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08-06-2018, 06:57 PM
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#1
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: May 2018
Location: A plane of existence
Posts: 4
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aggressive new hamster?
recently got a new hamster, and he's oddly aggressive? been carrying some clean bedding with me to spread in the cage (and tissue) to get him used to my scent, but he still attacks my hand. just bit me a few minutes ago. not sure what to do. he's in a large bin cage my other dwarf hamster has no problem with. (they're separate cages, just the same size each) also, he was in the winter white cage, but his fur is almost entirely black. is it also possible he's a different kind of hamster?
Last edited by kayixu; 08-06-2018 at 07:41 PM.
Reason: more information
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08-06-2018, 10:37 PM
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#2
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Dwarf whisperer
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
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Re: aggressive new hamster?
If you got your hams from a pet shop then they won't be WW but Russian hybrids, a cross between WW & Campbell's, you can only get pure WW from a good breeder.
How long have you had him now? Some hams take longer to settle than others.
With bin cages you have to approach your ham from above which can be scary for them so always take care to approach as much from the side as possible so he can see your hand coming toward him.
What's his bin set up like? Does he have plenty of deep substrate to burrow in & hideouts to make him feel safe?
Some hams do better with hand taming out of the cage, especially if the cage is on the small side they can get a bit territorial in the cage & be inclined to bite but will be fine out of the cage so once he's had time to settle then see if you can get him to climb into something like a tube or box so you can carry him to a safe play area, a good play pen is best for dwarf hams, give him lots of toys to explore & maybe put his wheel in there & just gradually begin to get him used to your hands, short sessions until he gets more confident with it.
When he's in the cage just spend time talking to him quietly & leave him a treat when you move aways so he can associate you with nice things!
In case you don't know hybrids are prone to diabetes so a good diet is important, a good dwarf specific mix, no sugar, honey, fruit or other sweet treats.
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Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
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08-07-2018, 01:02 AM
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#3
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: May 2018
Location: A plane of existence
Posts: 4
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Re: aggressive new hamster?
that's interesting to know, heard that they were hybrids but didn't know what of, and that that's why so few seem to change their fur in the winter
haven't had him long, seems like less than a week? so wasn't expecting him to be tame, i just wasn't expecting the aggression either... all of the ones i've had so far were more timid in the beginning.
i'll try to come from the side as much as i can, while still trying to keep my fingers safe.. i think he's got plenty of bedding (but i can add a bit more), there's a lot of chew toys, two hideouts (should i add another?)
pretty sure it's not too small, but it might help to try bringing him out of the cage, though the bathtub will have to work 'cause i don't currently have a playpen... the getting him used to my voice thing is a great idea, especially with the (safe) treats included with it!
read that dwarf hamsters in general were prone to diabetes, so i try to be extra careful with that. i guess now, i should wait a bit longer for him to settle in, keep adding my scent, and do the thing with my voice before trying to take him out.... just not sure what to do if he still wants to demolish my fingers no matter what.....
should probably mention that i wasn't trying to pick him up or anything, just trying to have my hand in the cage for giving him food and more chew toys... thank you~
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08-07-2018, 01:27 AM
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#4
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Little Miss Tinytoes>
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 7,036
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Re: aggressive new hamster?
Some purebred winter whites don’t even change colour - my two never did.
It can take a lot of time to tame them especially if they’re biting. Is it more of a nip or a proper bite? If you’re nervous with putting hands near him now you can ball your hand up so if he bites he gets your knuckles instead of fingers to gauge how he is.
Definitely try outside the cage - agree he’s probably territorial. Need to see how he is outside the cage really. If you let him climb on your lap in the bath tub it helps, maybe when he’s more used to you.
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08-07-2018, 02:56 AM
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#5
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: aggressive new hamster?
Hi. It’s fear mostly and they need a two week settling in period with a new cage so probably best if you just keep your hand out until he’s had time to make himself at home. It’s usually recommended not to clean anything it change things in the cage during the first two weeks. During that time they scent mark everything so they can find their way around the cage and get familiar with it, decide where to nest, hoard and pee etc. So probably best to just start that two weeks again . Leave him undisturbed to settle in and just food and water out when he’s asleep. It shouldn’t get too whiff in two weeks with a dwarf ham and after that you could spot clean a little bit. There’s no need to do full clean outs weekly and it’s better to do partial cleans and less often. Clean outs really stress them although they can get more used to it in time. As ,Cypher says use this time to just talk gently to him through the cage so he gets familiar with your voice. If he is scrabbling to want to come out then getting him out in a tube or box to a safe area is a good idea. But if he isn’t showing signs of wanting to come out I’d just leave him for a couple of weeks to do hamsters things in his cage.
Our first Syrian was just like this - he was in a cage that was too small and had top access - used to run at my hand. When we moved him to a larger cage he was like a different hamster and seemed visibly happier although not for the first 10 days when he had to settle in all over again. Some dwarf hamsters are ok with smaller cages, some need more space- not sure what size your bin is- but the main thing is having enough enrichment in the cage or they can’t have normal behaviours. Eg enough depth of bedding, somewhere dark to go - a hide or house - plenty of variety, tunnels toys etc, and a wheel that runs smoothly and is big enough. He may be a nervous ham too if he’s been handled roughly in the past. Our last Syrian was very nervy but became very tame with some taming.
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