Constantly Bitten?!

[Robodwarfs18]

My little Syrian Cookie has kind of given up on taming. He doesn't let me hold him or sometimes stroke him anymore and he just bites me when I try. He just stopped all of a sudden. He might like to be independent I guess and I would respect that but it just suddenly happened and I don't see why. Also whenever I put my hand in the cage out of his way he just comes over and bites me too for example today I went to adjust a toy in his cage then he bit my hand and it was quite sore and then he done it again and it's not a nibble, it's an anger bite. I'm bitten for random reasons?? Can someone please explain?? Cause his bites are really painful! :(

[JenAndPikachu]

As far as I know there can be many reasons for sudden aggression. Has there been any changes to his cage or or food or anything like that, that he might not like? Or maybe anything scaring him? Because aggression can be a reaction to feeling threatened.
Its also possible that its neurological disorder but I really don't know enough about that to tell you adequately and I've only heard of it in dwarf hybrids so it might not even apply here.

I'm sure there are many other possible reasons but I hope this helps.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

A few questions for you:
1) What happens if you remove him from the cage with like a Ball or a deep bowl and place him in a bath tub or the likes?

2) Need more info like was he bought from a pet store at a young age or is he a rescue and an adult Hamster who has been through a lot of hardships before coming to you?

3) Was he tame when he arrived and began biting you, or was he untamed from the start of owning him?

4) Did you change anything in his cage before this behavior started or has this behavior happened all along?

5) What are you doing after he bites? Like do you immediately go away and leave him alone, or do you still continue on with what you had started to do?

With the first question, if he doesn't go after you while in the tub or other like place outside his cage then I'd say you have a very territorial Hamster. If he still tries to bite outside of his cage then you have a fear biter who may come around with lots of patience, and determination on your part.

The next question is to find out if this hamster might have good reasons to feel threatened and think the only way to stop you intruding is to bite you . If a Rescued Hamster his past owner may have tormented him and he learned that "if you bite that thing which keeps intruding, really hard it goes away and doesn't come back for a while. If he was a youngster at a pet store he may just be so scared he is resorting to the only thing he knows to do as a defensive move, and will just need lots of time to come around.

3rd question is to establish if this behavior is a pre-learned behavior or just a frightened Hamster who has learned if you bite them they will go away and leave you alone.

4th Question is to see if you may have unintentionally caused him to build up a very strong fear or protection behavior. If it wasn't there when you got him then you need to sit down and try to figure what occurred just before this aggressive behavior began. If you gave him a new cage it may be he is not feeling safe in it. If he was like this from the start of owning him then it may just be the poor guy has never ever been around Humans and he is just terrified and learned that to bite gets the results he wants of being left alone.

Question 5 is to establish exactly how you are reacting to his aggressive behavior. Like for instants after he bites you do you close his cage and go away and leave him be? Or do you continue on to do the task you set out to do totally ignoring the bite he gave you. If your doing the first reaction you are actually reinforcing his biting behavior as he is getting exactly what he wants you to do. He wants you to "Take a Hike and leave me alone"

If he is established with the biting he may never be a hold me hamster. I would be tempted to blow on him when you know he will be attempting a bite as well as loudly(they don't like Loud sounds) speaking "NO Bite" then giving him a good blow of air right on his face. Don't give him what he wants until he gives you a tiny bit of what you want from him. With time and long patience you will teach him not to bite you ,but he may never be a cuddle hamster ever.

[Robodwarfs18]

Thank you everyone for your detailed answers :)!!