I have had my Minions for 5 days now. Wicket and Sapphire, 3.5yrs old and the boys Ratchet and Spyro 8 months OOP. Sapphire has always been a bit shy and anti-social with people according the the previous parents. When I can put my hand and arm into the cage and the guys will come up sniff, lick, climb on my arm. But they start scrapping their teeth on my hand or arm and go from scrapping to biting. Its not just one bit and done they bite repeatedly each time alittle harder until they break the skin and I start to bleed and slowly pull my hand back out of the care.

I know they are not doing to me malicious, its just instinct of scrapping the bark to get the sweet sap. The help I'm looking for is how should I react when they do it? Right now I have alittle scab on ever finger from it. Even with my hand as a fist the get the knuckles. How should I react that would help them learn that my hand and arm has no sap. I have always had dogs and cats and I now when they do something bad they do not respond well to negative reinforcement. But I also don't want to reward them for a undesired behavior.

I've been told this is marking. Marking you as their property. They have scent glands and they are rubbing their scent on you. One of our new ones did this for alittle while, then stopped. I usually just gently push or brush them away with my hand if they are doing something painful, like hard grooming. But the 4 we have had the longest dont do this anymore.

The guys were all neutered on Friday. Wicket did have a bit of a bald spot from his scent gland and Spyro had a tiny spot starting.

Also if you are using scented soap, they may be trying to taste you if you smell friuty or sweet. Same with shampoo.

I agree with what has been posted. Congrats on successful neuters.