Hamster question for hamster people...

[zakatak]

My son has a little Russian Dwarf Hamster. He holds it every night. However, since the hamster has gotten bigger, he bites when you try to pick him up. Once he is in your hands, he is fine. No biting and very friendly. It's just getting him out that's the problem. He bites and hangs on!

Any advice on how to stop this? I'm afraid it will stop my son from picking him up and then we have a nasty little pet that is ignored .

Thanks.

Karen & "midget man"

 

[poohandwendy]

The hamster is probably afraid of the sudden movement involved in picking him up. (imagine a giant hand suddenly swooping down and picking you up, lol)

I would suggest having your son put his hand at the bottom of the cage, palm up, and allow the hammy to crawl onto his hand before picking him up (cupping his hands together around him while lifting him). That should make him feel safer.

It will take patience and maybe a treat to coax the little furball onto his hand, but it should eventually work. good luck!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

A couple of things I can think of is too make sure the hamster is awake.
And perhaps wash hands before picking him up, in case there are food smells on your son's hands.

 

[Serena]

gloves too, in the mean time.

 

[4greatboys]

When we had ours I always put my hand in the cage slowly and let the hamster get a smell of my hand before I picked him up. Seemed to work okay I never got bit that way.

 

[Gupsmom]

gloves too

Yeah...get a couple more hamsters and they would make a nice pair of gloves...

Jess

 

[missypie]

Originally posted by zakatak
I'm afraid it will stop my son from picking him up and then we have a nasty little pet that is ignored .

That's a good way to describe our hamster...a nasty little pet that is ignored. We feed it. It poops. We clean the cage. We all want a cat.