Robo suddenly started biting for no reason

[Elot]

Hello,

I adopted by robo back in October and everything was fine. I gave him a huge bin cage, a suitably sized wheel, toys and more hideouts tha' he knows what to do with.
I got him completely used to handling by feeding him by hand and with constant interaction.

I'm sure he's not aggressive or scared because he always stops everything he's doing when he hears me coming and comes to the spot where I usually handle him. I always hear him clicking away too, a sign of a happy hamster as I've read. I also try to never disturb his sleep

Now about 2 weeks ago he just started biting out of the blue, I still wash my hands every time, I've increased the amount of food I give him and I now rub carrots on his chew toys to make them more enticing. Ive tried letting him bite the tougher parts of my hands to make him understand I'm not food but all to no avail. I've also noticed that he finished all the herbs on one of his favorite chews.
Its gotten to a point where he draws blood practically every time.

The last ideas I have are to either stop feeding bon by hand or change the bedding.

Thanks in advance for any help

[SKB_Hamsters]

Hello and Welcome to Hamster Central
I am sorry to hear that your Robo has suddenly started biting you.

Have you recently cleaned his cage out or added anything new? As hamsters can get quite stressed with cage cleans and changes this sometime can cause sudden changes.

I would personally recommend doing the tissue trick with him something which is often done with new hamster during taming but it might be something which might help him get re-familiar with your scent. This involves putting some white unscented tissue up your sleeves for a while to get your scent on them - then tear the tissue up in strips and place it into his cage. They will often take the tissue to their nest and therefore he might start re-associated your scent with comfort.

The only other thing I can think of is trying hand feeding other treats from your finger where you hand is at a slight distance to him until he start to feel comfortable again around you. What are you currently hand feeding him? if you are currently not hand feeding him mealworms or pieces of millet maybe this is also worth a try too - as they are a popular with Robos.

I hope he stops biting you soon!

[hellobg]

That is one skittish and aggressive Hamster, well hopefully he will stop biting you.

I've had hamsters like that too :/

[Ghostbuster aka Ghost]

Mine is similar but she will come up to you, eat everything off you hand and then sometimes randomly will bite your hand really hard xS but only after she's eaten