HELP - how to stop weeing outside the cage and other matters?

[HarryHamster]

Hi
This is the second time Harry has wee'd on my dad, then afterwards he he starts to bite me for no apparent reason. What does that mean?
He does bite in the cage but at the moment he is pushing everything off of his platform. Is he cage aggressive or being dominant? Harry's cage is 40cm in length and 30cm wide, dad still thinks it is a waste of money to get a new cage because he thinks Harry loves his home and doesn't need anything bigger! Is dad right and I am the crazy one? Please help.

Thank you in advance xx

[cypher]

They will often pee if they're frightened but also some young hams do just seem to pee when being handled until they grow out of it, if he's still getting used to being handled & biting as well as peeing then he may just be nervous & you need to go slow with the taming.
Your cage is very small, ideally you want something a minimum of 75x45cm but preferably closer to 100x50. with a cage that small then the biting is probably cage aggression, as for moving things of the platform that could just be Harry being a hamster, they do like to arrange things in their cages their own way!

[HarryHamster]

thanks cypher

what are your cages called that you use?
what if Harry doesn't like me (cause he wants to get away all the time)?

[cypher]

I got two of my cages from Germany because I'm really fussy & couldn't find anything I was totally happy with here & my other cage is an older one no longer available in the UK sadly. I have used the Alaska from zooplus & the Hamster heaven (not the top penthouse part though, I just blocked that off) & I think both of those are quite good cages, especially for a nervous ham as they have big front doors which makes accessing your ham much easier & less stressful for both you & your ham! I would avoid anything with tubes as it's easy for a ham to hide in those & you have to struggle to get the ham out which will stress them, something that allows access from the front is always better than having to approach your ham from above too.
The barney or alexander cages from zooplus are both good too although the doors are a bit small. Hamster Cages | great selection at zooplus

I'm sure it's not that Harry doesn't like you, he's just nervous & the cage may be making that worse.
I'd go right back to basics with taming, begin with the tissue trick putting a tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then put that in the cage & repeat that daily for a while so he gets really comfortable with your scent being a normal none threatening part of his home.
Begin gradually introducing your hand into the cage but don't force it on him, try to let him come to you, offer a treat & wait for him to take it.
It may be easier to handle him out of the cage, either in a safe play area or in the bath where he can run around on or with you without feeling trapped or threatened. Use a ball, box, mug or tube to scoop him out of the cage & he may be less inclined to bite if you do that.
Take it slow with him, patience is the key!

[HarryHamster]

thanks cypher

i am looking to get him either this cage
Universeller Nagerkäfig CARLOS mit 2 Etagen ideal für Mäuse, Hamster, Ratten usw | eBay

or this one
Mäuse- und Hamsterkäfig BORNEO "L" Verdrahtung 8 mm, Maße 99 x 54 x 56 cm | eBay

I really like the two tiered as it will twice amount of space, do you agree?

[cypher]

I thought about the two tiered one, I do like it but after seeing some photos with a wheel & everything else in I did think the lower part might get a bit cramped but I still like it & think it's a really nice cage.
The Borneo is the one I have two of! I love it & so do my hams!

[Leila0420]

Hi HarryHamster, I think the 2 tiered cage looks good. Better value for money with the ramps etc. too

I think if he's biting in his cage then it's probably cage aggression... Although he may have weed on your dad simply because he needed to wee Sometimes they like to go home for a wee and to have a drink during play time if you've had them out for a while

[HarryHamster]

thanks lelia0420

I tried to go through the taming steps from the start again, start fresh or at least try too.