Question about anti social hamster

[polishrose]

I have a syrian who has always been a bit antisocial and as she has got older she has become more so-she hates being picked up, will scream if a hand goes anywhere near her and tries to bite...she loves her ball and goes in that 20 minutes a night, She loves her wheel.When she is in her cage she will take treats happily but the minute she is out she seems to be scared unless she is in her ball. I take her out using a tube.Is it worth perservering or should I just accept that she is a non cuddly hamster who doesn't really like humans?I have had her over a year now so it's a long time to keep trying with her. She was 16 weeks when I got her.She is very inquisitive when in her cage and often comes to the bars-I can put my hand in the cage to feed her and that's fine-she doesn't try and bite or move away but she seems to just hate being touched.

[BrainGirl]

I know she seems fine otherwise but is it possible that some sort of pain issue is causing this? I'm wondering if a vet check might be in order. They hide it well and I only figured out my rescue chinchilla was in pain through needing pain meds for a specific injury. Her attitude changed instantly and she became friendly towards us when before she was biting and fearful.

[polishrose]

I don't think so-she eats and drinks normally and uses her wheel.she likes to stretch up the bars and look around. Her eyes look fine, as does her nose.Her fur is good. I've had a few hamsters and not come across this before. Her behavious in the cage seems totally normal as it does in the ball. She just seems to hate people interacting with her. She will take treats(nuts,cheese,sunflower seeds) from my fingers but not from my hand and I have tried every day.Do you think her longer time in the petshop might have something to do with this? She had no interaction at all when I saw her and lived in a little glass cage with a tiny wheel and so little bedding that she piled it all up in a corner and there was none left on the floor. That was it-nothing to chew or play with.

[BrainGirl]

Aww, poor little girl, she did have a sad start in life I think it is definitely possible that her lack of human interaction in her formative weeks has left her with an inability to trust humans fully. The fact that you've got so far with you and that she trusts you this much is a credit to you, but it may never be possible for her to get close. I won't say give up, I just wouldn't be inclined to push her if she seems uncomfortable.

[polishrose]

Thanks BrainGirl-it's a shame but I'm glad I have her and not someone else as they'd probably try and pick her up and she would bite them and she'd be known as an aggressive hamster.

[Skeever]

I'd guess the same...living so long in such an unstimulating, negligent environment had a LOT to do with it. Even older hams, in my experience - that are left in a petshop cage many times- are less quick to adjust to humans than getting a ham hand tamed from a breeder at a young age, and then tamed by the owner.

And like you said, better in a ham where the 'way she is' is accepted rather than an owner that would just recreate a cycle of stress to 'tame' her..... I wouldn't give up, but I would as always leave it to the hammy to get any closer to us fugly humans

[polishrose]

Thanks Skeever-just wanted to check there wasn't anything else I should be doing. I've never had a breeder ham-always pet shop or rescue hams.I've found the dwarf (hybrids) to be much tamer than Syrians.

[Skeever]

Just keep on keeping on.....even if Ziggy is set in certain ways, letting him try things, or being surprised by him is not that rare. A new toy, or a hammy discovering it likes to nestle and tunnel in blankets or towels or whatever catches their fancy...they may still show signs of increased tolerance of the Big Hand on occaison....LOL

I don't know how it happened. I came home, tired, put the cage on the bed....noticed a whiff of urine smell which for Ziggy is unusual....I usually spot clean right or time it right or ......so without thinking I just started cleaning out 90 percent of the litter and stashes.....without having Ziggy come out if he didn't want to?

Took me about five minutes to realize I was cleaning out (a heavy partial clean till I pick up new litter) his cage while he wandered around my hand....trying to salvage his stashes. So I started passing the good stash stuff to him, while sweeping out the rest. Scooting him out of the way to kind of ...ahem....destroy one of his big nests.....I think he thought this was some kind of new game....

Amazed he didn't go bonkers and get all hyper! Maybe he realized one of his toilet spots had grown funky? lol......but he was the sweetest thing about the whole ordeal.... He's ten months now, I got him at four months....and he really never ceases to surprise me on occasion!

[polishrose]

Aww bless-he sounds like a sweet hamster

[Skeever]

He is sweet....for an antisocial grumpus that he usually is Often I think he is just incredibly laid back. LOL