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Pebbles82 · 03-19-2020, 06:28 AM

Hello and welcome. We have two syrian hamsters - I have been allergic to most pets all my life which was difficult, but happily am not allergic to hamsters!

Is there any particular circumstance when he nips? Usual advice is wash your hands before handling them (you probably do anyway) in case they think you're a tasty snack if you've eaten something recently. Also use simple soap - nothing flowery or with honey in it! Also smells like food. Some hamsters don't like a hand in their cage either. It is usually fear that makes them nip - if it isn't thinking you are food, so he maybe just needs to build some trust. Being prey animals they can see a hand descending from above as something coming to get them and some are more nervy than others about this. If you only have a top opening tank/cage, then one way round this is to lower a tube with a treat at the far end (eg something smelly and tempting like cucumber) so they walk into the tube - then lift them out in the tube with your hands over each end so he doesn't jump out. Wear gloves to do this if you think he may nip and make you drop the tube. Or you can lower the hamster ball in with a treat in, let him walk into that and pop the lid on and lift him out that way.

General consensus is that hamster balls aren't good for dwarf hamsters - they can be stressed in them and there's a risk of getting a toe caught in the slots. Hamster balls are very useful for transporting hamsters from the cage elsewhere though!

Setting up a playpen area or safe area with some toys in can be better for out of cage time and exercise.

Have you tried the tissue trick as well? It helps them accept your scent. Put a few sheets of toilet paper up your sleeve or down your bra for a couple of hours, then tear it into strips and put the pile of toilet paper strips near the house. The hamster will take some for the nest and will have your familiar scent in their "safe place" so associate it with good things.

03-19-2020, 06:28 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: old woman, old hamster Hello and welcome. We have two syrian hamsters - I have been allergic to most pets all my life which was difficult, but happily am not allergic to hamsters! Is there any particular circumstance when he nips? Usual advice is wash your hands before handling them (you probably do anyway) in case they think you're a tasty snack if you've eaten something recently. Also use simple soap - nothing flowery or with honey in it! Also smells like food. Some hamsters don't like a hand in their cage either. It is usually fear that makes them nip - if it isn't thinking you are food, so he maybe just needs to build some trust. Being prey animals they can see a hand descending from above as something coming to get them and some are more nervy than others about this. If you only have a top opening tank/cage, then one way round this is to lower a tube with a treat at the far end (eg something smelly and tempting like cucumber) so they walk into the tube - then lift them out in the tube with your hands over each end so he doesn't jump out. Wear gloves to do this if you think he may nip and make you drop the tube. Or you can lower the hamster ball in with a treat in, let him walk into that and pop the lid on and lift him out that way. General consensus is that hamster balls aren't good for dwarf hamsters - they can be stressed in them and there's a risk of getting a toe caught in the slots. Hamster balls are very useful for transporting hamsters from the cage elsewhere though! Setting up a playpen area or safe area with some toys in can be better for out of cage time and exercise. Have you tried the tissue trick as well? It helps them accept your scent. Put a few sheets of toilet paper up your sleeve or down your bra for a couple of hours, then tear it into strips and put the pile of toilet paper strips near the house. The hamster will take some for the nest and will have your familiar scent in their "safe place" so associate it with good things.