Why does my hamster keep biting me!!?

Question

I only clean out my hamster once every 2 weeks .
the other day when he bit me it drew blood and really hurt!! My mum says it is because i never clean him out often enough is that true?

Answer 1

Hamsters that dont get a lot of attention and interaction with humans while growing up, often become biters later on. If you only mess with the hamster when you are cleaning out the cage, then yeah, your fault for not getting the animal used to you properly.
Good luck

Answer 2

I had many hamsters over the years and was only bitten maybe once or twice, so the idea that all hamsters are biters isn't that valid. I agree that people said your hamster may need a bit more attention, but it may also have a tie to his breed (smaller robos, winter whites, and russians are known to be more likely to bite while bigger teddies aren't as much) or simply the way you approach him. Small animals by nature do not like to be grabbed, especially from above (the way, say, a hawk would grab it in the wild). Instead of reaching in a grabbing your hamster, you might try getting him to trust you a bit. First give him a treat, and then try to pure him out of the cage onto your hand using a few treats (don't go overboard or he could get sick). Reward him for progress. He doesn't have to come out the first day, or even the first week, but eventually he would come to trust you and won't feel threatened by your presence around his cage or inside of it. Stick with it, and he should come around.

Good luck :)

Answer 3

There are a couple of reasons for this. First of all, hamsters are long-sighted, i.e. they can see very well what's far away, but not what's close. On close sight, your hand/finger may look like food to your hamster. There are a couple of things you can do to help this, but it may never completely stop. First of all, make sure you wash your hands before handling your hamster, so that you don't smell like food. Second, handle it often, when it's awake (i.e. in the mornings and in the evenings) so that it can get used to what your hand smells like and will be less likely to think it's food.
To prevent the biting from hurting you, yo ucan wear a glove when you take the hamster out of the cage. However, it is best to take the glove of as soon as possible (when the hamster is out of the cage and playing with you, it is less likely to think your hands are food), so that it can get used to your smell.

You should clean a hamster cage once a week (though try and leave the nest and food store alone for three to four weeks), but only cleaning isn't going to get him used to you. The secret lies in taking it out and playing often enough.

Answer 4

Your hamster requires to be cleaned out at least once a week. You took on the responsibility - so get the job done. It's unhygienic.
Your hamster is probably frightened, that's one reason why they bite. Also, they are short sighted and can often mistake you for something to eat. Handle it gently, with care and try scooping it up in cupped hands instead of picking it up with fingers. Come on now.... get that cleaning done.

Answer 5

Yes, the cage needs cleaned once a week. you need to handle him daily. Go buy a ball and let him run around daily. Wash your hands with soap before you try to pick him up. Take him treats like a piece of apple or grape. Just try to familiarize yourself with the hammie. He's just as scared of you as you are of him. I mean face it how would you feel if you were roughly 2inches by 1 inch and this giant hand is coming at you? i think id bite me too lol. the more you clean his cage the more your scent is on the stuff in its cage so it smells you all day not its own fecal matter. Hope this helped

Answer 6

Tell me a little more about the hamster, is it a dwarf or syrian? Dwarfs tend to be more the biters. We have 12 Syrians and they typically don't bite. We had one abused one that did, but that was really during the first month, now she's better about handling her. You may have ahd a taste of food on your hand, didn't you wash or sanitize your hands first? This can lessen the chance of getting bit. I don't believe cleaning the cage every 2 weeks had anything to do with it unless it smelled, my 21 yr old son, who raises them only cleans his once a month, but he uses wire cages, not tanks (clean these weekly) nor plactic/wire cages (2 weeks is max). We've used these 2 other style cages and they stink a lot faster and don't have good air flow. Plus we have about 17 small animal cages to clean monthly and one tank with two 8 week old mice. Their too small for the wire cages.

Answer 7

hamsters by nature arn't really that socialble anyway but the more time you spend with your hamster the more friendlier it will become, start by cleaning him out twice a week, with a change of food and water daily. Everytime you do these chores be sure to stoke your hamster or try to pich him up.

A good way to encourage him to go onto your hand is to place some of his favourite food on the palm of your hand and stay calm and slow, allow him to come and sit on your hand and take or eat the food. After a while of doing this you should be able to start picking him up without beng bitten.

Be gentle on approach though and give it time, he'll be friendly in no time,he just needs to get used to you :)

Answer 8

Hiya, You really need to clean your hamster out every week, and try to handle him everyday your hamster is just protecting himself, also speak to your hamster because they know your voice. We have 3 hamsters all kept in separate cages, 2 are fine and dont bite, but we have one that does bite he is protecting himself, he only has 3 legs and his siblings used to pick on him he was born on Christmas Eve 2006 and we kept him because of only having 3 legs .We handle him everyday even though he bites, just try tickling his back or handing him food.

Answer 9

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Gerbils-Hamsters-2005/Behavior-2.htm

Here's an answer to another very similiar queston on another site. Hamsters have a reputation for biting, mainly because they are very territorial. Your hamster sees you as invading her area. Try luring her out into the middle of the cage and giving her a couple of treats. Then she'll associate you with food, with is something pleasurable to her. Hope this helps. I had a few of them over the years and was bitten many times.

Answer 10

try feeding him tib bits thu the cage, for a few days, then slowly introduce ur hand still wiv the treat in the cage, soon enuf he'll realise ur GIVE the foos, not ARE the food...oh n u suld b cleaning him out at least once a week. how wuld u like 2 live in ur poo n wee 4 2 weeks?