Ouch

[Char]

That sounds like Daisy. Takes food from my fingers nicely, but if I put hand out she just bites.
Does your hamster try to get put of the bath when you in there?
I'm trying again tonight.

[thesmallone]

Sorry- long reply lol

Mine is absolutely mental- they sound like similar personalities I think.

And does she try to get out of the bath- Oh God yes!!!- it's her one and only mission in life at the moment!!- I think that is normal for a curious hamster- a good sign if anything!

I began to think she may be territorial, as it was consistent biting whenever my hand was in the cage and trying to interact with her- be it laying out a treat in the middle of my hand, staying still, or just changing the food ball.
Members on here think it is- and now I'm certain- as she has been brilliant in the bath.

Do you think this could be the case with yours?
Maybe she just associates you with biting as she is constantly biting to get you out of her space, and just bites whenever she sees you? Just a thought...

This is what I did:

In the bath I put a hand towel loosely over my feet- great for climbing on- and covers your toes (I was paranoid about her biting my feet), and left her ball in with us, so she could climb in as a 'safe place' (or whatever you're transferring her with, or something similar).

I put little bits of tasty food- something tastier than you haha- I figured this would be positive association, plus something to keep her entertained, and she would rather eat that than me.

I gave treats to her by handing them to her- and yours takes it well that way too which is a great start.
Then when she appeared not to be aggressive and biting any more, I coaxed her onto climbing on me- on my legs I placed treats- let her sniff and slowly pulled it out of her way and laid it on my legs/arm.

Very quickly, she realised I was ok, and good to climb on- she is now climbing all over I then laid treats on my hand.

I found it was key to get her to realise that you as a whole (that human smelling thing) is ok, and ok to walk over the body first. I found that once she realised that, she realised my hand was just another part of an 'ok thing' to climb on.

What is she doing now? Has she calmed down at all?

[Char]

Daisy not really calmed down yet. She now got nickname "crazy daisy" and she lives up to that.
She has let me pick her up a few times but only for a couple of secs, but that's a start. She rather play, and try to climb out of the bath, which is funny because she just slides back in.
She does like coming out to play. But don't like my hand in her cage.
She always biting her cage, I could get her out more if she would let me pick her up.
She has so many toys but rather bite her cage.
Hopefully she will be tame soon.

[Penn]

Hey Char!

What size cage have you got Daisy in? =o If she's showing stressful behaviour sizes like chewing the bars/plastic of the cage then it might be worth looking into getting the cage upgraded if you can.

Also instead of actually picking her up, try navigating her through a tube or along something that's from her cage onto your hand, like a bridge, this may relax her a little and make her feel as though she's got more of a choice as to whether she comes out or not. =3

[Char]

She in a Genus 200 at the mo, with the carry case thing from the dreamland joined to it.
I want to get her a bigger cage, but the one I want hamster heaven is to big for the space we have