot of patience for an owner... It will take abt 2-6 weeks depends on u and its progess.
1st week: when placing fresh food for ur hamster, place ur hand near the hamster when it is eating. (Dont touch it as it is trying to get familiar with the surrounding)
2nd week: Put 1-2 treats on ur plam and let ur hamster come to u instead of you grabbing it. (Just let it grab the food, dont touch it, dont stroke it either)
3rd week: Try stroking the hasmter from its back gently. (If it run away, dont be sad) Just wean down the ice that it between both of you.
4th week: Try picking up the hamsters with your hands. How to make a hamster feel secure is actually to grasp it in ur palm. (Hamster are night aminal so covering it fully with ur palm makes them feel safe).
Hope my method works. This is how i actually tame all my biting hamsters. My conclusion is to convience the hamsters, not to force it to accept its owner. I been biten countless but with patience and love, your hamster will understand
2007-01-29 20:16:27 · answer #5 · answered by ジャンリン 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The hamster could be scared, give it time. If it's still a biter after a couple weeks, it likely always will be.
Funny answer Bruce B!
2007-01-29 11:39:18 · answer #6 · answered by Hope 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It has obviously gone mad. You will have to put her down. If you can't, then get someone who can.
Here is a book you might pick up about the subject:
"When Hampsters Harm." by
Ohh gawd this is getting stupid. I'm sorry. I'm all messed up on cold medicine right now.
2007-01-29 11:38:45 · answer #7 · answered by Bruce B 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
let the poor hamster be
2007-01-29 11:37:41 · answer #8 · answered by Buda B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try flicking ( not too hard) it in the nose when it bites and see if that helps any it has with us
2007-01-29 11:42:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's time for that cute rat impersonator to go bye byes.
2007-01-29 11:38:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋