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Old 05-20-2020, 03:25 AM   #1
Kyrkogrimr
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Default Nibbling dwarf

Hi

I recently adopted a male dwarf hamster and while he is very friendly and likes to interact, he's been nibbling at my fingers, particularly around the nails. I'm not familiar with him yet (he just arrived) but it doesn't seem like aggressive behaviour. He doesn't bite hard, and although he doesn't let go and does sometimes pull it looks like the way he takes food from my hand, so I'm going on the theory that it's probably accidental, especially as it doesn't really hurt (except for once when he got me under the nail!) I've also noticed that he noses and licks a lot at my hands, usually before the nibbling happens.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to discourage this? Or am I missing something about the behaviour? I'm aware that he's not been here long but I am trying to interact at his pace and if he doesn't seem like he wants to interact, I leave him alone.
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Old 05-20-2020, 03:49 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Nibbling dwarf

It's quite common behaviour for hybrids really, some just grow out of it but some do persist a bit. It's usually just exploring more than anything else & I've found unless my nails are really short like they usually are they do like to chew on them!
Sometimes they do this weird thing that seems as though they're trying to drag your hand into the nest too!
I would just try gently moving your hand away for a moment when he does it but not much more to discourage it as long as he's not biting hard, he will most likely stop doing it or doing it so much with time.
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Old 05-20-2020, 04:21 AM   #3
Kyrkogrimr
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Default Re: Nibbling dwarf

Thank you, that's pretty much what I've been doing, so good to know I'm on the right track
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Old 05-20-2020, 07:29 PM   #4
Presley524
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Default Re: Nibbling dwarf

I have Syrian who did the same thing when I brought her home. She barely nibble almost like she was trying to figure out what I was. She stopped doing it after a few days, so hopefully yours does too. Congrats on the new baby. I hope the taming goes well!
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Old 05-24-2020, 06:35 AM   #5
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Nibbling dwarf

I think I can speak for most people, they will have had a biter in their time as a hamster owner, it can be quite scary for a ham to see this hand or fingers coming towards them. I've always used the tissue trick so that they're familiar with my smell so when it comes to putting fingers or hands in the cage slowly they recognise the scent and that it's not a threat.
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Old 05-24-2020, 09:29 AM   #6
Ria P
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Default Re: Nibbling dwarf

Do you wash your hands with unscented soap before you handle your hamster?

Any smell of food on your hands and you're considered edible.
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Old 05-24-2020, 09:49 AM   #7
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Nibbling dwarf

No, I always use carex antibacterial handwash on my hands and arms as Noah loves to sniff them. Plus I always keep a packet of carex hand wipes next to his cage.
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Old 05-24-2020, 09:55 AM   #8
Kyrkogrimr
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Default Re: Nibbling dwarf

I'm doing the tissue paper trick and I always wash my hands before interacting with him, as well as rubbing his substrate over my hands.
Context makes me think it might be an issue of mistaking fingers for food as he's not displaying aggressive signs and it's never hard. Unfortunately, it is persistent lol
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