Advice please: anti-social hamster

[Nibbles222]

Hi all,

I’m new first post, first hamster. ��

Nibbles is my sons hamster, but I do all of the care, playing etc due to my son being 6 (and being bitten by Nibbles. ). Still we love her to bits, she’s our first pet and I have to admit is totally spoilt! Initially I followed all online advice about buying bonding, letting her settle etc. I tried after a week or two to open her cage while safely in the bath so she could get use to me, this was my not after I had been putting my hand in her cage often and she was at the point of taking treats off my hand, but she never wanted to get out and explore in the bath she would simply hide in her house so I never forced it. I then brought a play pen, with toys etc, I had tried picking her up twice and each time she would give me warning nips never drawing blood with me but squirming like mad. She has bitten my older son when he tried to feed her a treat and my younger son but never me! So with the play pen I’d get her out of the cage in a cup (the same as I do with her ball) (also she only comes out when she wants to, if she sniffs the cup and walks away I never push it and if when going back to cage she doesn’t get out of the cup I allow her back out to continue play too) so I’d get her in her play pen, she will explore, run around, happy as anything. I’d lay my hand in and if there was a treat on my hand she would take it happily but she would never get into my hand other than to grab a treat. When I got in her play pen she would go to the opposit side and just sit still until I got out, so again I never pushed it.

However, she recently bit through her cage so I took her to pets at home and purchased another cage the staff there wanted to check her teeth as she had knawed straight through the plastic base, she went mad almost attacking them. She wriggled out of every hold and they’re experts in handling them. They advised me to take her to the vet, obviously I did for a full health check. At the vet she again went baserk biting the vet over and over again running all over the table and weirdly when she did get loose she would turn around and run st the vet showing teeth almost in a charge. The vet persisted with blood everywhere and said she’s a perfectly health hamster all fine but seems to have forgotten she’s a prey animal and has gotten higher than her station �� thinking she can attack. The vet described her as anti-social but gorgeous.

In a nutshell we love her anyway and wouldn’t be without her but I’m wondering if anyone else has had the same? We’re happy to respect her boundaries but will it affect her not being tamed in the long run?

Sorry for long post! Any advice appreciated!

[WinnieTheHam]

She does sound more like a 'on show hamster' rather than a cuddly one. I respect you for respecting her boundaries, I believe some hamsters are just meant to be this way, not all of them are cuddly. She seems fairly wild, a fair few hamsters from pet shops are this way. If you ever want to get another hamster in the future for your children, your best bet is to search for a reputable breeder in your area. Breeders socialise hamsters from a very young age, so they're very much tame before they come to you (always allow them to settle into new surroundings though).

Unfortunately hamster cages from pets at home are far too small. This cage is the minimum recommended size, it is a great price also, but goes out of stock a lot so be sure to keep checking for availability. Her being in a small cage may also contribute to her having these behaviours. She may calm down slightly once in a larger cage.

I'm also guessing the vets and staff at P&H grabbed her? rather than cup her? Skittish hamsters don't tolerate this kind of handling very well at all, so I don't blame her for acting the way she did.

I think for now just do the things she is comfortable with

[CookieBlossomBella]

As Winnie said, some hamsters are just not cuddly hamsters and are more like furry fish! It is good that you are respecting her boundaries and that is what makes you a great hamster parent, putting your hamster's needs before your wants. Hamsters who are untamable still make great pets though! Hamsters are really entertaining creatures and it can be a really enjoyable activity to just watch them run around and just be a hamster.
If she is fully untamable and just a "watch"pet, I am sure you will still have the same love for her that you would with a cuddly hamster. If you are more the sort of person that likes to be able to cuddle with your pets, most hamsters are very easily tamed (especially syrians) and so it should not discourage from owning more hamsters in the future.
Best of luck,
CBB