Owie! That hurt Zoro!

[Sandti]

So I got my new ham today, she's pepper and she is a dwarfie and I've build up confidence by just holding her and letting her sniff me and run on my hand.

So I decided to try what I was doing with Zoro by holding my knuckles in front of her face so she could sniff me and investigate. And she nipped me, which is what I was expecting but she went back for another nip, and then another. Getting harder and harder until she drew blood (she also chewed afterwards D

It makes me sad, I don't understand, I thought she liked me D:. I finally build up the confidence and she makes me bleed, the first time she has ever drawn blood on anyone

Suggestions anyone?

[Silver]

I would get a toilet tube & put it near Zoro, Zoro will run into the tube & then put it to your arms over zoro's cage just incase ham decides to make a run for it.

Lots of hams have cage rage, the are protectiong there home so anything coming into there home is bitten.

Arms are nutral, so you might well find the ham will look around your arms & not bite.

When Zoro does bite you, say firmly "no Bite" not shouting & at the same time with your other hand push Zoro's mouth off your hand

Silver xxx

[Sandti]

She doesn't clamp on, she does it like not fast but not slow like medium and then pulls away

[Kirsty1987]

Carmine used to bite when i first got him i found it was only in cage though and not outside of it so perhaps sit in a playpen with zoro and let her climb over you and i just used to tap carmine on the nose gently when he went to bite he eventually stopped. Also washing hands before so they don't smell of food or your new hamster pepper.
But carmine just licks me if he smells another hamster on me lol

[Silver]

Then its a gentle push her away & a stern "No Bite"

I agree getting Zoro out of the cage & then interact will be less likely to be bit

Silver xxx

[pinkneon]

Could you try cupping her up into your hands, with one hand over her so that she is safe? She might struggle a bit, and squeak, but if you hold her a wee bit longer then put her back, and do the same tomorrow etc she might like being picked up after that? Sorry, that doesn't make much sense! I know what I'm trying to say, I just can't express it properly ...