My long haired teddy bear hamster.

Question
I got my Bailey about a week ago. She is a long haired teddy bear hamster. She hisses and growls anytime i go to open her cage. I don't want to pick her up for fear of she will bite me. I have never had a hamster like this. Even if i wanted to pick her up [which i do] she wont let me. She flips over and hisses. What should i do??

Answer
Sounds like you have a stubborn hamster. I have answered a similar question a few days ago so  I will post a similar answer.

Hamsters are naturally jumpy. Hamsters can sometimes get territorial INSIDE their own home.

I have two methods of training a bitting hamster.  Traditional, and Stubborn.

Traditional Method.  Hamsters are nocturnal, so the best time to train is around 5 in the afternoon. Later on when your hamster is familiar with you, he/she will wake up earlier for your attention.

Setting up is partially part of the training.  Choose a day where you can clean out the cage earlier in the morning and start fresh. Then later in the afternoon you may commence. Around 5pm Offer your hamster a small bite of food (a carrot for example)  have the hamster take the carrot from your hands, do not offer it right in front of his face but rather call him and see if he comes to investigate.  After he has take the carrot and when he is done eating what he can, make a second offer (this time dry food), hold it gingerly so that he may pull it away from your hand without too much trouble.  Then place down a tablespoon of food next to him.

After the initial day you should continue this method twice a day for a few of days, once early in the morning no later than 8am (with a PINCH of food rather than a tablespoon), and second no earlier than 5pm.   Once your hamster has associated your hand with feeding him, he may calm down.  When you notice his stash of food has built up somewhat, then this is the time to try and handle him.  It is likely that by this time your hamster has some territorial issues (that means he is Territorial and thinks you may be trespassing).  So SCOOP him out using a clean cup, and pour him into your CLEAN hand (clean meaning that you do not smell like food, because otherwise you will be taken FOR food).  Allow the hamster to walk on your hands but try to prevent him from scurrying away.  Try this for a minimum of 3-5 minutes, twice a day preferably, but once a day could suffice.

Continue scooping him out for a few more days.  After a few days of scooping him out, attempt to pick him out with your hands, but make SURE that he knows you are around and that he is awake.  Never pick up a sleeping hamster, you may frighten him.


That is the traditional method,

Hamsters will be less likely to bite outside their home, but what if your hamster bite OUTSIDE the home?

It could be due to trust.  To the hamster, your hand is a very alien thing and he is afraid of it, he has to learn to trust you.   You will need to be persistent, do not be afraid of the hamster, expect to be bit a few times. It is not their fault that they are so tiny and scared.

If he STILL bites you then you have to try the desperate measure, this is what is the Stubborn Method and I call this "Hamster Boot Camp", and I have only done this to stubborn hamsters who always bit no matter what.  I have only had a few of them but this method has helped them calm down every time.

STUBBORN Method:

Be very careful when attempting this method because you will have to help your hamster out it is basically just as it sounds "BOOT CAMP".  What you will do is have the hamster swim to your hand and climb atop of your hand.  Remember that this method is a "drastic measure" method that should ONLY be applied to stubborn hamsters that continuously bite, do not do this to every hamster you get because not all of them are stubborn.   I will explain why this works.

You will need to fill a shallow bowl with lukewarm water up to your hamster's height, deep enough for him to swim in it.  Make sure the water is lukewarm and not warmer than your own body temperature, because it might feel hot to the hamster otherwise.  Place the Cute little biter inside the little tub you just made.  DO NOT PLACE HIM IN THERE WITH YOUR HANDS use the cup you used to scoop him out of his home to do this.  Allow him to swim around in the water, YES hamster can swim although they rarely will in nature, he will likely be frantic  because there will be nowhere to go, immediately place your hand inside the water at water level palm open to allow him to climb on top of your hand... of course he will TRY to avoid your hand because he is scared, but don't let him ignore you.  Keep placing your hand near him until he learns to climb on top of your hand.  Keep this up until he successfully climbs on your hand without freaking out, IF he still freaks out in the process of you rescuing him and tries to run away, then place him in the water again and re-try until he calms down.   Pat him dry and place him in a towel lined shoe box till he dries out (make sure he can't climb out)  when he is dry, then offer him a treat and let him eat it.  Wash your hands again and scoop him out, he should be calmer.  If not then place him back into his home and let him rest, tomorrow try to pick him up again, and if he bites.... "sigh" repeat this process.  Hopefully he learns the first day you attempt this.

The reason this helps is because your hamster will learn to see your hand as a life saver and since he knows your hand can save him he will NOT bite you.  You do not place him in the water using your hand because you are trying to teach him that the cup is bad and not your hand.  It is possible that he could still bite you inside his own home because in there you are a trespasser but outside his home under these conditions he should learn not to bite.   

This method worked for me, I do not know of any other method to stop a stubborn biter other than this one.  I wish you two good luck! Let me know if you have any problems with this method!

Remember to always try the traditional methods first!

Concerning Veggies and Fruits to feed your hamster, here is a link to a site with a very detailed list:

http://www.hamsterific.com/HamsterUniversity/FoodList.html

Good luck!