When thinking of a hamster as a pet, we can't help but be touched by its diminutive size and cute appearance. It is also common to imagine a positive interaction… Until it bites us!
Many people adopt this small rodent without being properly informed or have their first contact when it is already at home. So if the hamster hasn't been well socialized, they get a little bite and while it doesn't hurt, it's obviously not a nice thing
It is important to have a positive attitude with our new hamster, but how should we deal with repeated bites? In this article on our site we will show you how to prevent my hamster from biting me, don't miss a thing!
Why do hamsters bite?
There are different causes that can cause a hamster to manifest aggressive behaviors towards humans, mainly three: genetics, socialization and learning. However, those specimens that suffer pain or some disease, can also bite when trying to avoid interaction with humans.
Those hamsters that have exemplary parents that show aggressiveness are more likely to develop it as adults. But also, a lack of socialization with people in the early stages or a bad experiencevivid, they can also be the reasons why a hamster bites.
Whether you have been able to identify the cause of this behavior or not, here are some basic tips you can follow to improve their well-being and behavior, factors that will significantly improve your relationship and their character.
How to stop your hamster from biting?
It is completely understandable that a hamster, after arriving in a new home, is not predisposed to be handled. They are independent animals that probably fear humans because of their large size: it is instinctive. We are much older than them and, of course, they are fully aware. However, if we use patience and learn to positively interact with them, we will have a better chance to earn their trust and have more approaches with them.
If your roborowskii hamster bites, you should try to improve your bond with him by following these tips:
- During the first daysyou should offer him a calm and stable environment so that he can get used to the new home without stress. Even if you really want to touch him and spend time with him, it is important to respect the adaptation times.
- Care for the environment and prepare the cage for your hamster properly, making sure it has enough space, toys and all the accessories necessary to enjoy a state of well-being.
- Don't wake your hamster when he is sleeping. It is very important that the little rodent is able to associate us in a positive way, so if you scare him, he will start to fear you. Respect his sleeping hours and interact with him only when he is awake.
- Get him used to your presence by putting food in his cage and handling accessories when he is inside. At first you should not touch him, just get him used to start tolerating the presence of your hand in the cage.
- Make him show interest in youby speaking softly to him, offering him bits of fruit recommended for hamsters, and respecting his space whenever he runs away or hides
- Make gradual approaches, that is, don't try to catch it without warning. It is better that, little by little, you make approaches with your hand so that it is more used to it.
It is important to note that this process can take days, weeks and even months. Depending on the cause that is causing the aggressive attitude of our hamster, it can take more or less time. In any case, being patient and acting in a positive and calm way will be key to solving it.
Why does my hamster bite me if it didn't before?
Sometimes it may happen that, after gaining the trust of a hamster, it begins to bite us intentionally, although at the same time it plays and allows itself to be manipulated without any problem. What do the hamster bites mean then?
In these cases we must rule out an organic cause, that is, that our little rodent bites us due to a disease or pain. You can gently feel your hamster and carefully press different parts of his body to discover if he feels pain anywhere in his body. If so, a visit to the exotic vet is a must.
On the other hand, it can also happen that our hamster bites us as a greeting. In these cases we will speak of a soft bite and, after it, the hamster will act normally in our presence, it will not try to run away or hide.
How to act when the hamster bites us?
Whatever the reason for the aggressive behavior, knowing some basic driving guidelines will be essential to knowing how to prevent my hamster bite me. Of course, during the first few days we must not move away or withdraw our hand, even if the bite was painful, only in this way will he understand that the bite is not a useful tool for us to get away from him.
Even so, handling him while we let ourselves be bitten is not a good option, neither for us nor for him, since it will increase the levels of fear and anxiety in our little hamster. Instead, we must learn how to train our hamster using positive reinforcement and negative punishment:
- Positive reinforcement: consists of rewarding behavior that we consider appropriate. For example, if our hamster shows some interest in us, we can reward him every time he approaches our hand, in this way he will associate our presence and his approach with rewards, so there will be more chances that he will repeat that behavior.
- Negative punishment: consists of withdrawing something pleasant in the face of inappropriate behaviour. For example, if we are playing with our hamster on the sofa and he bites us, we will put him back in the cage and end the game.
Remember that associations do not occur immediately, several repetitions are required so that the animal can relate its behavior with the subsequent reinforcement or punishment.
Improper methods to correct bites
Some people use wrong and unrecommended methods, such as positive punishment, which not only does not help improve the situation, but also They also make it worse. Here are two inappropriate methods to correct a hamster:
- Blow on the hamster's face when it bites: At first it may seem like a harmless punishment, but it is not. Although it is possible that he will come to associate the bite with this type of action, the truth is that he will also be associating our presence with an unpleasant situation. It also increases anxiety and stress levels, causing rejection and fear towards us.
- Knock him on the head: as in the previous case, this "technique" causes a bad association of our presence, discomfort and discomfort. Nor is it positive to hit such a small animal precisely because of its small size. Excessive force could injure you.
Other frequently asked questions
To finish, we will solve some frequent doubts that some owners have, don't lose any detail:
- What if you get bitten by a Russian hamster? The bite of a Russian hamster is not dangerous or extremely harmful. You should be aware that hamsters can bite on occasion, but if you follow our guidelines you can solve it effectively.
- Can hamsters transmit any disease to us? While it is true that rodents are associated with serious pathologies such as rabies, what It is true that a domestic hamster is unlikely to become infected, especially if it does not have access to the outside. Discover on our site the most common diseases of hamsters.
- Why does my hamster bite everything? Like many other rodents, hamsters need to chew to wear down their teeth, so To do this, be sure to provide him with a piece of calcium, natural wood toys and other types of specific gnawing materials that you will find in pet stores.
- Why does my Russian hamster bite the bars of the cage? It can happen if the size of the cage is too small and it is behavior resulting from stress and anxiety. It also appears if the hamster has no items to gnaw.
