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Old 09-30-2021, 02:29 PM   #1
PuzzleheadedAlps15
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 2
Unhappy Female Syrian Hamster Aggression Advice

Hey everybody I need some advice. My female Syrian has been very friendly and responsive to handling from the start, but I noticed she was becoming more bite-y and aggressive in her previous cage, which was too small at 400 sq inches. I upgraded her to a 800 square inch bin and gave her more toys, hides, some tree branches, and small willow branches to forage and shes still very aggressive and draws blood when she bites. I've been trying to tame her from square one again by letting her smell my (washed) hands and giving her treats from my palm, but shes out for blood every time. If anyone knows what's going on I'd greatly appreciate some advice!
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Old 10-01-2021, 01:22 PM   #2
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Female Syrian Hamster Aggression Advice

Hi and welcome to HC!

Your hamster sounds unhappy. Is her wheel big enough (28cm) and working ok?
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Old 10-01-2021, 08:18 PM   #3
PuzzleheadedAlps15
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Join Date: Sep 2021
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Default Re: Female Syrian Hamster Aggression Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
Hi and welcome to HC!

Your hamster sounds unhappy. Is her wheel big enough (28cm) and working ok?
Yes, her wheel is the appropriate size.
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Old 10-02-2021, 10:19 AM   #4
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Female Syrian Hamster Aggression Advice

It could be that she is territorial and it may be easier to tame her outside of her cage on neutral ground.
You'd need a safe area like a secure playpen or bathtub with a blanket, hides and some toys down. Ideally the area woukd be big enough for you to sit there as well.
You can get her out with a hamster taxi like a jug or tub to walk into but cover the top while in transit and then put her on your lap if possible so she gets used to your smell.
At first i'd keep the sessions very short and tempt her back into the jug with a treat.

Does she do all the usual hamster behaviours like nest building in a big house or burrowing in deep substrate, foraging for food and keeping a hoard?
Does she eat and drink ok?
Does her bin cage have enough ventilation by a meshed lid and ideally a meshed window? Just trying to rule out anything environmental.

Like you i'm wondering why she was very friendly at first and then became aggressive. Hamsters aren't usually aggressive with humans unless they are scared, in pain, hungry or thirsty but none of this applies to your hamster.

I hope that you will find out what's troubling her. It could also be that she needs more time to settle into her new cage which can take a couple of weeks so she may not be ready yet to interact with humans.
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Old 10-04-2021, 05:51 PM   #5
Lilafernim
Senior Hamster
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: Female Syrian Hamster Aggression Advice

I also have had a female Syrian hamster that changed behaviours at times. I’ll be honest, she never went to biting me but they’d be times where she’d suddenly start bar biting for no reason.

First of all, if this bigger cage is still very new she may be scenting everything, and feel territorial over her new area, she’s basically having to settle all over again.

Also, a trick I used to do when I first got her was if I washed my hands, before presenting them to her I’d rub my hands on the sawdust so it was a familiar smell to her.

Normally mine would start being more aggressive if I had moved locations, and it tended to be a case of handling, and allowing her to roam still so she realised it was still me and there was nothing around to be afraid of.

The other thing I would consider is checking the length of her teeth as they may be long so she may be biting more to wear them down. Make sure you have an array of chew toys and use tricks such as peanut butter, or I used to use those natural hard dog treats along side normal wooden chews.

Like I say, sometimes mine just used to suddenly act different for a few days, and then just completely calm down.

Hope some of this helps!
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