Hamster help?

[CSB]

I just bought my 9 yr old a male hamster two weeks ago. I have a couple of questions for anyone who can help.

The hamster has bitten my daughter a few times. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions on preventing this. She knows to wash her hands and to not pick him up by grabbing him from the front and above.

I bought a tall wire cage with 3 levels but he has not taken any interest in the higher level. What can we put up there that will interest him. I would like to be creative and not buy the plastic stuff that they sell. Maybe the wire ladder is not so good?

Thank you,

 

[ownsmany]

we only had one for a short time. We had the nice 2 story condo cage. He loved climbing the wires of the cage & going to the top.

Unfortn. he got out.

He never bit the kids - but they didn't really hold him. They would just watch him & pet him while he was in his petting station.

I won't get one again. He got out, got into the walls, and chewed his way thru my ceiling in the kitchen. yuck.:annoyed:

I just bought my 9 yr old a male hamster two weeks ago. I have a couple of questions for anyone who can help.

The hamster has bitten my daughter a few times. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions on preventing this. She knows to wash her hands and to not pick him up by grabbing him from the front and above.

I bought a tall wire cage with 3 levels but he has not taken any interest in the higher level. What can we put up there that will interest him. I would like to be creative and not buy the plastic stuff that they sell. Maybe the wire ladder is not so good?

Thank you,

 

[gypcqueen83]

Hi,
we found putting the wheel at the top works best. We have one that attaches to the wire cage-doesn't sit on the floor. you could have a wheel top and bottom if you wanted. you have a big cage.

as for the biting. we have had a couple that bit more than others but it seems to ease up with more handling. the one we have now doesn't bite at all anymore and we have only had him a few months.

good luck!
kim

 

[DaveNV]

Remember, hamsters are nocturnal, too. So the critter could be all over the cage when you're asleep. I wouldn't be that worried about it. As long as the cage is properly cleaned, the food and water are fresh, and the pet is happy, the rest is relative.

Gentleness and tameness come from frequent gentle handling. If your child has been bitten twice, was the hamster scared, or fearing for its own safety? Did she wake it up to play with it? How tightly or roughly was the child handling it? Hamsters are pretty low on the food chain, so would be naturally fearful of dangerous situations. Either that, or maybe it was just hungry, and your child's finger smelled of food.

Good luck!

Dave

 

[Don]

Nine Years old! Are you sure you don't mean nine months? The normal life expectancy isn't more than a couple of years. But that doesn't matter. The problem is that your hamster hasn't been handled much and bites to defend against an imaginary attack. Hamsters that have been handled since weening are more docile and don't bite (as much).

 

[DaveNV]

Nine Years old! Are you sure you don't mean nine months? The normal life expectancy isn't more than a couple of years. But that doesn't matter. The problem is that your hamster hasn't been handled much and bites to defend against an imaginary attack. Hamsters that have been handled since weening are more docile and don't bite (as much).

Don, I think she meant the child is nine years old, not the hamster.

Dave

 

[Patri]

We are new to hamsters too. She hears us, me especially, and comes to the top container when she wants to be picked up. Even so, I put my hand in and let her sniff. If she stays still I pick her up. Occasionally she bites if afraid or not completely awake, so I try to let her lead. Never thought I would like a mousy-type pet, but I like this one.

 

[swift]

Having gone through pet, hamsters, ginny pigs, chinchillas, rats, mice, snakes, ferrets, rabbits, and every other possible creature that my three kids have brought home from my experience hamsters bite more often than other rodents. Pet rats are the most gentile but of them all I prefer chinchillas. Occasionally I put a fish bowl of special dust and watch them roll in it to bathe themselves. They are very cute.

 

[Don]

Don, I think she meant the child is nine years old, not the hamster. Dave

You're right! I quick scanned it and thought it said that she ahd bought a 9 year old hamster. Thanks for pointing it out.