fierce hamster

[geekgrrl]

We got dd1 a new hamster 3 weeks ago after the untimely demise of her first one. The first hamster was an absolute darling, friendly, tame and happy to be handled, sadly it had to be put down due to a uterine infection.
This new one unfortunately is a fierce beast and all efforts at taming it are unsuccessful so far. I just cleaned the cage out and it actually screeched at me. It tries to bite me and has succeeded once (v. painful, lots of blood) and is generally extremely skittish and nervous.
Is there hope or will we be stuck with a viscious hamster for the next 3 years?

threaten him with the casserole dish, and see if that sorts out his behaviour

bump - anyone?

I kept hamsters for years when i was younger some were brilliant and a few were vicious horrible things.

What i used to do with my new hamsters to get them to 'like' me and used to my smell and used to being handled was wash my hands so they didn't smell like food etc then sit in the bath (empty of course) so that it cant escape and just let it run around and climb over you for an hour or so. it used to help them get used to being handled and used to you and they cant escape if they try!
Then just do that regularly until they are used to you and hopefully get less vicious

Used to work for me anyway

also second what JustUsTwo said about never approach him with your hand from above. Thats a good idea with the bedding thing, i never thought of doing that

thanks jc and jut, that's really helpful. Glad to hear there's hope . Sounds like we've been doing it all wrong (tempting it with food etc.).

I've found a lot of hamsters are like this, and I've never had any luck taming them. Take it back to the pet shop and get a rat instead - they are far friendlier.

Sounds odd I know but my DH and I once bought my Mum a hamster as a present. The thing was savage - part canibal I think. We had him for a few days before he was given to my Mum and he used to lunge for my fingers when i used to put his fresh food in every night. I dintinctly remember one Friday night feeding him before DH and I were going out for dinner and I didn't get my hand out of his cage quickly enough and the little bugger sunk his fangs into my finger. The thing just woundn't stop bleeding, plasters were no good so all though our dinner I was holding tissue after tissue around the top of my bleeding finger.

So, he gets given to my mum with a warning that he's a vicious little bastard but a month later I go over there and blow me but the bloody thing is running around all over my Mum and eating treats from her hands. My Mum said she handled him every day with gardening gloves until he got used to her and then took them off. Ie he tried to bite it was no treats for hammy. He soon learnt. Couldn't believe the transformation. I was convinced it was a different hamster!!