Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Behaviour

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-20-2011, 08:04 PM   #1
rabt91
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 8
Default Cage territorial

My albino Russian dwarf is very territorial inside his cage, i currently pick him up by offering a toilet roll tube, when he crawls in to explore I pick that up and plonk him on my hand. He's okay once on my hand, and when outside his cage I can pet him freely. My problem comes inside the cage, and whenever I try to pick him up by hand. Rather than struggle or run away like most hamsters, he bites. Not a nip, a full on bite, and he doesn't stop biting until he's been let go of, or my hand leaves the cage. Even if offering a treat he bypasses it to attack my hand. It makes it impossible for me to pick him up, or even get him used to having me in the cage, because I can't stick around long enough without starting to bleed. I've used a leather glove before, and rather than getting tired and giving in he actually managed to chew through the glove and get to me. My usual method of picking up a hamster would be to scoop them, or have them crawl onto my hand, but obviously that's not gonna work unless I can calm him down. I've tried sitting in a bathtub with him and socializing him, and he's about 4-5 month old now, so is more than used to me. Like I said, once placed on my hand or lap he's normally fine, but he gets real jumpy and aggressive in his cage or when getting picked up. If anyone's experienced the same thing, and managed to sort it out, I could really use the help.
rabt91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2011, 08:24 PM   #2
DoomSlave
Hamster Pup
 
DoomSlave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 170
Default Re: Cage territorial

My ham likes to bit me too. One of the other members here, AliKati, is a very knowledgeable user and she gave some wonderful advice. She suggested to curl your fingers in toward your palm but still expose your palm so that your hamster might be less interested in biting since he will not see your fingers. Also, how big is his cage as some hamsters get more territorial in direct correlation with the size of their cage. The smallerthe cage, the more aggressive and territorial a hamster might become. Not that you have a small cage or anything, sometimes hamhams just become teritorial depending on their individual personality.
__________________
Hello! From Gandalfenstein the Mighty and Me!
DoomSlave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2011, 07:59 AM   #3
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Cage territorial

It`s good that he`s fine once outside his cage, but this does sound like defending territory to me and nothing more. What I would do here, is take something like a long piece of dowelling or something you can gently rub over his back while talking to him. He may well grab and attack whatever it is your using to gently stroke him, but little and often should help and he won`t be biting your hand.

I saw a lady on TV who is an animal behaviourist doing something called the Tellington Touch (I think that`s how it`s spelt?!!) and she basically stroked the small animal with a feather or one of those tickling stick rod toys, to get the animal used to being touched inside it`s cage. I`m not sure what the success rate of this method is, but it`s got to be something worth trying each evening?

Your hamster is still young, so still has time to learn. Patience is always the key here, so best of luck.
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2011, 08:04 AM   #4
Christmas_hamster
Adult Hamster
 
Christmas_hamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 393
Default Re: Cage territorial

How big is the cage? This behaviour seems to be more prominent in smaller cages, though some hamsters carry the habit even when upgraded. I've never pushed hamsters that live in a large enough cage, but feel this territorial over their space. Instead I respect their space and find other means of getting them out, like you do with the tp roll.
__________________
My Babies:.Rory & Bones (robos)
Rainbow Hammies:.Dash, Skitty, Dusk, Mocha, Riz, Bubba, Spunky, Romeo, Krista, Trixie, Bandit, Damion, Prince, Daxx, Patch, Hunter, Yve, Noël, Buddy, Hammy & Speedy.
Dashing Hamsters - for modern hamster lovers
Christmas_hamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2011, 09:43 AM   #5
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Cage territorial

Very true Christmas_hamster. Sometimes an upgrade helps, but if it does`nt, sometimes it`s best just to respect that it`s their behavior and they are basically protecting that space. Once out, they are fine.
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2011, 06:16 PM   #6
rabt91
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 8
Default Re: Cage territorial

He's in a mini Duna if that helps, I figured it was perfectly sized for him. I do plan on giving all of my hamsters larger bin cages when I have the time to though.
rabt91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
aggressive, bites, cage, campbell's, taming

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:46 AM.