Biting hamster

[horselady]

I'm looking after my grandson's hamster while he's away on holiday. He's only had it about 4 weeks and it's bitten his mum and dad quite nastily so far so my grandson is a bit scared of it. I would love to be able to get it used to people so that by the time he comes home he has the cute little pet he was imagining he would have instead of this fierce little chap. I know they only do it because they are frightened but the bite he gave my daughter was a nasty one. Any hamster taming tips?

[Fibonacci]

http://www.hamstercen...g-biting-hamster.html

[Ratty2E]

http://hamsterhideout...x.php?showtopic=67629

There seems to be some good info here. Sadly hamsters aren't the best pets for small children despite their popularity as such. The can be quite aggressive if not tamed properly from birth and tend to want to be asleep when the child is awake and wanting to play which can make them even more grumpy. Anyway I hope you make progress.

[joeluke]

If people didn't keep vermin as pets they wouldn't suffer nasty bites

[Myriad2112]

You could bite it back..... Freddie Star did .... allegedly

[wolf63]

Some 'vermin' make good pets - rats are intelligent and good company for a person.

I would be too scared of killing a hamster or mouse - they are so small.

[Ratty2E]

Indeed Wolf, rats are extremely good pets and dare I say a lot better than a hamster for small children. Mice can be good but for older children because of the size but they do pong.

[rsvp]

the hamster is not being handled correctly and has probably not been since it was introduced to humans. - look at it from his point of view - if anyone handles you roughly you would react in an aggressive manner - his way is to bite (what's he going to do? wrestle you to the ground?) take some advice about handling from a local society or from your vet. Great that you are taking responsibility for Hammy Hamster and his well being.

[horselady]

Thans for the sensible replies, the others are best ignored. rsvp-he hasn't been handled much all, they've only had him for 2 weeks, and when my daughter went to show my grandson how to handle him, he bit her. She left him alone and tried again when she was on her own with him and he did it again. Anyway, I think in my quieter home and with more time on my part we are progressing, he waddles on to the palm of my hand and just sits there and lets me stroke him, he also takes food straight from my hand and is fine. I think he was just a frightened baby and needed time.

[rsvp]

you seem to have got it taped horselady - aren't they great little animals?