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Old 04-26-2019, 06:52 PM   #1
Coconutchrissy
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Join Date: Apr 2019
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Smile My hamster Coconut is biting

My Syrian hamster Coconut has been biting and not letting go! I have had him for 3 weeks and he is about 4 months old. Every time I put my hand in the cage, he wants to bite it. My sister was petting him and he bit her, making her finger bleed is there any techniques I can do or make his teeth shorter? I really want him to be a sweet hamster! I am really afraid to hold him with my bare hands
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Old 04-27-2019, 02:38 AM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: My hamster Coconut is biting

Hello. I think it's because you're putting your hand in his cage and he isn't used to you yet or tame. Their cage is their territory and they can behave differently when out of the cage, but until he is tame he would need to be in a safe, escape-proof place when out of the cage.

It is fear basically as he feels you may hurt him or mess with his safe place! Plus being a bit territorial.

If you've had him 3 weeks, have you cleaned out his cage much? Because that could be adding to his stress. It's normally recommended not to clean anything or change things for the first 2 weeks, while they settle in, adjust and scent mark. So if you've been doing full weekly clean-outs he is basically seeing you off.

Another thing can be "cage rage" if the cage is too small and not set up suitably for him.

You don't want to be making his teeth shorter! He needs those. Hamsters only bite if they are afraid or in pain.

Probably the way forward now is to see if his cage is suitable or needs adjustments (they need certain things to be able to feel safe and have normal behaviours), and to do some out of cage taming so he gets used to you and your sister and recognises your scent and learns to trust you and know you won't hurt him.

They do need somewhere dark to retreat to in their cage - either under a shelf or ideally a house that is dark inside and big enough to build a large cosy nest. Their nest and their hoards are their most precious things, so if you've been throwing those away at clean out, he will not be happy!
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Old 04-27-2019, 07:27 PM   #3
Mawuu
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Default Re: My hamster Coconut is biting

I would advice from doing anything to his teeth, though I do recommend putting chews so he can shave them down himself. As for what Serendipity said, it's been such a short time and hamsters are prey animals, they don't warm up to us as quickly as cats or dogs.

When I first got my hammy I was to quick and ended up scaring her so she'd bite but after taking a step back and going at her pace, bonding slowly I was able to tame her after 3 months. Not every hamster is the same, some tame faster some a lot slower.
Be patient, stay confident and work together, Im sure then your hamster will not bite anymore ^^!

Here's a yt video that helped me when I was taming~!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qwxJLw7l24
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Old 04-28-2019, 11:02 AM   #4
SKB_Hamsters
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Default Re: My hamster Coconut is biting

I would recommend holding back on petting him and placing your hand in his cage until he is tame - as a lot of Syrian can be very territorial of their cage when they are still settling in and if they are more nervous individual. I would advise doing his taming outside his cage as I find this help with taming Syrians who have a tendency to bite. Try not to be disheartened by him biting my current girl Liquorice bite me quite badly numerous times in the early days of taming leaving me with bites which didn’t stop bleeding for hours plus a bad bruise - however with time and patience she become a very sweet girl who very trusting of me.

There is nothing you can do to make his teeth shorter as his teeth are currently the ideal length for him to eat properly. Providing chew toys can prevent his teeth from overgrowing but won’t make them shorter than what they should be.

Serendipity7000, has also given some very good advice too of other factor which may be contributing to him biting.
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