The same thing happened to me recently. I was playing "cootchie-coo" with my wife’s hamster’s nose when she suddenly sank her teeth all the way into my finger. Those teeth are
long and
sharp—it bled for 3 hours.
After I calmed down and overcame my urge to kill the hamster (and did a quick Google to see if I needed a rabies shot), I talked to some people at PetSmart about it. One girl was particularly knowledgeable, and she offered the following observations and suggestions:
First of all, hamsters aren’t all that bright—guinea pigs and chinchillas are a lot smarter. So just don’t make any sudden moves around them, because they’re basically afraid of their own shadow.
They can’t see worth a shit, so don’t just start poking them in the face and expect them to like it (that was
my mistake).
They’re mean. Most other rodents will run and hide if they feel provoked. Not hamsters—their first instinct is to attack.
Wash your hands thoroughly before handling them, so they don’t smell any other animal on you.
She also swears that if you give them something called ‘yogurt drops’ that they’ll calm right down and love you forever. We bought some, but I don’t know if they work because I won’t go near the little bastard anymore. But she’s never bitten my wife.
Hope this helps.
By the way, the little darling escaped from her cage last night and hasn’t been seen since. Mayflower is a little pissed at me right now because I’m not showing enough sympathy. :roll: So if you all could say a quick prayer for the hasty recovery of little Maria the Hamster, it might make my home life a little more pleasant. Thanks for your concern.