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Pebbles82 · 10-04-2019, 05:11 AM

I think it sounds like you Areca bit nervous of handling him and agree that simectamingvsessions in the dry bath tub would help

Once they are used to you and handctame they are easy to pick up and hold andcstroke, butvit always needs to be in a secure area as they are great escape artists and young hamsters are very fast and often din’t Like to sit still long. His behaviour will be very different out of the cage. Put a couple of toys and tunnels in the bathtub and hide a few treats and he’ll have fun exploring. They usually try and scrabble up the side of the bath and slither down again. While he’s doing that try stroking him on the back with one finger. Wear gloves if you are nervous although they don’t bite unless very frightened or in pain and then often just a nip. So get past that fear. If he jerks toundcwhen you strokechim then wait and try again later. It could take a few sessions of this but once he accepts being stroked by a finger without jerking round he is learning to trust you. Then move on to lying your hand flat on the bottom of the bath palm up in from of him and let him just walk over your hand. Next time raise your hand a little 1cm or so but still let him walk off. Then raise your hand a bit higher after he walks on but still let him walk off. After that you should be able to hold him when you lift your hand - let him run from hand to hand with your hands like a tunnel. He will trust you and be tame and easy to handle then.

To get him from cage to bathtub or playpen, a hamster ball can be useful - let him walk into the ball ftom the cage, pop the lid on and carry him to the bath put the ball down in the bath and take the lid off. Leave the ball there as sometimes they climb in to show they’ve had enough and want to go back to the cage.

The bar biting is probably scaring you but he is just desperate to get out and the cage is probably too small. If it’s a Syrian Hamster they need a cage at least 80cm x 50 Cm. With plenty of enrichment. Lots of substrate, a house or nesting box that is dark inside and big enough to build a big nest, a wheel big enough - 11” diameter is good. Tunnels and things to chew on and hide in etc and a shelf helps.

Bar biting is usually stress - either cage too small or too much cleaning out or both. I don’t have time right now to tell you about the best cleaning regime but someone else might!

10-04-2019, 05:11 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Biting Cage Behavior I think it sounds like you Areca bit nervous of handling him and agree that simectamingvsessions in the dry bath tub would help Once they are used to you and handctame they are easy to pick up and hold andcstroke, butvit always needs to be in a secure area as they are great escape artists and young hamsters are very fast and often din’t Like to sit still long. His behaviour will be very different out of the cage. Put a couple of toys and tunnels in the bathtub and hide a few treats and he’ll have fun exploring. They usually try and scrabble up the side of the bath and slither down again. While he’s doing that try stroking him on the back with one finger. Wear gloves if you are nervous although they don’t bite unless very frightened or in pain and then often just a nip. So get past that fear. If he jerks toundcwhen you strokechim then wait and try again later. It could take a few sessions of this but once he accepts being stroked by a finger without jerking round he is learning to trust you. Then move on to lying your hand flat on the bottom of the bath palm up in from of him and let him just walk over your hand. Next time raise your hand a little 1cm or so but still let him walk off. Then raise your hand a bit higher after he walks on but still let him walk off. After that you should be able to hold him when you lift your hand - let him run from hand to hand with your hands like a tunnel. He will trust you and be tame and easy to handle then. To get him from cage to bathtub or playpen, a hamster ball can be useful - let him walk into the ball ftom the cage, pop the lid on and carry him to the bath put the ball down in the bath and take the lid off. Leave the ball there as sometimes they climb in to show they’ve had enough and want to go back to the cage. The bar biting is probably scaring you but he is just desperate to get out and the cage is probably too small. If it’s a Syrian Hamster they need a cage at least 80cm x 50 Cm. With plenty of enrichment. Lots of substrate, a house or nesting box that is dark inside and big enough to build a big nest, a wheel big enough - 11” diameter is good. Tunnels and things to chew on and hide in etc and a shelf helps. Bar biting is usually stress - either cage too small or too much cleaning out or both. I don’t have time right now to tell you about the best cleaning regime but someone else might!