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Old 04-13-2021, 02:57 AM   #1
Karolina2021
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: USA
Posts: 1
Unhappy Hamster is suddenly biting me and drawing blood, what do I do next?

Hi everyone. Just joined HamsterCentral. I've had my male Syrian for almost 3 weeks and it seemed like we were making great progress. The pet store said he was around 6 months and from what I saw was not tame at all.

He was really scared in the beginning but left him alone for a few days and started introducing treats in my hand. He quickly caught on and soon I was able to scoop him with both hands and he fell asleep.

So it's been 3 weeks now and today he started grinding his teeth and not in a friendly cute way, he looked seriously mad when I scooped him slowly and bit my hand and drew blood. Usually when he wants me to put him down he very gently nips at my hand and I immediately put him down.

I never wake him up, he has a large tank and a 12 inch wheel with plenty of bedding and chew toys.

I left him alone for a few hours and he was at the corners of his enclosure trying to get out so I let him free roam in the bathroom which he has done plenty of times. He was falling asleep in a corner so I was trying to scoop him up when he bit me again, not as hard as the first time but he drew blood again.

Btw, I checked his teeth and they are not overgrown. They actually look quite small.

So guys what do I do now? Do I leave him alone for a few days? I feel I've been patient with him so don't know if leaving him alone will reinforce this behavior or just calm him down.
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Old 04-13-2021, 02:01 PM   #2
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Hamster is suddenly biting me and drawing blood, what do I do next?

Hi and welcome to HC!

When a hamster is grinding his teeth and looking seriously mad i'd take that as a hint that he wants to be left alone and wouldn't scoop him up.

I only ever take a hamster out of his cage when he asks to come out and willingly comes to me. Exeptions are medication administration or a vets appointment etc of course.

You could try and let him walk into a mug instead of scooping him up. That way he can decide whether he wants to get picked up and come out or not.

Also, when a hamster is falling asleep is not a good time to scoop them up because it startles them and being prey animals they can be snappy, no matter how tame they are.

I'd wait until he comes to you.
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Old 10-10-2021, 12:16 AM   #3
GhostBella
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 44
Default Re: Hamster is suddenly biting me and drawing blood, what do I do next?

3wks isnt long enough hun! You need to leave him be, stay on the outside of his cage sit as close to him as u can for as long as you can just repeating his name and kust talking to him. Dont try and touch him untill hes being confident and coming over to the side of the cage ur on and is no longer darting away from you. When u do start to handle never drive ur hand towards him keep ur hand by the open cage door, he must want to come to you and it must be on his terms. Must be patient no matter how long it takes. Also never grab them ur hands must stay in a cup position and when u get to the picking up stage always scoop them up never pick them up.
Because you've gone into soon and uv frightened him and ur not listening to his teeth grinding hes warning u to back off hes scared and getting irritated. If you keep pushing him and scaring him i promise u as a qualified animal behaviourist your never gonna be able to tame and enjoy him hes going to turn aggressive and when that happens because of a humans actions you'll never even be able to get him to come close and he'll never ever trust you and there's nothing you'll be able to do about, its undoable
Even now i guarantee unlike other peoples hamsters that are tamed the right way you've already pushed him further back in to the wild than closer to being tamed. Will take longer for him to trust u and longer untill ir able to handle him!
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