She's Still A Biter .....

[GreySyrian]

I've had Dandi for a month now and overall she has done quite well! She let's me watch her in her cage without freezing or running away, She happily takes treats from me and allows me to stroke her. But the one thing that hasn't improved is her biting.

I've recently been doing the bath tub sessions with her, it took her a while but eventually she came up to me but she made several attempts to bite my foots and leg (which luckily I intercepted before she could really get her teeth in by just moving my hand towards her). I don't think they were out of aggression or fear but I could be wrong.

Does anyone else have experience of a bitey hamster, and did they stop if at all?

I don't mind taking my time with Dandi .... or accepting that maybe she will never be the cuddly hamster I was hoping for. I just wanted to know if I should think "She'll stop eventually" or "I'll just have to watch my fingers" from now on!

[Pumpkinhammies]

I think you're right about the whole "some hamsters won't cuddle" thing but if you stay patient and continue to tame and bond with your new hammy the biting should discontinue.

[cypher]

A month isn't very long at all so don't give up, it's not often you hear of syrians that continue to bite like this so I would imagine with patience & time she will get over it, she may never be a cuddly ham, some just aren't but things should improve if you persevere.
Have you tried gloves? I always think that's a last resort but it might help, also keeping legs & feet well covered in the bath so she never gets to bite flesh, it also makes it a lot easier not to react if she does bite so she doesn't get a reward!
I don't have any experience with syrians so I can't offer much advice but one of my russians, the only female russian I've had (is it a girl thing?!) was a real biter to begin with but she did get over it, still a bit territorial in her cage but she's stopped biting out of the cage & has lovely cuddly moments when she's in the mood!

[Wanna Hamster]

Oh, that's such a hard place to be in. Have you tried the tissue trick (sticking a tissue up your sleeve and then placing it in the cage)? Also, make sure that you are washing your hands before handling her so that you don't smell threatening. I hope you'll be able to at least lessen the biting, but you sound like you're very prepared to accept the fact that she may not be the hamster you hoped she would be. Good luck!

[GreySyrian]

Thanks for the replies everyone

I have tried Gloves cypher but she always gave them a minimum of 3 bites! @Wanna Hamster I did do the tissue trick for the first week/ 2 weeks of having her but since then haven't and instead dangle my hand at a safe distance in her cage which she has a sniff off and then carries on with whatever interests her most!

Even if I can never hold her without getting bitten she makes up for it in the rest of her personality, she is the funniest little creature to watch!

[Wanna Hamster]

Ah, I thought you might have already tried it. Well, good luck!

[GreySyrian]

Originally Posted by Wanna Hamster

Ah, I thought you might have already tried it. Well, good luck!

Thank You!

[flowerfairy]

My friend has a bitey hamster (girl) but she just carried on patiently taming her and now doesnt get bitten at all.

Hope it all works out for you and Dandi.

[GreySyrian]

Originally Posted by flowerfairy

My friend has a bitey hamster (girl) but she just carried on patiently taming her and now doesnt get bitten at all.

Hope it all works out for you and Dandi.

Thanks flowerfairy How did your friend do it? (If you know) Did she do a specific technique or just carried on with the basic methods till she stopped?

[Hamster Paradise]

I hope it works out for you so she stops biting...I had a biter called Hammie many many years ago now...he never did stop biting but I did enjoy him and loved him as he was. Back then there was no Hamster Central to turn to for support and tips if there was perhaps I might have tamed my biter...dont give up on taming him just yet