hamster behavior changes

[darlingg]

I got a male dwarf hamster on May 31st and he was super friendly energetic and allowed me to handle him very well, I don't know what happened but suddenly he bit me one day and I thought he was just scared so I left him alone that day next day comes and he does it again I can't tell if he's angry at me or scared. I stopped trying to handle him after a week of this constant biting after he bit me so hard my finger started bleeding. Then I started noticing his energy was low and he barely comes out of his house now he eats normally but he loved rolling in his sand and know he doesn't lay in it as long as he used to, I'm very scared because I'm not sure what's wrong with him I don't think he's sick but I think he might have depression? I'm trying to get him a bigger tank to see if that'll help but I'm not sure how I can fix our relationship?? I want him to be happy but I feel like if I take too long to figure out whats wrong he'll pass away or not want to be handled at all, he still lets me put my hand in his cage and pet his back while he eats but any more than that he'll bite me.

[Ria P]

Hello and welcome to HC!

I would give him a health check to make sure that there isn't anything wrong with him physically.
You can wrap him in a towel or wear gardening gloves to avoid getting bitten.

Have you done routine checks like water bottle and wheel working ok?

Sometimes they try to tell us something through their behaviour.

I don't know what kind of cage he's in and what kind of enrichments he has but i'd make sure that he has plenty to do and places to go to.

Have you tried out of cage time to interact with him? Like sitting in a bath tub with him so he can run over your legs.

[darlingg]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Hello and welcome to HC!

I would give him a health check to make sure that there isn't anything wrong with him physically.
You can wrap him in a towel or wear gardening gloves to avoid getting bitten.

Have you done routine checks like water bottle and wheel working ok?

Sometimes they try to tell us something through their behaviour.

I don't know what kind of cage he's in and what kind of enrichments he has but i'd make sure that he has plenty to do and places to go to.

Have you tried out of cage time to interact with him? Like sitting in a bath tub with him so he can run over your legs.

He uses a water dish and hes been eating and drinking fine, i checked his cage and he hasnt eaten the food i gave him yesterday he was just laying there and then went back in his house, i was planning on buying him a bigger cage and new toys to see if maybe thats the issue? I usually let him roam around in a play pen but i havent done that this week because ive been too nervous to do it, i will try to do bathtub bonding today and see if it helps.