Biting babies

arikata · 07-17-2008, 08:22 AM

One of the babies keep trying to bite my hands which doesn't hurt but I'm still a bit worried about it. They go to their new home in a week and the little girl is nervous with them as it is

Her mum will be their main carer and will be helping the young girl with them. This one baby had a go at my boyfriends finger a while ago and the past two nights she has been getting her teeth into my palms and fingers. I know for a fact that she's never been mis-handled and when she bites me I blow on her nose and say no. It's really baffling me as she is more than happy to come out of her cage and will walk onto my hand when I put it in. I wash my hands before hand so it smells of me, not food or soap.

Please help!!

**Tammy22** · 07-17-2008, 08:47 AM

That is really strange Kat

Robos are not known for biting and i have only ever had two Robos bite me in all the time i have been breeding them, and then not from a baby

the only thing i can suggest is to keep handling the baby, make sure your hands dont smell of anything which could cause it to nibble.

I am really not sure what to suggest at all

Tammy x

arikata · 07-17-2008, 09:57 AM

It really is bizarre, she's not breaking the skin but she seems as though she is trying. She's about 6 weeks old and never bit when I first started handling her

I hope she improves to perfection before the little girl is ready for him. I won't be passing her on if she's like that. Oh I am so bamboozled!

arikata · 07-20-2008, 01:58 PM

Oh dear she's getting worse! My neighbor had a hold of her about 10 minutes ago and the baby kept biting her quite hard!! She's the only one that bites, I'm so baffled. And my hands hurt all over! Please help, someone!!

souffle · 07-21-2008, 01:12 PM

Have you checked her all over Katzilla as there may be something hurting her when she is touched making her nip. Our dwarfs will do a similar thing where they go along just either licking or lightly holding your skin in their mouth but they never bite down hard. Have you tried the alcohol hand gel as I have heard that can stop them biting. The stuff you get in Boots like a no water hand wash. It may be worth a try.

Hanlou · 07-22-2008, 07:57 AM

How strange......

I squeak when any of my animals nip me (the spiny mice are especially prone to 'test biting' on occasion!) which seems to work quite well.

This may sound odd, but do you think she could be slightly brain damaged or something?! I had a rat that bit everyone (including other rats!) and I was convinced there was something not quite right with her. Try handling her with thick gloves so that you don't react when she bites you as most animals bite to be let go of.

I would be concerned all is well health-wise too though as souffle said. Hope things improve.

arikata · 07-22-2008, 12:34 PM

Soufle, what kind of thing should I be looking for health wise? I held her again last night and she was fine. She and her sister had a run and play in the bath and they were happy as larry to jump onto my hand to go back into their cage. I don't handle her roughly, I just do the running from one hand to another thing but she likes to stop for a nibble on me. She is the runt of the litter, could this have something to do with it? Also, her parents are brother and sister so she is a result of inbreeding.

I will try that handgel, I think we have some somewhere, I just need to find it

I'm sure it's around somewhere!

It's strange when she bites, she really pulls hard and her teeth are getting sharper now. They have loads to chew on and her teeth don't look overgrown

I will try squeaking, might shock her not to do it.

She seems worse with other people than she is with me, she savaged my poor neighbors hand!

souffle · 07-22-2008, 12:39 PM

Just check she has no cuts, lumps or bumps, bruises and such like. Do you think she can see OK as she may be biting as she cannot see or hear so feels with her teeth. If everything seems normal is likely just a quirk in her character especially if she is small and may have had to spend her life on the defensive!

arikata · 07-23-2008, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

may have had to spend her life on the defensive!

That's what we were thinking. I'm sure she can see fine as she runs off if your hand is coming towards her, she can hear as when I clap she runs off, when I put a meal worm near her she sniffs it out (and then runs off with it). Just your bog-standard robo except with a little more bite!