New hamster, trying to tame

Sarah_P · 08-13-2008, 07:16 AM

Hello everyone - I'm Sarah

I'm not new to hamsters but I thought I'd sign up as I've just got a new boy and want to make sure I'm doing everything right

This is the second boy I've had (although I had the other boy when I was around 4 so don't remember him so much) and was wondering how different they are to girls? The girls I've had in the past all seemed to be pretty much tame straight away - but my boy Marvin seems quite timid at the moment. He's quite young - around 5 weeks, and we've only had him 5 days now.

When he wakes up (usually around 9pm-10pm) he seems quite nervous and twitchy, but after a couple of minutes he's alright. I haven't held him yet, but I keep offering him little bits of food from my hand which he's starting to take, and if I leave my hand in the cage he'll sniff it and occaisionally walk over it - but he still seems a little wary of this. I'm hoping this is all normal behaviour for a young hamster and if I keep going this way he'll get used to me and become more confident?

Also - he seems to absoloutely love his wheel! When he wakes up he'll have a wash and some food and a little wander around the cage, but after that he's pretty much constantly on his wheel. Every minute or so he'll get off and go to the end of the cage as if he's checking if he's got anywhere, and then will get straight back on his wheel - is this normal behaviour?
There's a few other tubes and such in his cage which he does use but doesn't seem overly interested in. Is there anything you can reccommend that he'll enjoy using?

Sorry for the super long post! Thanks

**pophammy** · 08-13-2008, 08:55 AM

Hi Sarah and welcome to the forum!

We don't find boys much different to girls. I think it really depends on the particular hamster on what its character and temperament is like, but we do find boys a bit more laid-back.

Yes, it's normal for new hamsters to be nervous and timid, particularly ones from pet shops. What you are doing is a good way of getting him used to you before starting taming. For more tips on taming you can have a look at the 'Taming Tips' article on the Wiki ~ http://www.hamstercentral.com/wiki/Taming_tips .

Your hammy is new and I doubt he had a wheel in the petshop, so it will be a bit of a novelty for him. It's normal for youngsters to go a bit 'wheel-crazy' but once he's used to it he should settle down more.

As for recommendations, have a look at this thread ~ viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5345 ~ and this one ~ viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5010 ~ for other users' favourite toys.

Hope this helps, and looking forward to seeing some pics of Marvin soon!

**jayne** · 08-13-2008, 10:30 AM

Hello and welcome Sarah

Pophammy has gave some really good advice there and referred you to a very helpful taming post. I'm sure if you follow these steps Marvin will get used to you in no time.
Same with the toys post, some members have listed their hams favourite toys there so you should get great information from that also.

Please keep us posted on how your taming with Marvin is going and we look forward to seeing him in some photos

Sarah_P · 08-13-2008, 10:51 AM

Thanks very much for your advice - I'll have a read through those pages

I'll get some pics soon - only camera I've got is one on my phone which is broken, but I should be getting a new one soon so I can take some photos for you

I'm not sure if there's a 'proper' name for his type of colouring - he's ginger/brown with black stripes by his eyes and a white/grey belly - kind of tortishell

**pophammy** · 08-13-2008, 11:10 AM

Aww! He sounds like a golden to me ~ you can't get male tortoiseshells so it's unikely he's one of these (unless he's actually a she!).

Sarah_P · 08-18-2008, 02:29 AM

He's definetely a he - he may only be small but it's quite obvious he's a boy :P

Well, we've had him just over a week now and I think I'm making progress

Still haven't held him yet - but now when I put my hand in his cage he's nowhere near as jumpy and seems more inquisitive of me. He's very happy to take food from my hand and when he's on his wheel (most of the time!) he seems quite happy to have his back gently stroked

**pophammy** · 08-18-2008, 07:10 AM

Yay that's great news!

Perhaps you could try placing an ice cream tub or a hamster ball in his cage now, and when he climbs in taking it out and letting him run on your lap? He sounds like he will tame up nicely!

Sarah_P · 08-19-2008, 07:40 AM

I'll try to give that a go - might be tricky fitting a ball/tub in his cage unless I take the top off - have to make sure all the cats are out of the room!

hehe

I'm definetely making progress though - when I'm away from the cage he stops on his wheel and keeps looking over at us (although he's pretty ignorant when we go over

) and last night he took some more food from my hand and put his paw on my finger - and when I was talking to him he kept sitting up and coming over to me

Leah_Jayne · 08-19-2008, 02:08 PM

Just be patient and you will get there in the end,my hamster was just like this and all of a sudden she is just the friendliest little hammy ever,can't wait for the pictures

Sarah_P · 08-20-2008, 01:54 AM

I think I might wait until the next time I clean him out (probably on saturday) to try handling him - give him a couple more days to get used to us, and we'll have to take him out then - seems like an ideal opportunity

On his cage, he's got a tube that comes out and round and back in the cage - he's moved all his food out of his food bowl and stashed it all in his tube

Should I put more in his bowl (as it's now empty!) or just leave it?