When every i pick up my hamster he bites me. not hard but i'm conserned?

Question

when ever i pick up my hamster now he gives me a little nip it dosn't hurt but i am worndering if i'm doing something wrong?

also my hamster always runs away when i try to pick him up. i don't want to hurt him but i piick him up on my own. how can i get him to come in to my hands?

Answer 1

You may have a smell on your hands.  A lot of rodents will smell this and asociate it with food.  Just make sure you wash your hands before you pick him up.  Also if you don't handle them often they tend to bite more often then not.  Try offering a treat of some sort and see if he doesn't asociate the treat with being handled and is more apt to being picked up and not biting.

Answer 2

pick it up ne ways then if it bites pick it up by the scruff on its neck...n then uh well idk wut happens then but [i do it to my puppy all the tym] thts probly how the mom hamster would do it in the wild wel i no mom dog would im trin to think i no i did it to my hamter but then i set it down so idk if it will bite

Answer 3

if he is a new for a couple of days pat him and allow him to sniff you so he can get used to your sent. dont have you hands smell like food they will think that you have a chicken finger holding him up and he will bite. So try and wash your hands before you handle him, worked for me hopes it works for you!

Answer 4

Just wash your hands becuase he thinks your food. Hamsters will nip (which is the painless bite you mentioned) when it thinks somthing is food to see if it really is food. Also they have bad eye sight and good smell. So washing your hands will get rid of the smell.

As for the running away just hand feed him occasionally also put treats next to your hand in his cage then the next day put it closer then so on until he eats right of your hand. This gains trust and a bond. Soon you can hold him for a long time and he will enjoy it.

Remember this takes time! Hope I helped!

Answer 5

I have the same problem. Is it a new hamster if it is i read in this book i have for hamster to place a peice of food on your wrist and open your hand then he should come for the food. But if its a old hamster that you have had for a while now he might just not be feeling good and has stomach cramps or has a sore belly from eating to much. Hope that helps. =]