I have a female syrian hamster. I've had her for about 6 months nowl. She's very sweet and never bites anyone, and she's very frisky. Whenever I try to hold her, she always tries to run away. When I do hold her, she moves really quickly around my arms and tries to jump off. I know she's comfortable around me because she has no problem walking all over me sometimes. I just want to know if it's her nature to be like that or if I have to handle her more often to make her even more used to that.
2007-06-02 18:18:14 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
She sounds very happy, healthy and alert. Some hamsters are naturally more faster than others.
I also have a syrian hamster, who I have had for just over a year. He is actually rather lazy out of the cage, but after a while he does get pretty fast and races all over the place.
It is their nature to be like this. In the wild hamsters will travel up to 8 miles a night in search of food, so it is vital for hamsters to get lots of exercise outside their cage, especially syrians, bcause if yours is anything like mine, they do get a little fat!
She is comfortable around you. If she was biting, hissing, grinding het teeth or squealing then she would be showing signs of being scared, but she is not. If you have not got one already, buy a hamster exercise ball for her to run around the house in.
2007-06-02 23:13:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hamsters only bite when they are frightened, and the best advice I ever had was to leave the hamster alone, and don't try to handle him for a few days. Clean his cage and feed him as normal, talk to him gently, and let him become used to you. After this, for a little while, just put your hand in his cage and let him explore your hand. If you keep still, he shouldn't bite. You can then move on to things like offering treats by hand, so he associates your smell with good things. When it comes to full handling, wearing gloves isn't recommended, as the hamster will not be able to properly smell you. However, if this hamster is particularly nippy when fully handled, and does not seem to change his ways, he may still be afraid of being held, and will need to be slowly introduced to be picked up. In this case, it is ok to wear gloves, BUT ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE. If you just keep at it, being gentle and kind to him, he will eventually stop biting. Another reason hamsters bite is because your hands may smell like food. They're short sighted, and so can't tell the difference between fingers and that bit of food you've been munching on beforehand! Make sure you wash your hands before handling the hamster, this should help a bit. Learn his habits too, as animals never bite without warning. You may hear him growling or squeaking, which may be a sign that he is scared. If this is the case, pull back a bit and take things slower. Patience is key with hamsters, and it may be that your little one just does not like to be handled. If this is the case, then don't handle him too often. Give him toys to play with. Maybe he'll come round eventually, but don't try to rush him. Good luck!
2016-05-19 22:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by leandra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a male syrian hamster, and at 6 months old, he was feisty and squirmy too. They slow down by the time they are a year old. Handle her everyday for about 15 to 30 minutes a day, just to get her used to being held. Be gentle tho, or you might just get the first bite. Pet her, talk to her, and offer her treats or bits of her hamster food while you are holding her to tell her that the holding part isn't going to be a bad thing. Over time, this little feisty girl will figure out you're a friend and will enjoy the time outside the cage with you. Have fun and remember patience is the key to taming her down to where she won't try to run away from you.
2007-06-02 21:41:49 · answer #3 · answered by Susan C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hamsters and small rodents are pretty frisky to begin with. I don't know how tight you hold her just in your hands, I mean if she's squirmy you'll probably hold her a little tighter. Sometimes, if you loosen the grip a bit and give her a little more room to roam, both your hands together, sort of cupped, she might feel a little more at ease. I've had mice, and my female mouse was very sweet and also frisky. I let her walk up and down my arms and all, but if I held her in my one hand with it sort of closed on her so she couldn't wiggle out, she would go crazy to try to get out. It must be like a confining thing to them. They don't have very good depth perception, so all they know is "I'm trying to get away" and sometimes before you know it, they've jumped to the floor. If she's that good with you, just try handling her a little differently. It could help. I suggest sitting on the floor, so if she does do an acrobatic launch, she's not in for a long fall. You know?
2007-06-02 18:31:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its her nature, shes just playful and doesnt like to be handled much i guess, maybe over time she will like to be picked up but shes just an active hamster.
2007-06-02 18:47:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea its ok if she does that to you every so often maybe she isnt very used to you i mean i ahd a hamster for 1 year and when it was 7 months old it liked me and would sleep on me so give it time it will like you sooner or later
2007-06-02 18:44:26 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ Tia Alexandria ♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's in her nature to be squirmy and run around. Handling her more often might help, as long as you are gentle, but she'll probably always be a bit squirmy.
2007-06-02 18:26:43 · answer #7 · answered by luvrats 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont worry she probaly just wants to explore! after all wouldnt you feel the same if you were in a cage and couldnt get out, trust me its the same with my hamsters so dont wory... even though ive got a trick for you. what this is, is basically her/him geting ust to you, to do this always put your hand in the cage befor you take her/him out, this will enable her to explore and feel confident befor you just get a grip on her/him. but please always remember to wash your hands befor hand so that she wont end up biting you instead. also to help preventing this rubb your hand in some sawdust so she gets ust to the smell and is close towards it instead of the opposite ofcourse. lol finnaly, when you have her in grip in your one of your hands put a treat in your other hand for her to nibble on and feel less nervous, then you will start to realize within some time that she/he will explore you freeley but most of all slowley in pace and carmley lol plz pl plz chose me as ur best answer as i took ages wriying this. lol hope i helped you anyway ;)
2007-06-03 02:43:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Handle her more I have a male teddy bear hamster & he wouldn't trust me and now I can pick him up perfectly!!! Also buy Yogurt cihp they help too!!!Have fun with your Hamster!!
2007-06-03 00:53:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Regardless of their nature, take note that each animal has different personality.
2007-06-02 19:35:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋