Confused about biting/aggression in dwarf hamster

[hamsterforumusername]

I wanted to crowdsource some advice from you all! I've recently acquired a hamster who is exhibiting weird patterns of aggression. He lunges at my hand and bites whenever it is in his cage to clean up, and will chase it when I try to avoid him. I've only had him for about a week, so I initially assumed it was just territorial behavior.

Recently though, I've started having nonthreatening social time with him to get him used to my presence, and found that he will attack my hands—but only my hands—even when out of his cage. This happens not only when I'm actively trying to touch (which would make sense to me), but also if my hand is just resting on a surface. He's happy to climb all over my lap and will even hang out in my palm if I scoop him up, but if he encounters my hand in any other context he will bite. For now I'm trying to minimize contact with him but I'm not sure how to move forward.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this; I've never worked with a hamster this aggressive before and it doesn't fit with what I know. Hoping someone else with more experience can help me out!

[cypher]

Do you wash your hands with unscented soap before letting him near your hands? I don't think it's aggression but they do sometimes just go for hands, if you've only had him for a week then he may well grow out of it, I would avoid putting your hands in the cage when he's in there & awake as much as possible for a while as it may be partly him being a bit territorial.
I'd just go slow for now, keep letting him climb on you but keep hand contact to a minimum for a bit longer & see if he settles a bit.

[hamsterforumusername]

Originally Posted by cypher

Do you wash your hands with unscented soap before letting him near your hands? I don't think it's aggression but they do sometimes just go for hands, if you've only had him for a week then he may well grow out of it, I would avoid putting your hands in the cage when he's in there & awake as much as possible for a while as it may be partly him being a bit territorial.
I'd just go slow for now, keep letting him climb on you but keep hand contact to a minimum for a bit longer & see if he settles a bit.

Hands always washed. It is a bit early I suppose, I've just never had a hamster biting this much when not scared. Hopefully he'll grow out of it because he bites HARD and he'll sneak up on me sometimes when I'm not paying attention.

Thanks for the input!