Robo hamster biting. Mine does too!

Question
QUESTION: Hi Tammy,
I've had my robo hamster, Sweetie since September of last year. She bites me most of the time. My husband and I bought her after our dwarf hamster died.

    We bought Sweetie from our neighborhood pet store. She didn't bite us at first, but after we gave her a bigger cage and a lot of toys and blankies. She just bites us.
We understand their much more timid and shy than most other hamsters, but we also bought a robo hamster because of their sweet disposition, and easy manner. Plus they live longer than campbell dwarf hamsters. We thought it was a great situation.

It's rather disheartening, but she doesn't want to be picked up and she doesn't like the sound of my husbands voice or any man's voice. She'll come to me when I call her, and she loves it when I talk to her. We try to play new games like peek a boo and she loves to roll in her ball. She is well fed, and looks very healthy. I try picking her up with this little pocket I have, and she enjoys it, but she hates the smell of my hands, and I wash my hands with non-smelling anti-bacterial soap before I handle her change or feed her. The pet store owner hasn't been much of a help, so I was wondering if you had any suggestions? My husband and I are so sad, and we don't want to give up on Sweetie. What should we do with our biting and nippy hamster?
best regards,
Roberta Rivera

ANSWER: Hi Roberta,

ideally Roborovskis should be kept in same sex pairs or small, same sex groups because they are very social hamsters and can get lonely if they are kept alone.

Some Roborovskis are kept alone though, and some even prefer it - most hamsters will adapt to being on their own after a few days.

Roboovskis prefer not to be picked up at all - they just prefer to be left alone do their own thing.  They are great pets to watch, especially when they are in pairs or goups, but they are the fastest and smallest species of hamster, so the best way to describe them is "Hyper"!!

Of course, there are the few Roborovskis who can be picked up and tamed, but Roborovskis will never get as tame as a Syrian hamster.

Roborovskis very rarely bite - they usually tend to run away!

As i said - most Roborovskis prefer to be left alone and not to be handled - obviously she is that kind of hamster.

If i was you i would just leave her alone and enjoy watching her doing her own thing - just make sure she has plenty of toys and tunnels to keep her active and busy, and make sure she has a wheel too.

Kind Regards,

Tammy


Roberta,

How long have you had her for?

Tammy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tammy,
We've had Sweetie for 6 months now.
:^)

sincerely,
Roberta

Answer
Hi Roberta,

i would not risk trying to introduce her to to another hamster after she has been on her own fo 6 months - she would probably not take kindly to what she would consider as an intruder.

She is probably very happy on her own and has probably adjusted to it quite well.

Just give her time to get used to you and just remember that her nature is to be timid.

Just let me know if you need any more info.

Kind Regards,

Tammy x