Behaviour issues

[luckyduxs]

Hi all this is my first post on here but I need some help
I got a new hamster, a female Syrian about 10 weeks old now js a week ago
I got her from pets at home and I fell in love with her because she was nosy and js wanted to see what was going on she’s super inquistive
But every time I’ve let her near my hand she tries to bite, she never seems anxious but nosy, but I don’t know what to do about it. I’ve tried rubbing my hands in her bedding so it smells familiar, and washing my hands deeply, and offering treats, but none of it stops her.
And then we made a massive backwards step today cause my bf accidentally let her out so I let her come towards me and picked her up which wasn’t ideal and she hated it obviously but for her safety I had to get her, and she did proper latch on and bite me hard (it would not stop bleeding yay).
I’m gonna leave her alone for a day or so to resettle but I’ve only worked with hamsters before and never owned one so I rly wanna get some advice from those with experience because I do want her to be happy and comfortable and I do truly believe she has the potential to become friendly and loving, she’s so inquisitive and not even slightly skittish.
Sorry this is so long but any advice would be really welcomed (pictures of Sid included!)

 

[Maz]

Hi there. Apart from the bite, this is all quite normal! It's only been a week. Even the bite isn't that abnormal if they feel scared at first. She is very young. The equivalent of a toddler human in human years And they bite sometimes as well

So it usually takes them about 2 weeks to fully adjust to a new environment and settle into their cage and make it their own territory. They scent mark everything, decide where to sleep and build a nest or burrow. They often really don't like a hand in their cage as it feels like their territory is being invaded, and are best "tamed" out of the cage in a secure area.

So those first two weeks we usually say just talk to them through the cage or offer the odd treat through the bars, so they gradually get familiar with your scent and presence and feel reassured. It's just fear that makes them bite if that happens usually.

The other thing is, no cage clean outs in that first two weeks. After a week you could "spot clean" any pee area (if it's obvious and you could find it) as that really stresses them while they're settling in. And even then it is mainly "spot cleaning" and no big clean of everything. After a couple of months, a substrate change could happen (ideally only replacing half of it and keeping the clean half that has her familiar scent), and even then, not cleaning everything at the same time. A full clean removes all their scent and makes them anxious and stressed and want to escape.

Final thing is - she's female Some female syrians are notoriously maverick, highly active, and can be divas! They also come on heat every four days (no physical sign of that), and their behaviour can be different those days - perhaps more frantic or active.

So really it's just time and patience For now I would avoid putting your hand in her cage as she might see it as a threat. Offer the odd treat through the bars. Keep talking to her gently. Maybe wait until it's 2 weeks and then offer her a "taxi" to walk into, so you can transport her in it to a hamsterproof area or playpen and start some gradual socialising and taming You could start that earlier if she shows signs of wanting to come out.

Don't worry, it's early days. And you did very well to pick her up and get her back after she got out!

Sometimes cage set up can make a difference as well. It looks like maybe the Mamble cage you have? Do you have a photo of her set up - and we could maybe suggest the odd thing that could make her feel more settled. The main thing is they need somewhere dark to go and not feel too exposed, and plenty to do/enrichment in the cage. Female Syrians often like to rip things up - eg cardboard toilet roll inners or a cardboard egg box.

I use a large rat tube as a "taxi" - offering one end through the cage door, hamster walks in - you put your hands over both ends of the tube and lift the tube out. Although that could be difficult to do through the small doors on the cage. You could maybe put the tube up against one of the open small doors, with a piece of cucumber at your end, to tempt her to go into it. Also you could maybe wear gloves when doing that in case you feel nervous she could bite your hand again. They can push against a hand when your hands are over the ends of the tube and that can make people jump and either drop the tube or move the hand and the hamster jumps out. So if jumpy after being bitten, then either wear gloves or, ideally, have a large box on the floor next to the cage, put the tube down in that once she's in it, and then carry the box to the hamstersafe area, rather than carrying her in the tube That is a better option anyway if the playpen or hamster safe area is some distance from the cage.

The dry bathtub is sometimes a good place to start with handling and taming - have a few items in there, eg a tube, some food, a chew stick - a spare wheel if you have one

I've also added our taming guide below for more tips

How to tame a hamster

Hand taming a hamster can make life with your hamster very rewarding. Suddenly they will sit on you to be stroked or even go to sleep on you, and will be very easy to handle. It can take a bit of time and patience initially.

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Socks' Mum]

Hi all this is my first post on here but I need some help
I got a new hamster, a female Syrian about 10 weeks old now js a week ago
I got her from pets at home and I fell in love with her because she was nosy and js wanted to see what was going on she’s super inquistive
But every time I’ve let her near my hand she tries to bite, she never seems anxious but nosy, but I don’t know what to do about it. I’ve tried rubbing my hands in her bedding so it smells familiar, and washing my hands deeply, and offering treats, but none of it stops her.
And then we made a massive backwards step today cause my bf accidentally let her out so I let her come towards me and picked her up which wasn’t ideal and she hated it obviously but for her safety I had to get her, and she did proper latch on and bite me hard (it would not stop bleeding yay).
I’m gonna leave her alone for a day or so to resettle but I’ve only worked with hamsters before and never owned one so I rly wanna get some advice from those with experience because I do want her to be happy and comfortable and I do truly believe she has the potential to become friendly and loving, she’s so inquisitive and not even slightly skittish.
Sorry this is so long but any advice would be really welcomed (pictures of Sid included!)

View attachment 13127

View attachment 13128

She is very beautiful I hope she settles down soon. Maz had a bitey hamster and he became much better. It's great that she is so outgoing

 

[Maz]

I did. He was a rescue and terrified of hands. It took about 3 months to tame him to accept hands. He had been a child's pet before going to the rescue, so it's possible he'd had a bad experience with handling. That can happen. I think in your case, it's more likely to be fear, with her being young and only with you for a week. Just taking it slowly