Hamster that bites

[bikkle]

In recent weeks my six-month-old Roborovski hamster has been biting me when I handle it, hard enough to draw blood. I have handled it from young and it used to be very tame and enjoy running about on my hands and arms. Now I can't hold it for more than 30 seconds before it sinks its teeth in me. Are there hamster owners here who can suggest any reason why its behaviour has changed?

A little background information:

• My hamster lives alone in a fairly large cage. I initially bought two hamsters from the pet shop, but one died after two weeks because they fought a lot.
• I have not changed the brand/type of food, bedding, dust bath, or toilet sand it is using.
• It appears to be very healthy and alert.
• I think it's male, but I'm not certain. It has some yellow secretion on its belly at about the middle of its body..

Is there something I'm doing wrong? I'm really very ignorant because it's my first hamster..

 

[Billnew]

Have you dropped it or has it been scared by someone holding it?

My old hamster bites, but she is 2 years old. She is really showing her age.

Hamsters bite when they are scared or mad. Or if you have food smells on your hand.

I made the mistake of reaching for my hamster with McDonalds french fry smell on my hands. OUch. Not just a bite but the full attack bite.

My first hamster didn't like being picked up. Until I stopped picking him up we did not like each other. He liked attention, just not being picked up.
I opened his cage and put the ball up to the door and he would walk in.
This hamster went with me from Plattsburg NY, to Tucson AZ, then back to Indiana.
Try holding it in your hand close to furniture. SO if it wanted to walk off it could. If it still bites then try just petting it while it is standing on the ground.

 

[david6789]

Sad to say but most hamsters bit. I know if sounds weird but if u want a really smart, cuddly small aminal a rat is the way to go. If you check them out they arent the evil swamp rats or sewer rats everyone always things of. Great pets really

Dave

 

[Dagna]

It's kind of strange that a Robo would be biting suddenly. Is there a possibility that he's sick? I'm going to wager a guess that he's male since you said there's a secretion coming out from the middle of his body. Male Robo's have a scent gland right about there. I'm going to guess that he's becoming sexually mature. It's about the right age for a Robo and with the secretion...well, there may not be much you can do about it unless you want little baby Robo's. (Which, by the way, I don't suggest.)

 

[the_baby]

Maybe he's lonely, or sick or like every other animal, they need to be fixed. I know cats and dogs get aggressive if they are not fixed. Just call the Vet. But I really don't know anything about hamsters, so don't really go by me.

 

[bikkle]

Thanks for replying, Billnew, david6789, Dagna, and the_baby

Six weeks ago I accidentally dropped my hamster from about waist level and it had some kind of fit, its limbs were jerking. That stopped after a few seconds and then it was very quiet and still for a little while. I anxiously observed it over the next few days, it didn't seem to be injured and it was eating normally. Strangely, I noticed that ever since this happened, it's gone off its favourite sunflower seeds and now prefers the grains in the mixed food... Just a weird observation.

So far it looks healthy and eating normally and running on the wheel, etc.

I will try Billnew's suggestion and wash my hands more thoroughly before I handle the hamster and I'll see what happens then.

If Dagna's right and it's aggressive because it's becoming sexually mature... Well, I can't do anything about that. Guess I just won't play with it anymore other than putting it in the exercise ball to run around the house safely.

david6789, I'm living with my parents and my mom dislikes pets. She wasn't too keen on the idea of a hamster and she thinks it's dirty and smelly, so pet rats will probably be completely out of the question.

 

[CelineDion]

One time I held my hamster to tight and his eyes squished out. I cried for days....I felt like a murder. My mum told me I was stupid and my daddy told me it was an accident. Sooooo therefore Ive never had another hamster so i cant really help you out but i will tell you that if you hold them to tight they will bite you so you dont make the mistake i did...they're smarter than thy look.

 

[bikkle]

Washing my hands very clean didn't help, it still bit me. Guess it must be aggressive because it's sexually mature (thanks, Dagna!). When I have a little time free, I will bring it to the pet shop and see if I can get a compatible mate for it (one that he doesn't fight with)

 

[shezshy]

just read all the posts and agree with everything posters are telling you. i too was bit by my hamster after only one day ownership.took him to the vet and the vet told me there's inner(family) breeding going on now with these too.thats not helping.i think with me,it was because all my friends were wanting to touch and pet him,their kinda nervous.i gave him to a guy that has several as this wasn't the right small pet for me.do you still have him??