Biting Hamster

[lany30]

Every time I try to give me hamster a treat he tries to eat my finger and every time I pick him up he finds his way to my finger and bites them. He doesn't bit them hard but just now I was giving him a treat and the first time he bit me was a soft bit but then the second time he bit really hard and now I don't know how to hold him or give him treats without him biting.

[Drago]

Hello, how long have you had your hamster for?

Do you wash your hands in between offering treats? Hamsters don't rely on vision to be aware of what's going on, instead they use their noses. This however, often means that if your hand smells of food, they'll nibble at it to see. If he nibbled first, that's a sign he was exploring, and it's likely there was food residue he tasted so he tried to to take what he thought was food. I would try offering a treat, then washing your hands before attempting to handle him so that there's no smell or taste of treats still on your hands. Best wishes :)

[lany30]

Hello, how long have you had your hamster for?

Do you wash your hands in between offering treats? Hamsters don't rely on vision to be aware of what's going on, instead they use their noses. This however, often means that if your hand smells of food, they'll nibble at it to see. If he nibbled first, that's a sign he was exploring, and it's likely there was food residue he tasted so he tried to to take what he thought was food. I would try offering a treat, then washing your hands before attempting to handle him so that there's no smell or taste of treats still on your hands. Best wishes :)

Well I got him on 4/30 but then I had to send him back to the pet store because I thought he was sick (he wasnt) I got him back on 5/11

[Drago]

Poor little guy, glad to hear he's okay

Since the last few weeks have been a bit turbulent for him, I would also expect some biting/nibbling to be coming from the fact that he has little skills with humans. Do you wash your hands in between feeding treats and handling? What species is he? I'd give him a few weeks of settling and easy handling before stressing over the biting. I find it's a new hamster thing :)

[lany30]

Poor little guy, glad to hear he's okay

Since the last few weeks have been a bit turbulent for him, I would also expect some biting/nibbling to be coming from the fact that he has little skills with humans. Do you wash your hands in between feeding treats and handling? What species is he? I'd give him a few weeks of settling and easy handling before stressing over the biting. I find it's a new hamster thing :)

He is a long haired hamster and I don't wash my hands between handling and feeding but now it will! :)

[Drago]

He is a long haired hamster and I don't wash my hands between handling and feeding but now it will! :)

By LH I assume you mean Syrian right? Syrians are awesome little guys, I have one myself :)

Washing your hands in between may help a lot! If you ever have any other questions, please ask