Hamster who bites

Rashy · 07-07-2022, 10:59 AM

I have 4 hamsters, one off them is a hamster for adoption. After the 4th one came in house, and after a week she started to bite and sometimes make a weird sound when she bites. She do live in a mini duna fun cage (yes, i know it is small), and have a plan to buy mini duna fun large cage to her.

I have time at the vet next week, but have different thoughts on this. If everything is okay with her, is it okay to adopt her away with duna fun cage?I do have a conflict with myself as she now have a aquarium without the top, and it seems that people want cage with the top. But if she does not stop to bite, I do might end up as her forever home.

Pebbles82 · 07-07-2022, 12:14 PM

She might not bite if she's in a bigger cage. I think if you're going to let her be adopted, you want to ensure the new owners have a big enough cage and not let her go in the mini duna fun (as then it seems acceptable). I would upgrade her now and then ensure any new adopting owner knows what the minimum cage size is you would find acceptable for adoption, and check what cage they have before letting her go.

In fact it may be better not to let her be adopted yet, until she's settled in a bigger cage and you've had chance to tame her a bit and see if she stops biting. It could be cage rage.

Rashy · 07-07-2022, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

She might not bite if she's in a bigger cage. I think if you're going to let her be adopted, you want to ensure the new owners have a big enough cage and not let her go in the mini duna fun (as then it seems acceptable). I would upgrade her now and then ensure any new adopting owner knows what the minimum cage size is you would find acceptable for adoption, and check what cage they have before letting her go.

In fact it may be better not to let her be adopted yet, until she's settled in a bigger cage and you've had chance to tame her a bit and see if she stops biting. It could be cage rage.

Okay. She was not like this before. I think the duna fun is 71 cm. I always ask if they use hamsterball, what kind off food mm, but many people does stop answering. The dun fun large is a okay cage? Can they start biting if they are stressed by the smell off other hamsters?

Ria P · 07-07-2022, 02:50 PM

I think the small cage could be the problem but maybe she is unwell or in pain. How big is her wheel? Does she get out of cage time? Are her teeth ok? The Duna fun large is not ok. It is too small for a female Syrian and won't give enough space for a 28cm wheel, a large house and other large things. I'd look for a cage at least 100cm x 50cm, a 28cm wheel and lots of things like tunnels and hides that are big enough. She may also want plenty of out of cage time. Strictly no hamster ball, they are dangerous and cruel.

It is important to ask people questions and they need to answer them. If they don't, then don't let them adopt. You need to see proof of a cage as well.

I only let people adopt my foster hamsters when i'm 100% happy with them. If i'm not sure then i tell them that they are not suitable. Sometimes they get rude or angry or stop talking to me. It doesn't matter how people feel, a hamster's life and future is more important.

Rashy · 07-07-2022, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

I think the small cage could be the problem but maybe she is unwell or in pain. How big is her wheel? Does she get out of cage time? Are her teeth ok? The Duna fun large is not ok. It is too small for a female Syrian and won't give enough space for a 28cm wheel, a large house and other large things. I'd look for a cage at least 100cm x 50cm, a 28cm wheel and lots of things like tunnels and hides that are big enough. She may also want plenty of out of cage time. Strictly no hamster ball, they are dangerous and cruel.

It is important to ask people questions and they need to answer them. If they don't, then don't let them adopt. You need to see proof of a cage as well.

I only let people adopt my foster hamsters when i'm 100% happy with them. If i'm not sure then i tell them that they are not suitable. Sometimes they get rude or angry or stop talking to me. It doesn't matter how people feel, a hamster's life and future is more important.

She is a dwarf, not syrian. I`m going to the vet with her next week. She does run at a hamster room almost everyday.

Pebbles82 · 07-07-2022, 03:07 PM

She'd probably be better in a hamster heaven - it's that bit bigger, access is easier with the big front door, and most hamsters are happy in there. It's a good cage for a dwarf hamster. The problem with the duna fun (small or large) is it's top access only and quite fiddly inside with those platforms and ladders. Do you have a spare hamster heaven? I seem to remember you used to have one.

But yes the biting may be if she's in a pain as well. Vet check sounds a good idea.

Ria P · 07-08-2022, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rashy

She is a dwarf, not syrian. I`m going to the vet with her next week. She does run at a hamster room almost everyday.

Oh sorry, i don't know what made me think that she's a Syrian. I had the Duna fun large which i think is ok as a temporary cage but i wouldn't use it as a permanent cage.

Let's put it this way. Someone wanted to adopt a dwarf from me once and they had the Duna fun large. I wouldn't let them adopt and told them that their cage was too small.

No, i don't think that a hamster would start biting because they can smell another hamster. I have six hamsters and four of them live in the same room.

I did have a dwarf once who bit but he was ill with diabetes. I tested his urine with keto diastix i bought from Amazon.