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Old 07-17-2020, 12:59 PM   #1
selener
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Question Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

My aunt has owned her hamster for about a year now and has always been petrified to tame it because he bites a lot. Recently i’ve been going round and trying to tame him. I can pet him and I can comfortably hold him with gloves on. I’ve tried not using gloves recently and he bit me really hard, and i’m scared if he’ll start to properly gnaw at me if i leave my hand that he is sniffing/biting on with him for too long (if that makes sense). Should I continue or will he forever bite me/will he ever properly gnaw at me?
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Old 07-17-2020, 01:48 PM   #2
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

Hi Selener. Can I ask what species of hamster it is your aunt has as this can make a difference in taming. But with all hamsters I would first of all talk to them and let them get used to my voice and my smell. You can also try feeding them treats.
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Old 07-17-2020, 03:47 PM   #3
selener
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

He’s a syrian hamster I have been talking to him a lot gently when trying to tame him with treats, trying not to overbear him with stuff going on, like i will stand by his cage and just talk to him for a while and give him a couple of treats from my hand. I also talk to him gently when petting him/trying to encourage him to get on my hand without biting me if that makes sense
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Old 07-17-2020, 10:31 PM   #4
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

It sounds like you’re making good progress already, it is difficult with an older hamster that hasn’t been handled but I think he could well get over the biting with time. They will often bite gloves & although some people do find them helpful I think it can also mean just giving them something to chew on! The gloves must seem quite strange to him too. He might bite your bare hand to begin with, I’m not sure there’s really a way around that until he gets a little more used to you, I know it’s hard but if he does bite try not to react, just slowly remove your hand & give him a little time before trying again.
Are you able to sit with him in a playpen or other safe area, even the sofa or a bed with cushions or pillows stopping him from escaping, if he can run around & on you & you can just let him run on & off your hands, or just put a treat on your hand & let him take it without handling to begin with that might help.
If you do put your hand in the cage try burying your fingers in the substrate so they’re not so easy to bite! Having not been handled for such a long time he could be a bit territorial about hands in his cage so bear that in mind too.
Have you tried the tissue trick? Just put some toilet tissue up your sleeve or somewhere it will get your scent on it then put that in the cage so your scent becomes more familiar to him & he won’t see it as a threat.
Good luck, biting hams can be a real challenge but it is very rewarding once you win them over.
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Old 07-18-2020, 02:36 AM   #5
selener
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

Thanks for the tips, I used them in my ‘taming session’ today. He seems to just sniff my hand then just chomp it and continue to sniff around it and repeat until he gets bored and walks off. Is this normal behaviour? I wash my hands before I put my hands near him too by the way. I’m good at keeping calm and still when he bites so i don’t scare him. I think I have a confident approach to taming him too which i’ve read is also helpful.
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Old 07-18-2020, 06:05 AM   #6
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

It sounds as though he may be biting as a part of his exploratory behaviour as much as anything, if it was anything else he would most likely bite than run off or bite continuously, so given time, if you can manage it he will probably stop doing it.
Are you offering treats from your hand/fingers or just laying your. hand close to him?
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Old 07-18-2020, 06:10 AM   #7
selener
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

I put a treat on my hand, he calmly grabbed it and stuffed it but then bit all around my hand (I kept it there with no sudden movements to scare him) then I did it once more with a treat and the same thing happened. I then just put my bare hand in and again, he crawled on with his two front paws and bit around my hand again. Only 3 of the bites drew blood. Maybe I’m doing something wrong?
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Old 07-18-2020, 06:51 AM   #8
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

I think he is trying to work out what your hand is. When I am first getting to know my hamsters, If I see them looking as if they are going to bite, I move my hand out the way - nothing startling, just move it. Then they soon work out that you aren't to be bitten.
I think like Cypher suggested if you could get into a bath or big box, or a safe area with your hamster, and they get used to roaming around and over you this can help with the whole taming/bonding process. If need be you can use a mug or a box or something similar to transfer him from the cage to the 'safe area' until he gets used to you.
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Last edited by LunaTheHamster1; 07-18-2020 at 09:19 AM.
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Old 07-18-2020, 06:53 AM   #9
cypher
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

Well you’re being very brave! I don’t think it sounds as though you’re doing anything wrong, they all behave a bit differently & react to things differently so you just have to try to persevere & see what works best with him really. You could try just giving the treat from your fingertips for a little while, that might just get him a bit more used to taking treats without biting. Not sure what else to suggest really, I hope you can make more progress with him though, I’m sure your confidence will help too.
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Old 07-18-2020, 08:34 AM   #10
Petite
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Default Re: Long Owned Hamster Untamable?

I have one that bites too, and have found that washing my hands with unscented soap seems to help a little. She hasn't drawn blood since I've been doing that....yet!
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