Vampire Hamster haha

Wexland · 02-06-2014, 04:07 AM

Hi Everyone

Well Bubbles has been with me getting on for 2 months now. She has a huge cage, playtime every day, lets me stroke her and takes food from me BUT she is a biter!!! I have been told that she will always do this, is that correct?

If so hey ho, she is still adorable and cute and makes me smile everyday. I see people handling their babies and letting them run around lose, all Bubbles seems to want to do is escape

or draw blood

**DrKMcK** · 02-06-2014, 06:20 AM

Hello Wexland. Bubbles is very lucky you're okay with biting. That really shouldn't continue. She's still young and this can be stopped. I'd start taking her out of her cage in something, not with your hands. A cup, a box, her hamster ball, if she has one. Anything Bubble-sized will do. Then, I'd either play with her back in the bathtub like beginning taming, or in a safe area with a door closed. The thing is, you want her to interact with you, but not with your hands for a while. The only time she goes near your hands will be if you have a treat for her. No picking her up. After playing with her, scoop her back up in her cup/box/whatever you decide to use

, and get her back to her cage. If your cage has a front door where she can safely walk out of the cage into the cup/etc., that's the best way, because it will be her choice to come out and play or not. If your cage has a top that opens up, put the cup/etc., down in the bedding for her to climb in. Biting is something to be avoided. First, it hurts. Second, it's not really a great way for your hammy, Bubbles, to interact with humans. You may be okay with her biting, but a friend or family member might not be happy with a bite. Better to go back and retame your girl. She needs to learn good hammy citizenship

Wexland · 02-06-2014, 06:36 AM

I thought I had followed all of the taming advice. She does always and always has climbed out of her cage into her ball. I have got in the bath with her, all she will do is use to me climb up and try to get out of the bath. I sit by the bath stroking her which she will let me do and she will let me stroke her in the cage (its the hamster heaven and has a large front opening.

I don't like being bitten she draws blood but I would not even dream of getting rid of her because of it, thats more what I meant in my first post. I just am at a loss being a first time hamster owner.

A friend suggested she needed to see more of me so at weekends and all evening I transfer her to her smaller cage and sit her on the sofa next to me in the cage, talking to her, she can see the tv etc. I am hoping this will help. Having also got a cat its not easy to just let Bubbles out and everytime I let her lose in the bathroom I panic she will find a crack somewhere to escape as that seems her only mission in life

Am I a bad hamster Mum?

**KWsHamstery** · 02-06-2014, 06:48 AM

No you are not a bad hamster mom! You are doing all you can and you love your little stinker even though she bites you. You are a great hamster mommy

x

Wexland · 02-06-2014, 06:56 AM

Oh boy I do love her yes. I find it quite hard having had dogs and horses which are fairly easy to discipline but a hamster................ well a hamster has me beaten haha. We know who the boss is. She is a little stinker too - I tell her everyday when I have to clear the penthouse of her cage out because she wees in it! I am so well trained!!!

I shall perserver though and if anyone has any pearls of wisdom feel free to impart your knowledge

**DrKMcK** · 02-06-2014, 06:57 AM

Not at all a bad mum. And with cats around your hammy's safety comes first always. One trick I use with my dwarfs because they are cage aggressive, is, I use a heavy suede gardening glove. Also, when Patches got really sick before she passed away, her eyes were gummed closed, so she couldn't see me. When I'd go to get her out, she'd panic and try to bite me. I mean...she'd really try. Patches had never bitten me in her whole life before this. The gloves were perfect and it made it possible for me to care for her safely. Try the gloves.

Wexland · 02-06-2014, 07:05 AM

I shall go online now and order some gloves, anything is worth a try. I am so jealous of all the photos with people getting hammy hugs. Still Bubbles is little miss diva and if shes happy I am happy. And let me tell you if she isnt happy we all know about it, I didnt know hamsters could throw temper tamtrums, but madam can. If I do not jump to attention we bar chew! She will only ever do this if I have not mastered the art of reading my crystal ball quick enough for her liking. She is so entertaining...........and a wee bit naughty teehee.

Wexland · 02-06-2014, 02:07 PM

Suede gardening gloves arriving tomorrow. Although she let me tickle her for ages tonight.

**DrKMcK** · 02-06-2014, 07:05 PM

Hi Wexland. I hope they help. I found that I was a whole lot more comfortable holding the hams when they couldn't bite me. My comfort level seemed to make them calmer too. Fingers are crossed here

Wexland · 02-07-2014, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Hi Wexland. I hope they help. I found that I was a whole lot more comfortable holding the hams when they couldn't bite me. My comfort level seemed to make them calmer too. Fingers are crossed here

Thank you for yur support DrKMcK, I will keep you posted on our progress