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Old 01-21-2017, 08:33 PM   #1
Spunkys_Owner
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Default Nervous Owner and Nervous Hamster- Help!

Hello all people
This has been going on for a while... Well, I guess I better start with the beginning.
A few months ago, I got permission for a hamster from my parents. I decided to get a dwarf, since I thought that they had bigger personalities than Syrians and more active during the day. When I got Spunky, I got to hold him in the store (I know I'm not supposed to buy hamsters from stores, but there wasn't anywhere else that sold dwarf hamsters nearby, besides Petsmart, which I do not trust at ALL.) He surprised me when he didn't bite me at all! I let him settle in to his cage before handling him. He was great with being handled and he was really love-able. My mom and sister enjoyed holding him, until, one day, he bit me, hard. After that, he was not very tame, but I managed to re-tame him. For a few weeks, he was back to normal, but then he started biting again. I gave up. I want to re-tame him, but I'm nervous of being surprised by his bites -- they don't hurt much or draw blood, but just the pure surprise makes me freak. I'm mainly worried I'll accidentally hurt him. Whenever I put my hand into his cage for any reason, he follows it, probably thinking I'm holding food, or my hand is the food. Any suggestions?
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Old 01-22-2017, 05:32 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Nervous Owner and Nervous Hamster- Help!

I think you need to try to work out why he bites when he does, if a ham is fairly tame & not a biter then sudden bites are usually caused by a fright, being startled or occasionally mistaking fingers for food but they tend to grow out of that last one quite quickly.
Try to think about what may have scared him when he bit you (sudden noised or movements, other animals around, any changes in his routine, cleaning or play time) & try not to be too nervous. I know that's easy to say & bites can be really painful but if you are nervous he will pick up on it & it can just make things worse.
If he only bites in the cage then try using a ball or jar or tube (anything he's happy to climb into) to get him out & take him to a safe area where you can handle him.
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Old 01-22-2017, 06:59 AM   #3
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Default Re: Nervous Owner and Nervous Hamster- Help!

It sounds like he's nipping to me. I went through a period of time with my dwarf when he would nip me when I was holding him and he was completely calm. After a few weeks he grew out of it and now he's super tame and friendly.

Nipping is a hamster testing to see if you are food or not so wash your hands with unscented soap before you hold him.

Don't put your hamster back straight away after they nip you, they will learn that nipping/biting means going back to the cage. Continue holding him for a couple more minutes and then put him back. I wouldn't give treats after nipping either, again they will learn that nipping means treats. Please don't punish your hamster for nipping as positive reinforcement is the best thing for taming.

Cypher has some good suggestions as well .
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Old 01-22-2017, 08:29 AM   #4
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Default Re: Nervous Owner and Nervous Hamster- Help!

I agree with the others, it sounds like he's nibbling as he tests to see what he can eat and what he can't. I've had it with a couple of my hamsters and Matthew's been a bit like it this past week. They usually grow out of it providing that it's dealt with accordingly. If it's just a nibble and he seems okay otherwise then I'd keep handling him so that he doesn't learn to use nibbling as a way of getting his own way.

If I've got a hamster that's going through a nibbly phase, I tend to refrain from giving them any treats directly from my hands and will either put the treat down somewhere in the cage or will sprinkle a couple of seeds through the bars on to a hammock or platform so that the hamster can pick them up from there. That worked very well with one of my girls who went through a nibbly phase and now when I put her back in her cage she sits and waits on the top of her hammock for her seeds to land so she can pick them all up.
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Old 01-22-2017, 09:57 AM   #5
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Default Re: Nervous Owner and Nervous Hamster

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluffagrams View Post
I agree with the others, it sounds like he's nibbling as he tests to see what he can eat and what he can't. I've had it with a couple of my hamsters and Matthew's been a bit like it this past week. They usually grow out of it providing that it's dealt with accordingly. If it's just a nibble and he seems okay otherwise then I'd keep handling him so that he doesn't learn to use nibbling as a way of getting his own way.

If I've got a hamster that's going through a nibbly phase, I tend to refrain from giving them any treats directly from my hands and will either put the treat down somewhere in the cage or will sprinkle a couple of seeds through the bars on to a hammock or platform so that the hamster can pick them up from there. That worked very well with one of my girls who went through a nibbly phase and now when I put her back in her cage she sits and waits on the top of her hammock for her seeds to land so she can pick them all up.
Okay, thanks.
My hamster follows my hand to get food, so I'll sprinkle it through the top of the cage. I usually feed him at night, when he's in his playpen.
Whenever he bites, he holds on, probably thinking my finger is food and wondering when I'll let it go. I'll completely re-do the training, starting with him getting used to my voice. Thanks
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Old 01-25-2017, 01:43 PM   #6
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Default Re: Nervous Owner and Nervous Hamster- Help!

Try washing your hands before handeling them if you've recently ate wash your hands with non scented soap if you can. It could be that he just forgot your scent try rubbing your hands on the nesting material you use if you use it. By doing that you rub your scent on the nest material so when the Hamster goes to it's "Hideout" it's in your scent. Hamsters have bad eye sight and use mostly the nose to sniff out its scent thats how the move about the cage or other places. Also the bad eye sight might be why it bit you, It can't see and it has not left his scent on your hands yet so it thinks your a enemy. My last 2 tips are don't use the "Claw Method" as it might think an bird is going to have it for dinner. The last thing is maybe stress is making it "un easy" if you have moved it or things in it's cage a lot recently could cause stress it's best to use those tips be safe, give it time, and remember these are live beings with their own will we can not force them to do something they dont want to do.
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Old 01-25-2017, 03:54 PM   #7
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Default Re: Nervous Owner and Nervous Hamster- Help!

He could be testing you like others have said, but it could also be a taming issue. I find hamsters like to take things slow when it comes to taming, and sometimes going at a brisk pace is a little too much for him. Just be patient and kind and things will resolve over time. Best wishes
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Old 01-30-2017, 03:41 PM   #8
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Default Re: Nervous Owner and Nervous Hamster- Help!

Hi there. It's absolutely normal for you to be shocked about being bitten. As some comments said find out the reason will help a lot. But also, relationships between us and hamsters really is trust. If you don't trust him to not bite the wear gloves (althoughif you're learning how to handle this isnt the best idea because you cant feel the positioning with gloves but gloves honestly make you feel more confideng and protected i did this with my ham and still do if he looks annoyed. Keep trying though and don't give up! Regular handling with gloves may help, along with the tissue trick (put tissue up your sleeve and gove it to him as bedding) and he'll begin to trust you when you're in control and confident.

Hope this helps x
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