My hamster acts like a gerbil?

Question

My new hammy,Dunkel,Is really sweet.She stays up all day though.Gerbils do this too.Also,Gerbils sometimes think your hands are food and mine bit my finger today when i put my hand in her cage and kept it still.I have to use gloves to hold her and she's used to the scent of the gloves.Why does my Syrian act like a complete Gerbil?????

Answer 1

Your hamster appears to be behaving slightly oddly for a hamster, but it's not really acting like a gerbil as they tend to share a lot of behaviour anyway:

Small rodents will bite if they feel threatened - this is not limited to gerbils and I have been bitten by at least one hamster. Most small animals will 'taste' your hand to find out what it is. As hamsters use their sense of smell they are more likely to bite if you have been handling something which the hamster will associate with food.

It is unusual for syrian hamsters to be active in the day, although this is down to their native habitat, and they do sometimes come out in the day in captivity. Gerbils don't actually stay up all day but rather they take several short naps throughout day and night.

Answer 2

All animals have different personalities. Just like humans!

Answer 3

Gerbils only think your hands are food sometimes because they SMELL like food, mine only try to nibble my hands when i've been handling things like their sunflower seeds or chocolate drops hehe! Maybe she's biting you for that reason, or another reason.

Also, hamsters are nocturnal, but that doesn't mean they ALL sleep at night, gerbils are nocturnal, but they only take short naps, they don't sleep all day, they just take naps every so often, and are more active in the evening. But all animals are different.

Answer 4

Your hamster is acting like a hamster. All hamsters are different. Some are up during the day, some are night. And, if your hands smell even the slightest like something the hamster will like, it will bite. And, your hamster is new, it would be scared. I have had 7 hamsters in my life, lol, and every one I left alone for a while. Let it get used to its surroundings. So, don't try to interact too much in the first month..^_^

Answer 5

the hand is because u may have food scent on ur hand wash ur hands before u pik her up not sure about being up allday i nogerbils dod that i now i have gerbils 6 infact

Answer 6

Your hamster is acting lke a hamster (most hamsters bite atfirst) and since she is new shes staying up all day to get used to her new home and shes staying up all day to see the routines of everyone who lives in that house, so shes not acting like a gerbil shes just acting like a new hamster

-syddles

Answer 7

thats not how gerbil's act, thats how most small rodent like animals act!!!!! Your hamster is acting like ITSELF!!!

I have probably had 6 hamsters and 12 gerbil's in my life and they have all acted about the same, but each with a different personality. Gerbil's and hamsters pretty much act the same!