Hamsters are a very popular pet, due to their adorable appearance, because they take up little space at home and are much easier to care for than other pets such as dogs and cats. Although as a general rule they are tender, affectionate and affable, they also have character, they are distrustful and very scared.
The defense mechanism of a hamster is to bite and, although it does not hurt, it is not something that we should ignore either. Identifying the causes of this bite is essential to provide well-being to our rodent, since they often adopt this behavior in response to an unpleasant situation for them. Therefore, we must know how to avoid it.
It is common for hamsters to bite when new to an unknown home. They do not know the environment nor the people who try to interact with it, whom it identifies as threats. Not surprisingly, we are much bigger than him and this scares him.
A wrong adaptation and socialization process when they are little can translate into later behavior problems. Also, some are more predisposed to bite due to genetic conditions.
Even if it is already familiar with ourselves, it can surprise us with a bite from time to time. For example, if you startle him, wake him up while he's sleeping, try to interact with him when he's eating, or grab him suddenly.
Finally, the bite may indicate discomfort on the part of the animal, since if it feels bad or is sick it may prefer not to be handled. When in doubt, it is better to go to the vet to check that everything is going well.
When you adopt your hamster and bring him home for the first time, place him in his cage in a quiet place and allow him to acclimate to his new home first. When you approach his cage or introduce food inside, do not try to pet him, do not make loud noises or sudden movements.
As you see that he feels comfortable with your presence, try to put your hand in the cage offering him a piece of fruit suitable for hamsters and let him come to smell you. After this step, when he approaches you by himself, you can begin to caress him gently, accompanying this gesture with fruits or sweets, as well as words of affection in a soft voice.
As soon as he lets himself be caressed by you, you can already try to catch him. To prevent him from interpreting it as an attack, let him sniff you first and cup your hands. When he lands on them, use one as a base and one to support his back. Never grab it from above directly with your pincer-shaped hand, as it will not feel secure.
In case it bites you while you are playing, you will have to put it back in its cage so that it interprets that this is not right. Avoid interrupting him while he sleeps or eats and always caress him with clean hands, because if they smell like food, he may bite you, thinking that you are food.
