Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Behaviour

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-10-2015, 08:52 AM   #1
leiathehamster
Newborn Pup
 
leiathehamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 10
Default Taming my syrian?

Hi guys, I have a Syrian hamster called Leia, I got her in September and she is around 6 months old. However, I'm having lots of difficulty taming her. She takes treats from my hand absolutely fine, she also doesn't mind being stroked when out of her cage, so I tried moving on to the next step which is taking treats from the palm of my hand, but she always goes to bite my fingers and hand. I've tried unscented soaps, rubbing my hand in her bedding, letting her sniff my fingers before offering her my hand. I really don't know what to do. Could it be that she just doesn't like my hand being in her cage because essentially that is 'her' area. She does come out of her cage twice a day but I have to wear a glove on one hand otherwise she bites me. Any help and advice? She was adopted from pets at home as the last owners decided they didn't want her, the staff at P@H said the owners were bitten quite a bit too, could this be the problem?

Last edited by Vectis Hamstery; 01-11-2015 at 12:56 AM.
leiathehamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2015, 04:26 PM   #2
missyme
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 25
Default Re: Taming my syrian?

firstly, you are doing a really great job of taming your hamster. Each hamster has their own personality and rescue hamster have had a tough start, so this makes taming much longer, but so much more rewarding as these little hammies really deserve a happy home!!. Also you don't know if she was badly treated or scared by her other owners, this could be why she is biting. My little rescue hamster did the same as she had been ignored and treated badly before I got her. A lot of the time they are not handled a lot if they have had a bad start, this makes a huge difference. Please be patient and keep doing what you are doing.

keep talking to her, so she recognises your voice, make sure her cage is somewhere quiet and away from sunlight, draughts and where people walk past often, ie by a door.

the more you handle her the better she will become, honestly she really will get better, mine nibbles at my hand as I sometime think they are confused what is the food and what is the hand!.

yes their cage is their area, it is quite normal for them to run away if you put your hand in. I have had my rescue hamster for 10 months, she was 4 months when I got her, and she still runs away from me when I put my hand in her cage!!, she is a cheeky little thing, but with lots of patience, treats, lots of out of the cage play time with you will really help. it really is a great feeling when these little hammies who need loving homes start to respond and trust you, by the sound of it she does already, well done.

hope this helps!
missyme is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2015, 09:15 PM   #3
Thin Lizzy
Hamster Warrior
 
Thin Lizzy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland
Posts: 15,575
Default Re: Taming my syrian?

Some hamsters don't like much contact and can get a bit ocd when it comes to their home.
Have you tried the tissue trick? Stuff a tissue up your sleeve for a couple of hours or even longer, then place it in her cage, she'll sniff it as she'll be very curious, leave it in the cage for a couple of days so that she can smell you. Open the cage door and call her, talk to her and the closer she gets, praise her, tell her what a good girl she is. Take things slowly and if you're nervous they'll sense it!
Thin Lizzy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2015, 12:33 AM   #4
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Taming my syrian?

You are definitely doing all the right things with your ham, some older hams can take longer to tame & some hams are naturally more territorial, one of my hybrids was like that so for quite some time I just respected her space & didn't put my hand in her cage while she was in there either letting her climb into my hand or using a cup to get her out until she was really used to climbing on me, being in my hands & being stroked & then I just gradually began to put my hands into her cage while she was in there but not directly in front of her at first & she has gradually come to accept that my hand really isn't a threat to her territory at all!
It may take time but I think if you try to keep going at her pace you will get there.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2015, 12:57 PM   #5
leiathehamster
Newborn Pup
 
leiathehamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 10
Default Re: Taming my syrian?

thanks guys! its nice to know that I am doing the right thing. I did have to take her to the vets after she jumped out of my hand the first time I held her, which means we have gone backwards slightly in taming. She was moving slower than usual and the vet prescribed her with Carprofen which she needs to have for a week. she is doing much better now, and I can safely hold her without her jumping out of my hands! I do not pick her straight up from the cage as she doesn't like that, instead I use her mug to pick her up. Thanks for the replies!
leiathehamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:56 PM.