Baby Dwarf Hamsters Love To Bite. Ouch! What can I do?

[Gilgamesh]

A few weeks ago my hamster had two babies. They've just gotten to the point where they've grown a lot of fur and are eating and drinking by themselves and running around. Basically they're independent of their mother now.

So, I've been trying to handle them recently, and well...they seem to love to bite me. A lot. Sometimes I bleed and it hurts quite a bit. It's gotten to the point where I'm almost afraid to pick them up for fear of being bitten again, sometimes two or three times before I can pick them up. I still pick them up every day though.

But, once they're in my hands and out of the cage, they don't bite at all! They will run up and down my arm and everything.

What things should I try to do to get these dwarf hamsters to accept me and not bite me at all, like their mother?

Thanks in advance.

[Dreamincolr]

Ive never been in the situation but...maybe its a territory thing? I mean they are really young so im not sure...just a guess.
As long as they arent bting you when they are out of their cage I think that you should continute to handle them everyday.
An idea: Get them out of their cage without reaching in to get them by placing a toilet paper tube infront of them. They will usually crawl in. And then more it so they walk out on to your hand. That will possibly bypass the bititng problem.
Good luck and congrats on the youngins!
POST PICS :)

[7GameSavvy]

Yeah, that's a good idea, and wear gloves!!!! Try picking them up and putting them down (wearing the gloves!) without taking them out of the cage completely. It also might get better when they are seperated from mom.:D

Hope that helps, keep us posted!!!:cheeky:

Savvy

[LuckyBunny888]

I agree with the gloves. When they bite at all do you stop trying to pick them up? If so they could be thinking that if they bite they wont have to leave the cage. By wearing gloves, you can just continue to pick them up so they realize no matter what they do, even if it is bite. They are going to leave that cage lol. Also, try just setting your hand in the cage so they know its you before you go after them. If they know its you and that you wont hurt them, they shouldnt bite. Are they rearing onto their backs with paws out when you pick them up? If so try that first. They might think your something else.

[iheartharold]

yah, i recently experienced this problem at the pet store. havent had the time to come up with a solution due to lack of time. but my best recommendation...

before EVER handling a rodent, wash your hands thouroughly with soap and water. hamsters are near blind (especially in the light) and depend a lot on their sense of smell. so if your hands smell at all like food, theyre going to try you.

start off by resting your hand in the cage (remain calm and dont move) allowing them to go about their business and smell you if they want to. do this a few times a day for anywere between 3-5 mins at a time. you can even talk to tehm (in a soft and quiet voice, loud sounds agitate them) so they get used to you speaking also. do this for about 5 days, allowing them to get used to your hand at their own pace.

once theyve gotten used to having you around their cage, put your hand in and slowly and calmly approach them allowing them to sniff you, 3-5 mins, for about 5 days..yada yada.

once theyve gotten used to that. try scooping them up. ive found one of the easiset and safest approaches in laying on hand flat on the bottom of the cage and nicely pushing them onto your hand with ease. if they protest, let them sniff you a bit and try again (talking in a calm quiet soothing voice). once theyre in the palm of your hand, cup your other hand over them but leave a hole b/w your thumb and forefinger. creating almost a little den, whcih can be extremely comforting. once their calm, take them out, and there you go!

i hope it works for you!! remember to take it slow, try to keep at their pace. and remember, you are a GIANT to them!!

[7GameSavvy]

Yeah, talking is good. My hamsters freak out sometimes if I don't talk to them because they don't know it's me. It will work even better for you since you have had them since they were born:)

Savvy

[Gilgamesh]

Yeah, that's a good idea, and wear gloves!!!! Try picking them up and putting them down (wearing the gloves!) without taking them out of the cage completely. It also might get better when they are seperated from mom.:D

Hope that helps, keep us posted!!!:cheeky:

Savvy

Uh, do I have to separate them from their mother?

[Honey27]

You can separate them at about 20 days. The mother can use some time to herself earlier than that though! sometimes, the babies will continue to try to drink milk from her even though they have moved on to solid food - but she'll let them know in her way (aka- swat) that she's not open for business anymore ;)

[7GameSavvy]

Yeah, at around 21 days or so you should wean them. Mom needs a break. Oh, and I would seperate them into same sex cages so they don't try and mate with each other.

Savvy

[Gilgamesh]

Yeah, at around 21 days or so you should wean them. Mom needs a break. Oh, and I would seperate them into same sex cages so they don't try and mate with each other.

Savvy

I find it hard to identify their sexes since they move around so much.

Do I have to separate them forever or can I put them back in with the mother eventually?

This presents such a big problem for me since I don't know where I'm going to put two new cages.

[7GameSavvy]

Ok, you really should have researched breeding dwarf hamsters before your dwarf got pregnant.

Since you only have two babies you can put them in the same cage for now. To sex them, pick them up (with gloves on) and hold so there bellies face up. I don't know exactly what to look for to tell genders in dwarfs because I raise Syrians but you could find it on the internet.

After about 2 weeks or so you can put the female(s) (if there are any) back in with the mother, but not the males because then you will have inbreeding.

Savvy

[Gilgamesh]

Ok, you really should have researched breeding dwarf hamsters before your dwarf got pregnant.

Since you only have two babies you can put them in the same cage for now. To sex them, pick them up (with gloves on) and hold so there bellies face up. I don't know exactly what to look for to tell genders in dwarfs because I raise Syrians but you could find it on the internet.

After about 2 weeks or so you can put the female(s) (if there are any) back in with the mother, but not the males because then you will have inbreeding.

Savvy


Well, I didn't even know my dwarf hamster was pregnant. The lady at the pet store told me that the hamster wasn't pregnant, then a week or so after I got it she gave birth to two babies. I had only planned on having one initially.

[7GameSavvy]

Then maybe you should try and find homes for them.:)

Savvy

[Gilgamesh]

Then maybe you should try and find homes for them.:)

Savvy

I might have to do that, but if there's any way I can take care of them myself, then I'll try my best to do that. I only hope they're both female...I think they are. But again I'm not sure yet.

[piggy101]

when trying to find out the sex of your dwarf it is better to determine the hamster's sex when it is about 1 month old.Here is what to look for....
The male will have 2 holes they are about 1cm apart.
The female will have 2 holes too but they will be closer togather and it may look like there is only 1 there, here is a pic to help you...
http://tinypic.com/9kmcdd.jpg

[christen renee]

i bought a pregnant hamster too. mine had 5 though. i couldnt find homes for any of them. 3 girls and 2 boys. i had a space problem as well. i was able to somehow make space. the 3 girls live happily together and i took them from their mom cause they seemed to agitate her. boys are loners.

i had trouble telling the sexes apart.. but also observing their behaviour helped out a lot. the boys will continuously bother the girls and even the mother.

[christen renee]

i forgot the actual question for this thread haha. my hamster babies didnt bite at all. also i really think my other hamster was the dad but i guess since she gave birth 2 days after i got her there couldve been a diff hamster in there with her who knows. but if simon is the dad they must take after him cause he's not a biter and mama is. she never bites hard enough for it took hurt but she'll go after you grab on and doesnt let go. peter my other guy will only bite when agitated so i use the tube method for him as a preventive just in case.

i have tiny hands so most gloves just make me clumsy.

good luck.

[7GameSavvy]

christen, your hamster wasn't the father because their gestation period is like 18 days or something like that (not quite sure for dwarfs).

Do you have your males and females together??? Because if you do she is going to wind up pregnant again.

Savvy

[christen renee]

i bought all 3 of my adult hamsters together. obviously she got pregnant at the pet store. i always assumed simon was the father but i realize it couldve been a different hamster that was already sold. but its still possible simon is the father.

and no males are with any females. i dont want anymore accidental litters. as cute as they are, i just dont think i could squeeze anymore time out of the day.

[7GameSavvy]

That's good to hear.:) I didn't know you got them together, it's very possible Simon is the father.

Why did the pet store put the genders together??? Was it a local pet store or one of the chains???

Savvy

[christen renee]

it was a local pet store in the mall. i dont know why they did that. im assuming it was an accident. i did mention it to an employee there and told them they might want to be more careful. they offered to take the babies..

but i couldnt bring myself to give them up. for a while i wanted to find homes with no luck. the babies are more tame than the original 3 and more cuddly etc.

[7GameSavvy]

Well at least the biting problem is gone!!! lol

I hope you can find space for them:) Have you sexed them yet???

Savvy

[christen renee]

um i didnt make this thread lol. [if youre talking to me] i never had a problem with my babies biting. i was able to make space for them somehow. my room was on the small side to begin with. but i was able to fit 6 bin cages, 1 20 gallon tank, and a 5' 30" long rat cage in it. and they were sexed long ago. since they were born in may ;] otherwise id be drowning in hamsters by now.

and if you were talking to the person that created this thread.. then sorry for going thru all this detail. :)

[7GameSavvy]

oops sorry Christen, I was talking to you but I forgot you didn't start this thread (since the person who did hasn't been on in a while), but it's nice to hear you take such good care of your hams:)

Savvy

[Gilgamesh]

UPDATE:

The babies are fine, they're both male, I moved them to a new cage, they don't bite me anymore.

[christen renee]

thats good to hear :)

[7GameSavvy]

Cool, then they can stay together and you won't have to find as much extra space. Good luck with your new charges!!!:D

Savvy