Many questions!

LadyMifty · 05-25-2013, 07:46 PM

I just got a new hamster. Although I have owned before, it was with my mother supervising, so I really didn't pay attention to the details! Now I'm doing it on my own, and I have questions! My hamster is a female, and she made three nests. Is that normal? I'm hoping I didn't accidentally buy a pregnant hamster!! How do I find out where she's peeing? I had a little bowl-like thing on the opposite side of the cage, away from the food and what I wanted to be her nesting box. She insisted on sleeping UNDER her, what I wanted to be, litter box. And under the wheel. And in the box that I hoped would be her nesting box. I wanted to move the litter box where she does pee so she could have her nests... but they are on three of the 4 corners of the cage :/ The fourth is where the water is. And I don't even know where she's peeing. See the problem?? Haha. Also, she really seemed to like it when I held her yesterday and the day before (I got her two days ago) but today she started biting my fingers every time I try to touch her. I don't wake her or move quickly. I wait until she's wide awake, I talk to her gently, wait for her to see I'm there, and I slowly put my hand in. Her bite is enough to hurt a little, but definitely not as hard as I know she could bite. Am I doing something wrong?
Thank you if you answer any or all of these questions!!

POLAR WHITES · 05-26-2013, 03:53 AM

Hi and welcome to the forum. it is very early days for your hamster, girl hamsters take a little longer than boys in my experience to settle down. I wouldnt worry about the nests she is making she will sleep where she wants to even with houses added. I would leave her to settle down a bit and take little steps. As for biting you if you show her you worried about this she will do it more, she will learn biting means she gets left alone.

linford27 · 05-26-2013, 04:34 AM

Multiple nests is normal, there's nothing you can really do!
The bites are probably just curious ones - if you blow on her nose when she does it, they don't like this and usually learn that it is not acceptable. Worked with my hammies! Also make sure your hands don't smell of food or other animals

Truffle · 05-26-2013, 05:10 AM

When I first got one of my present hamster, a female syrian hamster she took a long time to settle in. She was clearly in alot of distress and slept curled up in the middle of her cage. I left her be for about a week before I started to tame her, it took me well over a month to do so. I started very slow by just talking to her through the cage, but even the first time I put my hand in the cage- to top up her food. She rushed at my hand. Taming her was a long process and took alot of patience, I made sure that shegot use to me slowly. However I don't thing that I could have tamed her without the bathtub method, have you heard of it? once you have had her abit longer you could try it. Anyway now she has completely altered, she is so trusting and willingly climbs all over me and doesn't mind been held for over an hour at a time. It just takes time and patience and do't be too worried about her now as she should settle down in a bit, maybe a week or a bit more.... just keep talking to her softly. You will get there

Both of my hamster still make several nests at a time so don't be too worried about that!

LadyMifty · 05-26-2013, 06:19 PM

Thanks guys! I'm happy to hear that it might just be her needing time, and not me doing something wrong! I haven't heard of the bathtub method.
One last thing, today I woke up and went to say hello to her, and she was making a really strange sound. She's never made it before. It is like a squeaking sound. And her teeth were chattering. It's not cold, and I don't think I was scaring her, aas I hadn't even put my hand in. She's been doing it off and on today. Is that just a normal hamster noise, or is something wrong?

LadyMifty · 05-26-2013, 06:22 PM

Also, she never bit me before, so that's why I thought it was so odd. It only started yesterday. I even tried putting a treat on my hand and having her walk up. I read that should help. So she walks up my hand, eats her treat, then bites me.

And I do wash my hands before putting it in her cage. But only after she started biting. Perhaps my soap smells yummy, lol

linford27 · 05-27-2013, 03:08 AM

Teeth chattering is a warning, that she was grumpy when you woke her up! It's best to wait until she wakes herself up, then she will be less grumpy and less likely to bite. When she nips you, you can give her a little blow on her nose so she learns it's not acceptable, although don't just wake her straight up and start handling her.

Truffle · 05-27-2013, 07:32 AM

If you search ytube you should find some videos on the bathtub method of taming. I couldn't have tamed my syrian without it I don't think... Bascially a bath is great as it has steep sides so you don't has to worry about your hammie escaping. First put a old blanket or towel in the bottem of the bath, so your hammie isn't standing on the slippery, cold bottem. Also put in a hidie house and tunnel in so if your hamster gets scared it can hide. Obviously make sure that the bath has no water in it, also put the plug in. Next put your hammie in the bath, this means that you can either lean over the bath and let your hamster get uses to you by feeding treats and also by smelling you hands. Or you can sit in the bath with your hamster so it can climb on you and get use to you this way. Letting you hamster climb on you in the bath also means that once it had got use to you, you can hold it for brief periods- this is wht I did. Note, that this should be done slowly and not rushed, also this process like any other takes time and patinces, however this seems to be the method that I have come across. Also I had great sucess with it. I hope this helps