How can I make my hammy stop biting me?

Question

Ok, so I got this really awesome short haired hamster named Patty, and when held out my hands to pick her up, she bit my thumb really hard it was even bleeding for a while. What can I do to make him stop, and be nice to me?

Answer 1

Your hammie is very new to you and he surroundings and is scared. Hamsters take some time to get used to their surroundings and they bite because they are scared.

Use my guide to taming hamsters and you can make Patty your best friend soon.

Guide to taming hamsters -

Taming your hamster can be a long process, don't expect your hamster to suddenly like be handled over night. It can take weeks or even months depending on the hamster. Here the the steps to handling a hamster -

STEP 1 - When you first get your hamster leave it alone for the first 2 - 3 days to let it get used to it's new cage and surroundings. If you pick him up on the first day itself, he will definitely bite you since you are a stranger to him.

STEP 2 - Once the hammy seems comfortable in his new cage, start talking to him softly and hang around his cage enough for him to get used to your voice and smell. After this time feed your hamster some treats from your hand so he get used to seeing your hand. This might take a few days to happen but be patient. If you feel that the hamster still bites you, you can use gloves initially.

PRECAUTION - always interact with the hamster only when he is active. If you touch him or disturb him when he is sleeping, he can get angry and bite viciously.

STEP 3 - Once your hamster seems confident with taking treats out of your hand you can try to start handling your hamster. Before you handle your hamster make sure you have washed your hands well. Hamsters have a strong sense of smell. If they smell something on your hand they may mistake it for food and decide to bite!

Get a cup or something similar and place it into the hamster's cage. He should come to investigate and crawl inside. Take the hamster and cup out of the cage and let him walk out onto your hand. While you do this make sure you're sat down or sat close to the floor incase your hamster decides to jump. Let him walk from hand to hand. Be careful you don't grab or wrap your hands around your hamster until he is fully tame as this may scare him and he will jump out of your hand.

STEP 4 - Once your hamster is more confident with you, you can start to pick up your hamster straight from it's cage. Just make sure your hamster is aware that you are there, if not you may suddenly scare the hamster and it may turn around and bite you.

Best way to hold hamsters is to make them climb into one hand and cupping the other hand softly over the body so that his head pokes out from the gap between your two hands. Remember, do not apply any pressure on his body, he will get scared and snap at you.

I am sure your hammy will get used to you in a few weeks and would be your best friend soon. All the best!

Answer 2

weaar lether gloves w/ your sent so she willgetusedtour smell then if u canpick here bare handed and she bites you while ur holding her pat her firmly on her nose and say NO hope i helped

Answer 3

you might be able to. do you spend alot of time with him i once had a mouse that would bite all the time she bit my brother cause he was hurting her she event me. i found out that she wasent aquanted with humans that much after he gets to know you better as long as you dont hurt him he might stop biting you.

Answer 4

u cant make a hammy stop biting. no matter what. if its only in his cage that means he is just protecting his territory. so use a toilet paper tube to pick him up. hold the tube to his level and eventually he will crawl into the tube. once he does u tip the tube ever to slightly near ur other hand and he should slide out onto ur other hand. it doesnt hurt him, trust me, i did this with my hamsters.

Answer 5

wash your hands before you hold her and if she still does lightly tap her on her nose give her a treat when she doesnt bite

Answer 6

How long have you had her for?

When hamsters are new, they are very timid, and nervous. Its best you leave her alone in her cage for a couple days to a week. But if you've had her for a while now. Then get a glove that the hamster cannot bite through, put it on, and pick your hamster up. Dont act afraid, the hamsters can sense that. With the glove on, the hamster can bite you, but you wont even twitch. They will think your not afraid, and will eventually stop biting you.

Answer 7

you can ware leather gloves while she gets used to you.