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Old 01-31-2021, 07:03 PM   #1
Monitarlizard
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 4
Question Russian dwarf ignores treats and bites fingers instead?

Hi! I got a Russian Dwarf Hamster 4 days ago now from pet smart. When I got her the lady at the pet store specifically pointed her out noting that she wasn’t skittish and didn’t mind being held. Even handled her for me to see.

I’ve noticed that when I have her out of her cage and hold her she doesn’t bite (so the lady was right about her not minding being held). She is more interested in exploring, sniffing my fingers, going up and down my arms. I can pick her up, scoop her up no issues. However, I admittedly have been picking her up and petting her when she’s distracted with food, when I want to hold her. I want to try the taming technique where I put treats in my hand and and lay my hand flat in the cage. So that she willingly climbs onto my hand rather than me picking her up when she’s distracted. When I try the lay my hand flat with treats inside the cage, she completely ignores the treat (sunflower seeds) and goes straight for my fingers. What started as nibbles on the second day turned into a chomp on the third day.

I guess my general question here is why does she not bite my fingers when I have her outside the cage even if they are right there for her to bite especially when I’m holding her. But when I have treats and lay my hand flat in the cage she ignores the treats and seems more interested in my fingers? Is this cage aggression?

I’m a first time hamster owner so I’m not sure how to interpret this behavior. Am I rushing the process? I think I got excited when I saw I could hold her but maybe I should give her more time? Is she just exploring by biting my fingers in the cage? Although she doesn’t bite them outside the cage? Because now I’m scared to put my hand flat in the cage again.
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Old 02-02-2021, 07:15 AM   #2
spookymulder
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Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 53
Default Re: Russian dwarf ignores treats and bites fingers instead?

The food is in your hand so your hand smells like food. Probably isn't sure whether your hand is food. =)
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Old 02-02-2021, 10:02 AM   #3
cypher
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Russian dwarf ignores treats and bites fingers instead?

The cage is her territory & she clearly doesn’t like it being invaded by hands! This isn’t really all that unusual, especially for a female, just keep handling & feeding treats for out of cage time & put your hands in the cage while she’s in there as little as possible, do any cleaning etc when she’s in a carrier or other safe place & just do food & water when she’s in the cage, she will probably begin to tolerate it to some extent with time but some don’t.
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