Hamster suddenly aggressive and biting help!

[maddiexo]

Hello,

I am a first time hamster owner to a Syrian hamster and I’ve had him for around 6-7 months now. He has always been a sweet and energetic hamster, but recently I watched a few videos about proper hamster care and decided to get him a much larger cage (bin cage) with more toys.

It’s been about 3-4 days since I’ve switched his cage and all of the sudden he’s started biting me and being aggressive. Prior to these incidents he’s only bitten me a few times when i had first brought him home. I am worried I have done something wrong or if this is normal behavior when switching cages. I also worry he may be sick and if this behavior will continue because for the last 3 days any time i’ve taken him out of his cage he’s bitten me, so i’m afraid to pick him up!

It is also important to note his testicles on his bum were slightly red and swollen last night and i was extremely nervous he had gotten sick. I did some research and it says this typically happens in male hamsters in the spring. Recently it’s been much warmer where I live and so the room i keep him in is naturally hotter. I’ve turned on my fan in hopes of helping. I’m just extremely worried i’ve done something wrong and his behavior will stay this way.

[Presley524]

Moving cages is very stressful for a hamster so he still may be settling in. You may have to start over on the taming process over and just talk to him while inside the cage. It could also be how you’re picking him up coming from the top over him might spook him. I don’t know if you do this or not, but try coming from the side of him where he can see you coming.

[cypher]

The cage change has probably just stressed him out, even when it's a change for the better they still need time to adjust, it can take them up to a couple of weeks to get settled in a new cage. Just give him time, keep talking to him quietly while he settles but don't put your hand in the cage unless you have to for food & water just yet.
Do you have a photo of his set up, there maybe some changes that could help.
If the weather has been warm then I wouldn't worry about the appearance of his testicles that's normal.

[maddiexo]

Thanks everybody who helped! He has calmed down a lot and hasn’t been biting i think it was just the new cage freaked him out a bit. He seems to be genuinely happier in his new environment just took some time!!

[Thin Lizzy]

I'm glad everything has calmed down, they get so use to their cage and any change can take a while. I've also found that if you include the substrate from the old cage and mix in with new this helps them as it has their scent on it. With a new cage comes that new smell.