My Dwarf Hamster seems untameable. (long post)

[cdljafdkcjdskrm]

So about a year and a bit ago I bought two dwarf hamsters (because i knew they shouldnt be alone, i did mega research on this) they got on fine but eventually had to be separated after the white hamster was bullying the grey hamster badly. I now take care of my grey hamster immensely, its VERY tame, never bites, always licks, trusts me and doesnt mind me waking it up for a bit of apple. The other though...
Once the white hamster was separated, we were going to sell it, but we eventually decided to keep it downstairs for my mum to take care of. She never really gets it out, so its about as untame as it ever was.
i just tried to pick it up and gave me a nasty bite, nearly drawing blood. I knew my fault, I didnt wash my hands, but I have washed my hands in the past and it still bites. Or then it used to nibble.
But anyway, I tamed my grey hamster by giving it a short blow in the face if it bit me, so it finally realised that biting my skin was wrong, whether it tastes of something good or not.
I tried the same technique with the white hamster, but it seemed to have bad reflexes as it sprung backwards off my hand into thin air, I just managed to catch it.

So, my white hamster is very untameable, and I have no idea where to start. It WILL go for my hands, no matter what. (sorry for long post)

P.S. Is there anyway of deleting this account? It has a bad username and I really want to get rid of it *embarrassed*

[dbl120902]

All hammies are different... some are aggressive toward humans, some aren't. If you want to keep trying, then just be patient and give it time... some hammies take a very, very long time to tame, if they do tame. Dwarf hamsters, in my opinion, are much harder than syrians to tame. My Campbells, Chloe, was a sweetie until she turned about 3, and then she became extremely aggressive. My Roborovskii, Harvey (aka Mr. H), was always nervous/aggressive his whole life. My syrian, Autumn, was a sweetie and never, ever bit me (although she did bite others).

And about your username... you can't change your username, nor can you delete your account. I would not recommend trying to get banned, as you will make many enemies along the way. What you can do is start a new account, and the only option if you'd like a new username.

[Punkygirl0101]

Blowing in the face will usually do nothing but make the hamster more angry.

What works for me, if a hamster is trying to bite you..don't move your hand away, and retreat away from it..That only shows him/her that it biting you works, and keeps you away. I personally hold that hamster/other animal, as often as possible. If they try to bite me, I ignore it. I show it that it biting me is not going to make me leave it alone. But, if it calms down after a while, and you can pick it up with no problem, then I put it back and give it a little treat. So biting=more poking and prodding, and bothering from me, not biting and acting calm=A treat, and getting to go back into its cage.

It hasn't failed me so far. Dwarf hamsters tend to be pretty skittish, especially when not being handled from a young age.

[cdljafdkcjdskrm]

These replies are very useful to me, Ill get to work soon on starting to tame up the white hamster. I will say though, blowing in the face hasnt angered my hamsters, its just made them retreat a little. It seems harsh, but it isnt as cruel as it sounds :)

Do you think I should wear gloves on taming the white hmaster for the first few times? Those bites are very vicious, when I last retreated my finger, it was holding on in thin air. Or should I let it get used to my scent before it stops biting?

P.S. I tried to create another account, but it doesnt want more than one account on the same email address, so Im not bothering with it :P

[Punkygirl0101]

Gloves might work for a little bit, but it won't get the hamster used to your scent, just used to being handled..so gloves would probably work fine to hand tame it, but then you have to be brave enough to take those gloves off ;). lol

[Robocop]

I had the same problem. I have three robo's, and one is separated because she picked on the other two. After a year + of having them, the two together are fine with me(one is still a tiny skiddish, but the other gets in my hand-no problem). But the loner is still a little skiddish.

I have been slowly working with her and I have found the best is to just hand feed as much as you can. Let them get used to your scent and the fact that you are feeding them :p A few weeks ago my hammy wouldn't come near me, and hardly came out of her house(except at night when no one is around), only to run back in if you're near.

So I've been doing a ton of hand feeding and gentle talking. It's working, and she's coming out a lot more, and taking food from my hands every now and then.

I would not blow in the hammy's face. The only time I've had biting incidents is if I have the scent of food on my hands. I keep a hand sanitizer next to my cage, and I use that before I handle them. But even still, I don't think dwarfs in general have hard nips. So if you get bitten, please oh my please, do not quickly jerk away. That will not only freak your hammy out, but let him/her know what they did worked. So try to tolerate the biting. It is probably just the scent of food that is causing her to bite tho, or it's just that she is mad cus you keep blowing in her face :p some hammy's take different taming methods differently. It probably is just agitating her more.

Dwarf hamsters just take a a lot more patience and time with the taming. It will come eventually.

[cdljafdkcjdskrm]

lol, ill be taking off those gloves when it stops biting as viciously ;D i dont mind dwarf hamsters nibbling on me or tugging at my skin, it just needs to get out of the habit is all ^_^

[cdljafdkcjdskrm]

just read robocop's message :P i was thinking of getting some robos, but i heard they were too hyper for a beginner hamster handler (even if i had a couple of syrians before, i didnt take the chance) robos are very cute though :D

yeah i understand where youre coming with the blowing bit, ill stop doing it from now on. i must say i did everything wrong when i tried to handle it yesterday, i just had dinner, let it sniff my finger and it bit SO hard so i reflexed and jerked out quickly. bad option, but its time for a new start.

yeah the white hamster is more shy against bigger things (aka my hand) while my grey hamster is really curious and sniffs around my hands to see whats new.