Taming a hamster?

Question

I know there are other questions on this subject but I thought i'd ask myself. I bought a male hamster about a week ago and he's very shy to come out of his nest when any one is about. When I pick him up he's very jumpy and has bitten me a couple of times (i've washed my hands to get rid of the smell of food prior to handling him). Any tips to help me tame him?

Answer 1

Mine was like that at first. I learned not to touch him while he was in his cage or he'll bite haha. Don't be afraid to handle him though, because if your afraid he wont get attention and will never be let out! When mine wants out I just open his door and he crawls out onto my hand, sometimes I put a blanket or something over my hand cuz he likes to nibble and it sometimes makes me jump lol. When your holding him, dont do it tightly. And instead of picking him up with one hand when you set him down, try and cup both hands around him so he crawls into your hands, that way he wont feel scared and bite you. Also, if you have a hamster ball this will get them used to being out of their cage more so they aren't as startled and prone to bite. Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

Just keep picking him up and try sitting watching tv with a towel on your lap and a piece of carrot or other treat. place him on towel and just stroke him, that's how we tamed ours.

Answer 3

You will have to earn your hamster's trust. Once the hamster starts trusting you, he will stop biting you and will not feel nervous when you handle him. I have attached the hamster taming guide, hope it helps you with your hamster.

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.

Answer 4

I agree just handle him regularly so that he is used to your touch and scent because it is not the smell of food that is the problem it is the smell of you, which he is very unused to,

i had the same problem

Answer 5

You just have to keep perservering, he'll become more tame eventually. Let him get used to hearing your voice, and put your hand in the cage and just let him get used to it. You could try wearing gloves when handling him to limit pain of getting bitten

Answer 6

Moggie says "Place your hands on his genital area, give him 3 rubs and watch him go."

Answer 7

all my hamsters ive had i have always tamed them. its simple all u need to do is handle him regularly. and if u want him to come out tease him with food and the bitting and jumping will settle down when he is used of being handeld

Answer 8

Aww bless him, I had the same problem, I bought a female hamster called Honey, when I got her home she had not been handled much so she would be really jumpy when I held her and would bite me, yours may take a while to trust you at first, but given time and regular handling, he will. Just don't give up, make sure he knows you want to care for him and gently touch him so he can be sure that you're just being nice to him. He will get used to you I'm sure as my honey is the most gentle hamster now, and never goes to bite.

Answer 9

Just handle him regularly.

Answer 10

Try a chair and a whip. He'll soon get the message.

Answer 11

try rubbing tissue on yourself,put it in with him,give it a day or so, he will hopefully become more used to your scent, hopefully less likely to bite you,may take a while,good luck

Answer 12

I know this might sound weird but ....

if you have a bath.... put towels on the buttom of it and put the plug in aswell, thn sit in the bath with your hamster and let it get used to you and let it run around you aswell and while you do this hold it a few times aswell.

It does work because i have had 2 hamsters and done this for both of them and they have never bitten me yet and are easy to catch in there cage.

its weird i know but give it ago

hope it helps

Answer 13

just keep picking him up and if you dont want to get bit, wear gloves. my hamster is a right grumpy so and so, he doesnt come out anymore.

Answer 14

What you want is a whip and a hoop but don't hold the hoop to high he''ll soon get used to it.

Apprentice