Drawf hamster constantly bites. Help

[Disneyham]

This is the 2nd hamster as our first sadly passed. Our 1st hamster was just a dream and became a very much loved part of the family and very spoilt.

When she passed my daughter couldn't bring herself to have another one until around 3 months ago.

We got Disney from pets at home and when we first held her she just sat on my hand grooming herself so she was the one. Since its been totally different.

Knowing what we had to let her settle in we left her for a couple.of days and when we went to hold her, she bit pretty hard and drew blood. We have tried to wash our hands before, rub our hands in the sawdust before, let her sniff our fingers from the cage, given her treats and stroked her while she was eating the treat. Even trying all this, she will still bite anyone that tries to hold her.

We have even managed to train her to go.up to the 2nd shelf if she wants to be picked up but will come onto pur hand and bite.

We try and talk to her and you can tell she is interested as she will run to you and try to get to you but as soon as your hand goes near her -bite.

My daughter has now got gloves and no one will hold her anymore unless they have gloves on. Even with gloves.on she will sometimes try to bite through it. Funny enough if you do hold her she will run up your arms etc and not go to bite. She is handled every day and when we go.up to the cage to speak to her she will run to the place she knows she will be picked up from if she wants to come out.

Just dont know what more we can do. She seems a lot more sassy than our 1st hamster and more confident and would be a lovely pet if it wasn't for the biting.

HELP

[Ria P]

Hi and welcome to HC!

Some hamsters simply don't like hands. You could get her out of her cage in a hamster taxi. Let her walk into a mug or jug and take her out of her cage that way.

Someone here had the brilliant idea of using a glass jar as a taxi so the hamster can see your hand but not feel it.
Put a treat in to tempt her into walking in if needed.

[cypher]

Some hamsters more especially females can be quite territorial about their cages & simply don't like hands in the cage, you could try doing what Ria suggested & gradually try to see if she's ok with handling, just let her climb on & off your hand at first with no attempts at stroking or anything else for a while without any contact in the cage & see if that helps.