Is nibbling normal?

[snow pony]

I recently got my hamster Ella (about a month ago now), and I've tamed her and can hold her in my hands or on my arm or whatever. She likes to gnaw on wood toys that I give her, and tends to explore new things she gets by chewing them slightly to see what they are. However, when on my hands (I do wash them before holding her) she will sometimes nibble me. It's not any form or attack or defence, it's just a nibble to see what I am, as it doesn't hurt but always surprises me when she does it. I was just wondering, is this normal, and is there any way I can stop her from doing it?

[JLPrairie]

Do you wash your hands using unscented soap? Your hamster might think your fingers are food. If not, it might just be a little unsure of who you are, since you just got her last month and as long as she isn't chomping down on your fingers and there isn't any blood, it should be fine.

[snow pony]

I do use unscented soap. There is never any blood, and she is a fairly nervous hamster, so it probably is just her getting used to me. Thanks for your advice.

[Rads]

Yes nibbling is normal, Pip still likes to nibble my fingers every now and again..

[cypher]

Totally normal! Most do grow out of it after a while though.

[Macaroni24]

yes nibbling is very normal especially with younger hamsters one of my hamsters barbie still nibbles to this day and she is 2 and tamed

[Drago]

Nibbling is a hamsters way of examining objects in their environment so it totally normal. It's like how we feel things with our hands, but hamsters use their mouths instead which is a bit unfortunate for us since they've got teeth! Like cypher said, little Ella should stop it over time as she bonds more with you

[chesca_27]

Larry-Jasper went through a phase of this when I got back from holiday. They normally grow out of it as long as you just ignore the behaviour.

[Cinnamon Bear]

Is she nibbling when u hold her? Or in her cage?

My Syrian will lightly nibble when she wants to be put down into her cage. From too long of a hamster hug for example. She hasn't nibbled me in her cage, she is very friendly hamster tho. As a rescue she was labeled a cuddly hsmster

[Fluffagrams]

Both Jessie and Matthew went through a spell of doing this and there was no malice or aggression in it, he was just working out what he could eat and what he couldn't. He grew out of it in a couple of weeks but I've heard of some situations where an owner reacts and puts the hamster back in their cage so they then learn to nibble as a way of getting what they want.

If any of mine nibble, I'll simply say 'No' and carry on with what we are doing but if it's a proper bite, I'll put them back as there's usually a reason for a normally tame hamster to bite.

Sometimes they can learn to associate your hands with food which can increase the likelihood of getting nibbled and with a hamster that is going through a nibbly phase, I will give them a treat or something by putting it down somewhere else in the cage or playbin rather than have them take it off of me directly.