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Old 05-17-2017, 06:18 PM   #1
lany30
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Default My fingers are food?!

Every time I try to let Enzo climb onto my hand he goes straight for the fingerss. even if I have his favorite treat in my hand! I washed my hands before handlingg him and I didn't even touch the treat with my fingers. He doesn't try to bite them aggressively I'm not worried about that I just want him to stop trying to bite my fingers so I can hold him!! Do you have any advice?
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Last edited by lany30; 05-17-2017 at 06:24 PM.
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Old 05-17-2017, 06:38 PM   #2
Drago
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Default Re: My fingers are food?!

Hello, how long have you had little Enzo for? Sometimes newer hamsters have a tendency to nibble as they've not yet learned manners around humans. Hamsters aren't like us in that we see with our eyes, they see with their noses and whiskers. They also will use their mouths to explore as they have not been blessed with opposable thumbs as we have. The unfortunate part of this is that being nibbled can hurt! Something I've done with particularly bitey hamsters is used a treat reward system whenever they didn't bite. I'd offer my hand and if they sniffed or ignored it, they received a treat. If they bit or nibbled, I would push them away gently and not reward them. I repeated this process until they eventually caught on that biting was not acceptable. Good luck
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Old 05-17-2017, 07:05 PM   #3
lany30
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Default Re: My fingers are food?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drago View Post
Hello, how long have you had little Enzo for? Sometimes newer hamsters have a tendency to nibble as they've not yet learned manners around humans. Hamsters aren't like us in that we see with our eyes, they see with their noses and whiskers. They also will use their mouths to explore as they have not been blessed with opposable thumbs as we have. The unfortunate part of this is that being nibbled can hurt! Something I've done with particularly bitey hamsters is used a treat reward system whenever they didn't bite. I'd offer my hand and if they sniffed or ignored it, they received a treat. If they bit or nibbled, I would push them away gently and not reward them. I repeated this process until they eventually caught on that biting was not acceptable. Good luck
I've had him for a week. And Im gonna use that method but are there any other ones I can try too just in case that one doesn't work?
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Old 05-17-2017, 07:13 PM   #4
Drago
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Default Re: My fingers are food?!

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Originally Posted by lany30 View Post
I've had him for a week. And Im gonna use that method but are there any other ones I can try too just in case that one doesn't work?

A week really isn't long at all so I wouldn't sweat it. Most hamsters should be left alone for a week before attempting to be handled so him nibbling isn't concerning. There aren't really any significantly different methods other than those. It's really just a matter of being patient and persistent, some hamsters take months to tame. However, others take just a week or less. I'd just keep trying to handle him and get him used to you as best you can. Somebody else may have some other experiences/methods they'd like to share too Good luck
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Old 05-18-2017, 12:34 AM   #5
cypher
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Default Re: My fingers are food?!

It really just sounds like exploring to me, the first thing they find when they approach your hand is fingers so it's natural for them to have a little nibble as they learn what's food & whats not!
I would just offer him a treat in your finger tips a few times to begin with then try putting it on your hand & if he goes for your fingers first just gently nudge the treat toward him & he should soon get the idea.
Take your time with holding him, try not to be nervous about nibbles as they do pick up on our stress or nervousness, to begin with just let him walk onto your hand, once he's confident with that try gently lifting your hand slightly or moving it, gently stroke his back & let him get used to all those stages before you try holding him.
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