Frosty is being frosty.

tiny soty · 01-05-2011, 11:45 AM

Hiya,
I have never had a Russian Dwarf hamster (or any type of hamster as a matter of fact) before, and I adopted a 3 month old male dwarf hamster who was bullied as a baby so disstrusts other hamsters. Now I have had him for a week and he is unfortunately living up to his name, he tries to bite me even when I am putting a treat in his cage. Does anyone have any ideas how to gain his trust? As if he doesn't stop being "frosty" by the end of the month my dad wants to give him back to the petshop (which I do not particularly want to happen).

**Hope** · 01-05-2011, 01:20 PM

Hi amd welcome.

Is little frosty living on his own? I think it may be best if he was being bullied before. I have a single dwarf and he is perfectly happy and he enjoys having his own space.

A week is not long really, some hamsters, especailly if they ahave had a difficult start can take several weeks or even months.

Have you had him out of the cage at all? Some hamsters are aggressive in the cage as they see it as their territory and they are just protecting it, but once out of the cage they are fine.

Try putting him in a large storage box and let him explore your hands. Another good method is taking him to the bath (no water obv!) and get him with him and let him run around over you, this will help to get him more used to you, your smell and your voice.

KatiePillow · 01-05-2011, 01:34 PM

Because he was in a pet shop he has probably never been handled before, explain to your dad that sometimes dwarves need more time to tame..but they're so worth it once they are.

Are they like.. skin breaking bites, or nips? I find my cage aggressive hamster tends to nip (it hurts, but doesn't break the skin) while my little alfie [who's blind] tends to break the skin when he bites..

I agree with Hope about taking him out of his cage, I get mine to walk into a jug in which I use to move their bedding from bag to cage (so smells a bit like their cage) and then put them in a box/something outside the cage (make sure they couldn't get over the edges) Mine have never bitten outside their cage, I'd get him used to your hands first, then try the bath ( if he's in the box you could maybe tip him into his cage if you couldn't put him, but it'd be difficult to get him out the bath if he wasn't used to your hands as you couldn't really grab him.

Hope this helps

wofunny · 01-05-2011, 01:38 PM

I cant add much more, but to start with you could wear thick gardening gloves when picking him up, so if he bites you it wont hert.

Good Luck!

x

KatiePillow · 01-05-2011, 01:43 PM

oOh, just warning with the thick gloves..if he bites them LOADS, don't be scared.. alfie did that, it's because he didn't know what they were, I fed him some millet, (from my pinched fingers) and he learnt my smell, after doing this a fair bit, I got him to walk onto my hand..and now he's such a lovely boy

So thick gardening gloves may not work for him, if what he needs is to learn your smell, if he's scared of hands, they're more likely to work

If it's scents he needs, I would work with him on your own, without your parents help, so he's not inundated with new scents

I really wish you luck ^.^

tiny soty · 01-05-2011, 01:46 PM

I have taken him out of the cage and he still tries to bite/nip me and he draws blood if i don't take my hand away, and knows my scent and voice, but still goes for my fingers. He is on his own as I didn't want him to be bullied again, but the weird thing is that when i put my hand in with him in the pet shop he was really happy to be stroked and held, he didn't even nip me?!?!

st4r_grl · 01-06-2011, 02:22 AM

How long have you had him? If he is new to you maybe he is still stressed about his new environment? Don't give up on him, it took me longer than a month to gain the trust and be confident handling my hamsters

**Hope** · 01-06-2011, 03:57 AM

Do you wash your hands before handling him? If you have food smell or other pet smell on your hands this could also be making him aggressive.

SarahJ · 01-06-2011, 06:24 AM

since youve only had him a week he could still be slightly stressed about his new home and smells.
it sounds like the little guy may take a while to tame but try talking to him when ur near his cage so he gets use to your voice and you being around.
Like Hope said try the bath method this has been a big hit with lots of people on here so thats deff worth a try. if he doesnt react how you want to start with stick with it, he will come round in the end.
I adopt a hamster (Megan) who was a known biter and she used to bite really hard but ive managed to get her to a cuddle and non biting girl it took months of hard work but it paid off. so please stick with it!