Struggling to tame Poe

Pilgrim77 · 09-18-2014, 07:29 AM

I've had Sparrow & Poe almost a fortnight now and Sparrow is coming along well and am able to handle him a fair bit. Poe however seems utterly terrified everytime I go near and is not getting any less nervous. Here's a video of the noises he makes. I realise it could take a lot of patience and that's totally fine, just wondering if there's anything more I could be doing.

He's been separated from his brother as he was making noises even louder than this when they were fighting, so I assumed it was no longer play fighting and split them up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gi_FQLCNlg

I've also been meaning to check both their sexes but any clear dishes/tubs etc.. . I have are quite shallow so Poe would just leap out of them.

Erin.R · 09-18-2014, 07:49 AM

I would try leaving him alone for a couple days. Sometimes with hamsters that are more nervous you have to start from the beginning again. If he was just moved into a new home this will be stressful, so giving him a few days to feel more comfortable could be very helpful. After a few days I would just take it nice and slow, he will let you know what he can handle

On a side note, that noise is very cute and some hammies are just more vocal in general.

Pilgrim77 · 09-18-2014, 08:04 AM

Yeah true, hadn't really thought about him stressed being put into another new cage. Hopefully it settles down. With the rest of mine I've usually just put my hand in beside them palm up and scoop them up in toilet roll tubes occasionally to walk out on my palm and they tend to come round in a few days. He was the most docile of the litter in Pets At Home so I'm guessing he's a shy one!

cypher · 09-18-2014, 08:35 AM

I'd agree with Erin, I've got one who was really nervous & had to go back to step one with him a few times but we did get there in the end.
I'd just let him settle & spend a few days just talking to him quietly until he begins to get the idea you're not such a great threat before you try putting your hand in to him.
Let us know how it goes.

Pilgrim77 · 10-01-2014, 09:00 AM

Bit of an update here, it's been almost a month and still no further on with Poe. Separating him from his brother seems to have been a good idea as he does venture out of his nest more. He squeals each time I go to change the food and water. I have a taming box with substrate in which I let him run around and put my hand palm up in the middle of it. But he's still terrified. On top of that he seems to pee a lot due to being scared as well as pooping a lot. Gross as it is to go into detail, they're soft and very light coloured and the smell between that and his urine is unbelievable! I'm airing my room out right now because it's so strong. Haven't experienced that with other hamsters. Any ideas if he could have an infection or something?

I'm unsure of taking him to the vet as they'll no be able to handle him to get him checked out...

cypher · 10-01-2014, 09:40 AM

A month isn't that long for a very nervous ham imo, it can really take a while. I found with my more nervous ones the taming box can sometimes make them worse so I just stick to talking to them in the cage, putting my hand close to the cage but not in it for a while & they usually begin to get a bit more confident & slowly slowly come to me.
I'm really not sure if he may have an infection, it certainly sounds like a possibility but he may be fine, just scared. It still might be worth taking him to the vets, or giving them a ring, maybe you could put some soiled bedding in a jar to show them, sounds a bit odd but it might help them to know if he's ill or not.
Don't know if that's any help but I'm not sure what else to suggest.

amie · 10-01-2014, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim77

I'm unsure of taking him to the vet as they'll no be able to handle him to get him checked out...

A competent vet should definitely be able to handle a hamster to check it over.

It sounds a good idea to take him/her to the vet from what you've said.

Re sexing the hamster yourself, do you feel able to scruff the hamster to get a good look at its underside? If you aren't familiar with that technique I or someone else reading your request could give you advice on how to do it.

DanniDorrito · 10-01-2014, 11:11 AM

Have you tried leaving items of your clothing in their house (Something you don't mind being destroyed). The ham should associate your smell with being a safe place if its in their bedding.

Skeever · 10-01-2014, 11:27 AM

Not sure about the smell. Strong urine smell, may be diabetes? correct me if I'm wrong, since I never had a ham with diabetes. A clean cage doesn't smell, hammies never really smell at all. If they do its either a) a stinking cage or b) a female in heat....two different smells at any rate.

I have yet to have a smell come from my hams cages. Soon as you can discern one, its time to clean the cage...and I do the more German model of partials, and never more than once a month, mixing old substrate with new. Even on a complete cage clean, a bit of old litter is advisable.

As for sound, well, your ham looks wonderfully healthy. Some are vocal, some are not....and fear often makes them shriek. On a scale of one to ten with screaming hams, this one sounds like a 4? Scared.....and being vocal about it, but not freaking out.

Leaving your hand in like the video is good. Proceeding at the hammies pace, it might be a couple minutes of five or more......ok, still screaming a bit....but I see a hamster actually trying to get near the hand, and then getting all scared....not a freaked out hamster or a hamster cowering in fear. It may just take a while with this one.....its great she seems to approach, then hide, come back, hide......there's no rush......

Plenty to read online about taming, here and otherwhere's but it still comes down to what works for the individual critter. I used to think hams having their 'own personality' was a cute idea....till you find out they can be as weird as humans, and as quirky.

Do what works, and let the ham decide when its comfortable....thats the secret of taming. Even after they're tamed, they need to feel in control at all times.....if they don't? they let us know.

**furrydestroyer** · 10-01-2014, 02:12 PM

Our vet was able to handle Ghost no issues he just did this claw like grasp with a finger each side of the head palm to the back o the hamster and was fine, strong smelling urine sounds alot like a bladder infection in pretty much any animal, I an not a expert and defts take the little one to a vet cause they know best.