My New Russian Hamster Keeps Biting Me How Do I Make Him Stop??

Question

He is a male, a russian or chinese hamster, I´ve had him for about one week and everytime I want to put my hand close to him he sniffs me and bites, he has made me bleed profusely and it is so cute that I just want to hold him and play with him. Everyone with experience thank you?? And greeting from Mexico!!

Answer 1

smack him on the butt, lol, nah just kidding, dont hit him or he will get aggresive, maybe you smell yummy to him and he wants to eat you haha. hmm i dont know really, i know hamsters are biters and not really much you can do unless you raise him from a baby and kept handling him everyday.

Answer 2

Hi

Russian hamsters are more prone to bite than other breeds.
However that does not mean your hamster will always bite.

Most importantly do be very careful not to handle your hamster shortly after touching any type of food - hamsters don't have great eyesight and he will think your fingers are a tasty treat! It is a good idea to wash your hands or rub them in some sawdust before attempting to handle your pet.

He is still relatively new in your home so it will take him a while to settle down and get used to you. Try to make sure that every time he comes out it is a positive experience, ie he is handled quietly and gently.

I would also put lots of nice chewy foods and toys in his house for him to explore, and do rotate these regularly so he is kept interested.

You could wear gloves or hold him gently in a towel if the biting is really bad. Although you mightn't be keen on the idea, do handle him at least once a day and you should start to see a difference over time.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It sounds like your hamster might be smelling something on your hands, that is very yummy smelling to him. Whenever you are holding your hamster, right before you were holding him, were you handeling some food? Hamster food? Human food? Veggies and/or Fruits? If so, this could easily be your problem. Your hamster is smelling the scent from the food, and things that it is food, and is biting you because of it. I know, this might sound very wierd, and not true, but, I remember reading one time in a book about this! The book said not to wash your hands and then handle your hamster, because he will smell the soap, but, to wash your hands, do something else for a second (that doesn't involve food!), and then pick up your hamster. This way, your hamster will only smell your human smell. If this doesn't work, there could be another thing. How high are you holding your hamster? How are you holding your hamster? Your hamster might be afraid, if you are holding him up so high. Try holding your hamster at the most only 3 feet in the air, but, the lower, the safer your hamster will feel! Also, make sure that you aren't squeezing your hamster, or holding him in an uncomfortable postion. This could always trigger a hamster to bite.

I hope that I helped! Thanks, and, good luck,

~ Future Vet

Answer 4

Hamsters bite, but there is a few easy ways to stop the biting.

First off, if you handle food of any sort, right before touching little hammy, he'll think it smells yummy or not and bite. Try washing your hands before going to pet him.

Second, this may be a sign! Yes, a sign! *holy music* Hammy might not have enough to chew on! Try chew sticks, and if that doesn't help, try option three.

To tame a hamster, is like saying that your gonna tame a lion. It's not the same deary. The best way I know of is to grab a little hammy food, and let him eat from your hands, but make sure not to twitch or pull away too soon/before he licks the food from between your fingers. This will cause him to get to trust you better, which should, 89% of the time, stop hammy from chomping away at your hands.

If none of these work!!! Then there is not much more you can do. Hammy is just a biter, so be warned. Try holding him in a towel, but make sure he can breath! Never use gloves, because if you can't feel hammy's body with them on, meaning body heat, then you aren't creating a better bond with him!

Make sure not to hit/hurt hammy. If you bites you, DO NOT PUT HIM IN HIS CAGE AND LEAVE HIM! If this is his way of saying 'leave me alone', then you staying next to him will say 'i'm your owner, and your my pet/friend. I'm not giving up'.

Good luck, and I hope this helps!^^

Answer 5

Certain types of hamsters are more prone to bite than others, this includes Russian Dwarfs. The way I used to "tame" my hamsters was I would take a washcloth and use that to hold the hamster. Sit somewhere nice and quite (if you can) and hold your hamster in the washcloth on your lap, gently and make sure he can breathe! You can feed him some chopped up carrots or his favorite food. If you do this 2 times daily in about a week or two you should have a friendlier hamster. If not, you may just have to where a nice pair of gloves when you handle him, because like I said before, some breeds just enjoy biting.

Answer 6

Try washing your hands before you go to put your hand in the hamsters cage, especially if you have just been handling food, hamsters have poor eyesight and he may think your finger is food.

If he continues biting you then wear gardening gloves that way he will only bite the glove and not you. My Chinese female hamster sometimes mouths my hand, when she does that I firmly say 'No' and she seems to have learnt the word.
Last night on the fourth time she went to mouth me she hesitated and didn't mouth me.
So wear the gloves and when he bites the glove say 'no' firmly, and when he backs off praise him, every time he bites repeat the process, if he goes to bite and doesn't, praise him and slowly he will learn that biting is not acceptable.
Always give him a treat for being a good boy when you have finished the session, do this every evening and hopefully you will see progress within a short space of time.

You can do the same thing for any other habits that you don't like.

i.e. eating clothes, or the carpet, things like that.

I wish you lots of luck

Answer 7

Make sure you havent just eaten as your hamster will think your finger is food.

I had a russian hamster once and she always bite me. But as you have only had him a week he's not tame yet. So take your time.

I got my daughter a hamster just over a week ago and for the 1st 24 hours i didnt touch her. We only get her out when she is awake and I always put her in her play ball 1st and then handle her after about 30 minutes in the ball. I fine she is calmer and easier to handle.

I've had many hamsters over the years and I have done this with all of them, some have been biters but they only bite from fear or they think your are food.

Answer 8

Be patient & persistent with the little guy & *don't* leave him alone right after he bites you. Make sure your hands are clean & don't smell like food before you try to handle him.
We adopted our hamster a bit over a month ago & I've only been able to pick him up for a couple of days now. He had a home before but they gave him up & we're not sure how old he is other than he's a young adult. He was almost vicious at first but after awhile he stopped biting so hard & he still bites but once I pick him up he usually doesn't bite.
Your hamster is probably younger than ours & you've got a good chance of making friends with him. Good luck.

Answer 9

I certainly have had an Russian Hamster they are vicious little issues, while they teeth hatched down into Ur finger and draw blood. it is the painful bit. Get some water spray waiting. How commonly do you carry your hamster ? those hamster genuinely do unlike being picked up! in case you like too purple Ur hamster up carry Ur hand interior the cage do no longer persist with Ur hamster approximately cos this is going to attack you lower back. in case you think of Ur hamster going to choose for you get your water spray squirt it on the hamster. The hamster hates being moist so each time he is going for u squirt him interior the face He run his little legs off back into his mattress. yet at then of the day hes in basic terms protecting hes territory against massive palms what enters his cage. greater you squirt him with water he will learn in few wks or months in case you sustain with squirty him then he knows no longer too chew or attack you. while hes calm carry him for being a solid little boy...

Answer 10

Russian Hamster are notorious for biting. It's a breed characteristic.

I had two and they both did this. Just wear gloves when you handle them.

Answer 11

I could never pick up my russian hamster. they are cute to look at, but they sure love to bite,.