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Old 01-21-2020, 07:50 AM   #1
gingerj
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Question Winter White hamster Aggression?!

Alright! I need some help with my winter white hamster, but before I ask... here is some background knowledge to reduce any questions/confusion. My hamster is a sapphire winter white dwarf hamster, and his name is Mushroom. His bin cage is 1040 square inches. I got him around 2-3 weeks ago.Anytime I would move anything in his cage and it would wake him up he would screech angrily until whatever it was stopped moving.( keep in mind I made sure I washed my hands and rubbed around in his bedding to avoid smelling like food) So now for the question and my concerns. I left him alone and talked to him the first few days he was around. I eventually started putting a pumpkin seed on my hand and he came over to grab them with no problem and would even come and climb into my palm! He was fine coming over to me until a few days ago (with during those times a few nips to the fingers) and I put my hand flat in the cage without a seed. He proceeded to try and bite me until I pulled my hand out and just left him alone, and he went to hide. I then put a glove on, which he came over to, and attacked! He wasn’t pulling at the glove as hard as possible until I took my hand out of the cage. I left him alone the rest of the day. The other night, I took him out for some playtime, and he bit my sweater when he climbed onto it ( I covered my hand with the sweater to avoid getting bitten.) and he had lots of fun climbing all over my arms and he even crawled up my sweater and down my back! I eventually took my hands out and he had no problem climbing all over them. Until I set him down, I laid my hand down on the ground and he came over, and bit me once again! Hard this time. I was baffled so I put him back in his cage. Well. This morning, I was watching him run around, and I once again attempted with my sweater over hand , and he tried biting it. I pulled out my actual hand , and he climbed in my hand and sat there for a second ( I did not move, I kept my hand completely still to avoid alarming him) and he proceeded to bite my pinky finger so hard he drew blood this time!? I’m very confused and giving up at this point. I’m wondering why his behavior changed so suddenly. (He seems very comfortable when I actual handle him in my arms when I pick him up on my sweaters? I also stopped giving him treats on my hands after he got comfortable coming over to me )
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Old 01-21-2020, 01:02 PM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: Winter White hamster Aggression?!

What happens when you offer your hand with a treat on it?
Maybe he connects your hand with a treat and gets angry when there isn't one.

I honestly don't know but someone here may have some ideas. I'd be interest to find out because i also have a dwarf who bites. I get mine out of his cage with a mug. He's happy to hop into it so i can put him in his playpen.
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Old 01-21-2020, 04:12 PM   #3
gingerj
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Default Re: Winter White hamster Aggression?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
What happens when you offer your hand with a treat on it?
Maybe he connects your hand with a treat and gets angry when there isn't one.

I honestly don't know but someone here may have some ideas. I'd be interest to find out because i also have a dwarf who bites. I get mine out of his cage with a mug. He's happy to hop into it so i can put him in his playpen.
He seems happy to climb on my hand and sit still while he eats the treat. I think he may be aggressive over food? I had to change his diet for a short period because he was ONLY eating seeds out of his mix, of which during that time when I took away his seeds he attacked my hand once again when I put it in the cage. So I eventually put the seeds back in his food and he was fine again??
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Old 01-21-2020, 09:07 PM   #4
SupermanCDC
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Default Re: Winter White hamster Aggression?!

Hello, I understand what it feels to get bitten by a hamster. The size of the hamster cage is big enough for a winter white dwarf hamster. The problem is, you started talking to it too early. You shouldn't even interact with it for the first 3 days at least.

Interacting it will cause a bad effect making your hamster more stressful. When a hamster gets stressful, they bite. Next time, try not to use your sweater to carry it to avoid biting. Start the process again by just slowly giving sunflower seeds to your hamster till it really gets use to it.

You can't even miss one process when bonding with your hamster. Think of a step by step process that might help your hamster bond with you and trust you. Try it, good luck!
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Old 01-21-2020, 09:47 PM   #5
cypher
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Default Re: Winter White hamster Aggression?!

Some Russian hams can be a bit bitey, they often grow out of it & get better with time. Hamsters aren't aggressive, he may confused by some things, once he's become used to your hand offering a treat then stopping the treats isn't a good idea as he's learnt to associate your hand with food.
The change in his diet won't have been good for him either, never remove anything from your hams mix, if you give a good mix picky eating isn't usually a problem, seeds are a natural & favourite food for hams so he will want those, if the food has pellets or biscuit bits in he may not like those so best to go for a good mix without those.
I would avoid putting your hands in the cage any more than you have to while he's in there, if you need to do some spot cleaning put him in a carrier with some substrate or if you can keep an eye on him do it while he's in the play pen, they can get territorial over the cage & really don't like it being messed with!
He sounds as though he's really quite tame already so keep interacting with him out side the cage, they do love to climb all over you so enjoy that & with time he should begin to nibble less.
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Old 01-22-2020, 04:08 AM   #6
Ithuviel
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Default Re: Winter White hamster Aggression?!

I am also interested in hearing more. i'm sorry i'm not offering any advice. I also have a hybrid who is a bit nippy.
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Old 01-22-2020, 05:29 AM   #7
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Winter White hamster Aggression?!

I don't have much to add, sorry,
but I did just want to say talking to a hamster is fine it helps them get used to you before you attempt to interact further. I talk to my hamsters from the moment I get them, I don't think you need to worry about that. The screeching happened as he was scared of you moving stuff around too soon, but I am sure you know that now, so lesson learnt. It does sound like you are getting there with him being tame. Probably just more patience, going slower and time will help.
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Old 01-22-2020, 06:17 AM   #8
Vierville
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Default Re: Winter White hamster Aggression?!

I have spoken to all my hamsters from the day I got them. Even when I'm in their room for something not hamster related I will gently speak to them in the background and say things like "where's little Monty?" Etc...I believe it habituates them to your presence and helps them to realise that there is no need to fear you being around.

Some hamsters just have more uptight natures than others. I had one hamster who had a traumatic life prior to coming to me who never completely got over his tendency to bite. I've converesly had one who from day one climbed on my hand and let me handle her.

There is no set formula for this just patience and gentleness.
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