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Old 10-02-2019, 11:50 PM   #1
Miaw12735
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 1
Default Biting Cage Behavior

Hello friends,

I have a question on the behavior of my hamster. I have had him for about 3 to 4 months and this is my first time taking care of one. He has gotten used to his name and when I call to him he will run to the top of the cage and he climbs up on the bars and start biting at the cage. I don't know if he has gotten used to me because I only held him once in my hand. I'm sorry if I wasn't too specific I tried to explain it based on what he does.
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Old 10-03-2019, 01:35 PM   #2
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Biting Cage Behavior

I'm a bit puzzled. You've had your hamster 3 to 4 months and you've only held him in your hand once?

You are lucky enough to have a hamster who comes running when you call his name but for some reason unknown to me you don't want to interact with him. Why?
Are you nervous of holding him or afraid he may jump off your hand if you take him out of his cage?

I think that your hamster is trying to tell you that he wants your attention and that he wants out of his cage for a while.

You can sit in a bath tub with him (without water!) if you don't have a play pen for him.

Let us know how you get on.
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Old 10-03-2019, 08:13 PM   #3
10Minutes
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 187
Default Re: Biting Cage Behavior

Hello, how does his cage look like? What's the size and are there enough toys/ hideouts inside? Sometimes bar biting is caused by a cage that is too small/ boredom.

Alternatively, are his teeth ok? Hamsters' teeth are constantly growing and they do need to file their teeth on something. You could provide him with a nice sterilised pebble, and the cardboard tube from the center of a tissue roll for this. If you have the budget, you can buy some whimzees for him to chew on.

You have to try to find out what's causing the bar biting and remove the cause, because it's very bad for him if he bar bites.
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:11 AM   #4
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Biting Cage Behavior

I think it sounds like you Areca bit nervous of handling him and agree that simectamingvsessions in the dry bath tub would help Once they are used to you and handctame they are easy to pick up and hold andcstroke, butvit always needs to be in a secure area as they are great escape artists and young hamsters are very fast and often din’t Like to sit still long. His behaviour will be very different out of the cage. Put a couple of toys and tunnels in the bathtub and hide a few treats and he’ll have fun exploring. They usually try and scrabble up the side of the bath and slither down again. While he’s doing that try stroking him on the back with one finger. Wear gloves if you are nervous although they don’t bite unless very frightened or in pain and then often just a nip. So get past that fear. If he jerks toundcwhen you strokechim then wait and try again later. It could take a few sessions of this but once he accepts being stroked by a finger without jerking round he is learning to trust you. Then move on to lying your hand flat on the bottom of the bath palm up in from of him and let him just walk over your hand. Next time raise your hand a little 1cm or so but still let him walk off. Then raise your hand a bit higher after he walks on but still let him walk off. After that you should be able to hold him when you lift your hand - let him run from hand to hand with your hands like a tunnel. He will trust you and be tame and easy to handle then.

To get him from cage to bathtub or playpen, a hamster ball can be useful - let him walk into the ball ftom the cage, pop the lid on and carry him to the bath put the ball down in the bath and take the lid off. Leave the ball there as sometimes they climb in to show they’ve had enough and want to go back to the cage.

The bar biting is probably scaring you but he is just desperate to get out and the cage is probably too small. If it’s a Syrian Hamster they need a cage at least 80cm x 50 Cm. With plenty of enrichment. Lots of substrate, a house or nesting box that is dark inside and big enough to build a big nest, a wheel big enough - 11” diameter is good. Tunnels and things to chew on and hide in etc and a shelf helps.

Bar biting is usually stress - either cage too small or too much cleaning out or both. I don’t have time right now to tell you about the best cleaning regime but someone else might!
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:13 AM   #5
Pebbles82
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Biting Cage Behavior

Sorry about typos - on my phone.
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