Hamster keeps biting - help!

[strandedinaber]

I've had my Russian Dwarf hamster, Minerva, for just under a month now, and two weeks ago her too-small cage was switched out for a Duna Maxi. She has been settling in okay, I thought, and we were beginning to get back to where we were in her old cage. Beforehand, she kept coming up to the cage door and I'd open it and she'd step out onto my hand, sniff around, and then go back in again. Over the past week or so, I've started putting my hand into her new cage when she's showing the same kinds of behaviours like putting her paws up against the clear plastic, seemingly trying to get close to me. About half of the time, she'll respond by stepping onto my hand, sniffing, and then walking away again. Sometimes, she speeds over and then I get my hand out sharpish because that means she's gonna bite me. Recently, though, she's started coming over as though she's interested and wants a sniff and a stroke, but then giving a hefty bite and drawing blood instead.

I suspect it might mean that she's just not settled into the new cage yet and we're trying to figure out how to relate to one another when she's in it. I really, really miss the door where my hand could be lower than her. My instinct is to basically stop putting my hand in at all, even if it seems like she wants me to, and leave her alone for the next week at least. But I'm not sure how she'd respond to that on the occasions when she DOES just want stroking/to sniff.

Does anyone have any advice, please?

[cypher]

The top access can be a problem with tanks, I'd be inclined to try & find something she'll be happy to climb into like a large mug, tube or small box that you can use to carry her to a safe place like a play pen or large cardboard box where she can't escape & see if she'll climb into your hand there (keep her fairly close to the ground in case she jumps or falls!) or let her run around & gradually introduce your hand to her.
Once she gets used to that she should feel less threatened or territorial when you put your hand in the tank.
I wouldn't leave it too long, she's had a while to settle now, it's usually best to go slow but if you stop completely it could just get harder.

[strandedinaber]

Thanks Cypher! I'm gonna leave her be for tonight and then give that a try tomorrow.