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Old 07-19-2017, 07:35 AM   #1
minnieandhammy
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Default hammy still biting

My female hamster (syrian) who I've had for 3 months still nips me. I'm still wearing gloves to handle her and she sometimes nips the gloves when she wants down or even for no reason. I got Hammy as a reject from pets at home adoption section. They couldn't sell her as she had been bitten so she wasn't handled really till she was 4 months old. I handle her every day and she doesn't seem scared of me. She comes to her name and loves coming out her cage. I put my gloved hand in her cage and she comes and walks onto my hand. The gloves don't smell of food. She chews everything. She bites my clothes, chews the carpet and destroys her toys. If she comes across a new object she tests it by nipping it with her teeth. can anyone offer an explanation. I thought hamsters once tame weren't meant to bite? Is it just habit or something she just does? Is she just a bad hamster who is badly bred?
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:41 AM   #2
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Default Re: hammy still biting

Some hamsters just don't like to be handled,so that must be considered.I'd suggest not handling with gloves though,as that doesn't really let her get used to your hands and can be intimidating to some hamsters!

It could just be normal exploring behavior though.Even if a hamster were seemingly tame,it's quite natural for them to want to explore and if scents change slightly(or in this case using gloves and other intimidating things that don't allow hamsters to really get used to your hands and scent as mentioned).Do keep in mind that even if relatively tame hamsters are still fairly wild animals compared to domesticated animals like dogs and cats
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:45 AM   #3
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Default Re: hammy still biting

She seems like a chewy hamster. Testing/investigating things with her teeth. She will hopefully grow out of it.

Keep practising the taming. Having a big treat to let her chew whilst on your hand may distract her.
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Old 07-19-2017, 10:05 PM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: hammy still biting

How long is it since you tried introducing your hand without the gloves? It does sound as though you have a ham who likes to chew which is natural behaviour really but it might e that the fabric of the gloves is just encouraging her to bite & chew.
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Old 07-20-2017, 01:00 AM   #5
Princess Pixie
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Default Re: hammy still biting

My Syrian is a chewer, she chews on everything, doors, bars, plastic base of her cage, carpet, boxes, though she's not a biter at all.
I think it's just some hamsters personality but I have to agree, gloves though saving you from nips, aren't doing you any favours in that long run.
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Old 07-20-2017, 12:38 PM   #6
minnieandhammy
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Default Re: hammy still biting

I think I'm too scared to try without the gloves, She's just very nippy. My last hamster never bit or really chewed so I thought she would be fine. I feel resigned to handling her with gloves because I'm not brave enough but at least she's happy and has a nice big cage and gets lots of love and attention.
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Old 07-21-2017, 01:09 AM   #7
Princess Pixie
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Default Re: hammy still biting

The gloves could be one if the main reasons for the biting. They're rather intimidating to hams as they can't smell you, so getting her used to your scent is pointless if you're going to be wearing gloves.
Think of it this way, a hamster bite isn't venomous, it's not going to kill you, you won't have to have stitches. 🤷🏻*♀️
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Old 07-21-2017, 01:15 AM   #8
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Default Re: hammy still biting

The idea of a hamster bite is honestly the worst part!They don't hurt much at all,especially compared to larger animals like dogs and cats
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Old 07-21-2017, 09:51 AM   #9
minnieandhammy
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Default Re: hammy still biting

I'll be brave and try and handle her without gloves.
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Old 07-21-2017, 10:56 AM   #10
Princess Pixie
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Default Re: hammy still biting

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
The idea of a hamster bite is honestly the worst part!They don't hurt much at all,especially compared to larger animals like dogs and cats
Or spiders.
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gloves, hand, cage, hammy, chews, handle, hamster, months, nips, bites, clothes, carpet, destroys, toys, food, walks, badly, bred, smell, bad, hamsters, thought, tame, habit, bite

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