Only time I'm bitten is when trying to pick up Elmo Hami Omlet when trying to take him from his cage, not sure why, but he won't bite any other time, also is there any ways to help getting him to stop chewing on the bars of the cage, just afraid it might damage his teeth, he does have chews and food, so... hah.
2007-03-08 05:36:17 · 7 answers · asked by Hal 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
He is biting because he is scared. The more you handle him, the better. Also try leaving your hand in the cage a few minutes before you pick him up so he gets used to you.
The bars wont hurt his teeth, just make sure he has options like different kinds of wood chews (they even make flavoured ones) and an alfalfa house.
DO NOT PICK HIM UP BY THE TAIL as the person above me posted. It will hurt him!!!!!!!!!
2007-03-08 05:41:24 · answer #1 · answered by allyalexmch 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
dwarf hamsters are very territorial! which is why they can't be housed together once they are older. so when you put your hand into his home he is defending it. which is why he only does this when you reach in the cage. He may get better or but he may not. Try flicking him lightly (since he is very small) when he tries to bite so he knows you wont put up with his little attempt at dominance.
another, less mean thing to try is put one of your dirty socks in the cage with him, that way your smell is already part of his living environment, that way its not a new smell evrytime you stick your handinside the cage. and letting it linger for a minute so youdon't scare him is a good idea also.
some advice though, dwarf hamster are cute, but just aren't a very social animal so they don't make cuddly pets and don't like to be handled exesivly ( with some exceptions of course). but next time :) get a gerbil... quicker, but much nicer :) or a guinea pig.
2007-03-09 17:26:04 · answer #2 · answered by Doe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with some of the other contributors. Apple bitter is great stuff. I've used it with rats, hamsters, a ferret and even my dogs. It does wear off though so you will have to reapply it. You have a male (you said) so the main reason for him to act this way would be a territorial behavior. You are invading his space but once he's out of his cage, he's in your territory. My son had a dwarf hamster a few years ago and the only way we could get him out of his cage was by catching him in a child-size cup. Like yours, he was always fine once outside the cage. The suggestion to let him exit the cage on his own is a good one also. You can try to entice him by placing a little yogurt on a spoon to lure him out if he's reluctant to come out on his own. You might have to try different flavors but once you find one he likes it won't take long and he'll be coming out quickly to great you and get his treat. Good luck.
2007-03-08 22:16:43 · answer #3 · answered by ilovefrogs2002 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some dwarf hamsters can be cage territorial - they just don't tolerate intrusions in their home.
Allow the hamster to walk out of his cage on his own, or use a toilet paper tube to encourage him to come out on his own.
Bar chewing is a hamster artform - you can use a product like bitter apple, or put them in an aquarium where there are no bars, but there's no guarantee that they won't chew on other metal or plastic items.
It's not recommended that you pick up adult rodents by their tail, or adult cats/rabbits by the scruff. Inexperienced handlers can hurt an animal by gripping too much skin, gripping it too tightly, or if the animal is just too heavy to be picked up that way. Most adult animals are too heavy to be supported by just their skin or tails! It is also not a good experience for most animals to be dangled like that unless they have a lot of trust in you.
2007-03-08 15:29:22 · answer #4 · answered by El 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds harsh, but try lifting him by his tail to pick him up and then sitting him in your hand, it doesn't hurt them, but then you can sit him down and he won't bite you because he is comforted by sitting on your hand rather than scared of your hand covering over-top of him. Also, he will always chew his cage bars. You can try getting one of those plastic cages with the tubes and stuff so that there aren't bars to chew, just be careful, because he'll then chew on the tube connectors so watch that he doesn't chew through them. Good luck :)
I would question how many hamsters Ally down below has actually had. The tail method was recommended to me by the pet store owners... think about it, you can pick cats up by the skin on the back of their neck without hurting them too, it's what their mothers do... Go buy a hamster ally, and ask -.-
2007-03-08 13:40:53 · answer #5 · answered by Lil Gal 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
One product might help, it natural and safe. Go to your pet store and ask them for a bottle of "apple bitter", You can spray it the cage or spray it on your hand when you pick him up. I'm surprised whoever sold you or bought the hamster didnt recommend it.
Animals hate the taste of it so they learn by that area that has the smell not to bite it.
2007-03-08 13:46:53 · answer #6 · answered by grady.watson 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no he want damage them he is sharping them they like rabbits teeth grow really fast and they are also reliving them self try to get him or her some wooden chew sticks at walmart they are about 3or 4 dollars they are also flavored
2007-03-08 13:41:24 · answer #7 · answered by aljohn316 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋