Strange Hamster Behavior....

[cheeksandathena]

Hi! It's been a while since I've logged on... over 1 year! Anyway, I posted something back in March 2014 discussing my hamster's behavior. The post basically explained how she was bitting and acting somewhat aggressive towards me. After all this time, Athena is still behaving the same way. I've tried handling her on various occasions and she will not let me touch her at all. If I'm lucky, Athena will let me pet her while she's eating or sleeping. I have tried taking her outside to run around (with and without a ball), letting her roam in the bathtub (with towels and pillows of course), and even upgraded to a larger cage. In all of these places, she still won't let me inch towards her. Is it possible that if I change her diet she may change her attitude? (BTW, Athena is a long haired Syrian) Thanks! -Jenna

[cypher]

I doubt a change of diet would do a lot for her behaviour but what are you feeding now?
It sounds as though you are trying all the right things to get her a little tamer but maybe she's just one of those hams that don't really want too much human contact, it is unsual but it does happen.
Do you have any other pets that my be disturbing her, or the smell of other animals on you which could scare her?
Can't really think what else the problem might be sorry!

[Pebbles82]

All I can suggest is when you do out of cage time each day, try doing it at a time when she'd normally be having a nap. Charlie used to not sit still or want to be handled when we got him out before 9pm or if it was after 11pm when he was ready for his night time antics, but between 9pm and 10pm he always had a sleep. I used to put his food out about 9pm and make a few noises doing it like jingling his bell when I put his food out and putting the food bowl on top of the house with a bit of a noise and this would wake him up. Then I'd put a tube with a treat in over his door and he'd walk in to get the treat - then I'd lift the tube out with a hand over each end and take him across to the sofa where we'd put a big fleecy blanket (partly for him to hide/snuggle in and partly bunched up to slow him down from trying to get away!

At that time, because he was dopey, he'd often let you pick him up and I put him in the crook of my arm, where it feels quite secure and stroke him and say 'shsh' He would often sit there for a good 10 minutes, but then would want to move and go under the blanket and curl up and go to sleep (Warning! Don't let anyone else near the blanket if you do this!) - then usually I'd lift him inside the blanket onto my knee so he was in a safer place. And he'd just sleep there for a bit!

Not a lot of interaction but they do get used to your smell more and being handled more like this, but as Cypher says, some Hams just don't like being handled.

[cheeksandathena]

She died today :'(

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Oh my so sorry for your loss. It does make sense now of her biting though. She was in pain and just couldn't tell you except by biting and aggression towards anyone who attempted to cuddle or hold her.

She is now at peace and pain free bless her little spirit.