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Old 03-21-2018, 09:56 PM   #1
RodentLove
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 83
Post Proper way to tell a hamster "My finger is not food and your teeth hurt"

So, my lovely little Herman Hamster settled in nicely. It hasn't been two weeks, but it's been a few days and now I've been placing my hand in Herman's home before giving him a treat. (Sun flower seed).

However... I think he is associating my fingers for food now. Even after I wash my hands after touching any food, Herman still reaches out to my finger tips now with his little hamster paws (gently as to not scratch) and tries to nibble my fingers like he does when I actually have a treat on me.

We are working together on what is and is not food. But how do I get Herman to not nibble on my finger? I figured by squeaking it would teach him. And I do squeak when he goes to nibble and it does get him to stop. You can see he has no intention on ripping a hole into my finger with how slow and gentle he is when he tries to grab my finger and nibble.

Is my squeaking to tell him "no" a bad thing? I try not to do it too loud so he doesn't get scared and he does back off. I just don't want him to think I am aggressive.

As far as actual contact, We've gotten as far as him putting his two front paws on the palm of my hand while he investigates. Once he finds out there is no food, he just kinda stays there and watches me until I move my hand away and out of his bin.
(I always let him come up to me. If his paws are on me, it was his decision. I'm letting Herman decide how our relationship progresses on his terms. I just want to know the proper way to tell Herman when he gently puts his teeth on me that it hurts.)
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Old 03-22-2018, 12:08 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Proper way to tell a hamster "My finger is not food and your teeth hurt"

It does sound like exploratory nibbling rather than biting, it's something a lot of hamsters do as they learn what is & isn't food, also they get to associate hands with treats when we hand feed them so it can take them a little while to figure it out but most just grow out of it.
I wouldn't squeak at him, a gentle no is fine but just move your hand slowly away if it hurts or distract him with a finger from the other hand, try not to react too much & he should stop soon enough.
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Old 03-22-2018, 05:53 AM   #3
RodentLove
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Default Re: Proper way to tell a hamster "My finger is not food and your teeth hurt"

Gentle "no" and using the other hand as a process of distraction. Alright makes sense!
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herman, food, finger, nibble, hand, paws, hamster, gently, fingers, proper, teeth, treat, squeaking, loud, thing, bad, front, putting, aggressive, actual, contact, scared, back, watches, letting

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