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Old 07-08-2013, 11:51 AM   #1
Newfostermom
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Default Taming My syrians

I have four 7 weeks old Syrian hamsters 2 female (Panda and LuLu), and two male( Yogi and Nemo). I had 13 counting the mother that I adopted from a family member who couldn't care for all of them. Mama was very tame and loved attention, the babies being new to the world were afraid of everything to do with human contact. I did my best to tame the babies before they went to knew homes, and it was a success but these four fascinate me in their personalities. They seem to not want to be tamed especially Panda, she does not like to be handled and anytime I try she will make laps around her cage or burrows herself into her nest. The males seem to be willing yet apprehensive to be handled and removed from their cages. Is there anything to do to help them not fear me? They aren't going anywhere I love them and will be their forever home. I have a weakness for animals who need more work, If need be I will let them be and just watch them from the outside looking in but I would love to tame their wild spirits just a little to give them the love and attention I know they would love if they gave it a chance.
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Old 07-08-2013, 12:08 PM   #2
Stockannette
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

When we first got Carmelita, I would put a small bowl in her bin, and put a few sunflower seeds in it. Once she climbed in the bowl, I would lift it slowly out of the bin, and she was fine being handled on the floor, bed or sofa.

She's cool with hands now.
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Old 07-08-2013, 12:12 PM   #3
Gayze
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

I got Frodo used to his runabout ball, which he loves. It only took one time of luring him in with some sunflower seeds before he knew he got to go run-play when he saw it in his cage. Within a week he was jumping right in for playtime, and I was able to, after several days, open the ball in my lap after he was satisfied with his run. He started climbing out on me and now allows me to use my hands to hold and stroke him, and even pick him up (as long as I keep him close to my body). He's still a little nervous about being scooped up from within his bin, but other than that he's pretty well tame. He was close to four months when I got him and had never been handled in all that time. You sound like a wonderfully patient person, I have a feeling your babies will come around.
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Old 07-08-2013, 01:33 PM   #4
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

I just had a mishap with Nemo. He has never done it before but I attempted to remove him from his cage because my two year old had thrown some plastic debri in the cage. I attempted to remove him as soon as the debri was put in his cage to keep him from eating it. He made the awfullest noises (kinda like growling or hissing) when I picked him up and bit me hard. This has never happened before.

Replying about the runabout ball they love it they all do. I can put it in the cage and they will hop right in and don't freak out when I hold it or even open it to pet them. It's just the actual handling they fear. I should have mentioned this in the original post but I didn't think about it. Yogi is the only one who will allow you to handle him he loves to be petted and will even roll over on his back in your hand to have his tummy rubbed. At first I thought he did this when startled like the others but the more he was handled I realized this was not in fear at all but he actually like his tummy rubs.
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Old 07-08-2013, 01:52 PM   #5
Gayze
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

Have you tried sitting with the runabout ball in your lap and opening it to see if they'll climb out on you? This is what turned things for the better with Frodo. Others use the "bathtub trick", and take the runabout ball into the bathtub (without any water in it, of course, just stopping up the drain). They just sit in the bathtub and let the hammie climb out of the ball, explore the bathtub, and climb all over them.

It really sounds like little Yogi is a special fellow!
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Old 07-08-2013, 02:09 PM   #6
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

I will try the bath tub one seeing how especially Nemo is an escape artist and likes to run away. That is why his name is Nemo more than once we have spent time Finding Nemo lol, he has escaped from the ball and the cage, he is too smart for his own good.
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Old 07-08-2013, 02:17 PM   #7
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

I should have added in the last one that we have since changed his housing to keep him from escaping anymore.
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Old 07-08-2013, 07:19 PM   #8
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

I tried the bathtub with Nemo seeing how we had an issue earlier today. He did climb on me but only to urinate repeatedly on my legs. This kind of upset me but I continued hoping this would help him gain trust in me and prevent another occurrence of today. Is this some kind of marking territory thing? He still would not willingly let me touch him. I will try more and more hoping this what he needs to realize I am not a threat and will try it with the rest as well. Panda and Nemo are what I like to call my problem children, So they will probably require more tub time than LuLu, and I am quite certain that tub time won't be required for my sweet little Yogi (we'll do it just for fun). I will keep updates on how my little brood is doing. Thanks for the help guys.
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Old 07-09-2013, 07:35 AM   #9
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

Did you do the tub thing right after he woke up? I usually wait until after I see our ham pee before getting her.
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Old 07-09-2013, 08:08 AM   #10
kay
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Default Re: Taming My syrians

My little Magnum wasn't very tame and still doesn't like being picked up very much though he will tolerate it now. He doesn't mind being stroked but he doesn't seem to like the feel of skin under his feet.
I found that he liked a variety of fabrics though so I got my dressing gown and a couple of towels and let him run around on those which he seemed to like and they had my smell on which I thought would help for the future.

time and patience are needed and every ham is different so some wil take longer than others and as with all animals, some become tamer than others.
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