Untamable Hamster

[Dave1995]

Please refer to this thread before commenting. Lilo making strange noises


Since I last posted a thread on here, I got a lot of help with 1 of my 4 hamsters, the rest are tamed and are fantastic. Like my other thread explains she is very unusual and difficult to handle.

I recorded me trying once again to stoke Lilo. I try touching her about 5 times a week - we've had her for over 4 months (she was in a tiny pet shop cage for 5 months too, but you'd know if you read the other thread)

sometimes (like 1 in 20 chance) I'm able to place my hand and stroke. I thought I'd record it to show her reaction I placed my finger on her back and she freaked out.
No I didn't just put my finger in the cage and start poking her, I was letting her sniff me for around 5 minutes, though I think she was trying to bite me.
I'm not even sure If I want to try taming her anymore because she seems so scared of me. I feel terrible having her in the same room as me, because sometimes she will see me and run away

She WILL take food off of me, which I guess is good but still extreamly hard picking her up to clean cage.

Anyway here's the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMjy...ature=youtu.be

Here's my instagram to prove that all other hamsters are okay and that I'm not abusing Lilo (kinda sounds like it when reading this back )
http://instagram.com/my_five_hammies/

Thanks

[BrainGirl]

Will she walk onto your hand if you place it flat in front of her? Something big coming from above is scary and that's where their instinct tells them predators are likely to be coming from. She's just reacting. But she still looks interested in you and sniffs after you once she realizes she hasn't been eaten. She's curious and that's a great sign!

[Dave1995]

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

Will she walk onto your hand if you place it flat in front of her? Something big coming from above is scary and that's where their instinct tells them predators are likely to be coming from. She's just reacting. But she still looks interested in you and sniffs after you once she realizes she hasn't been eaten. She's curious and that's a great sign!

To be honest I'm too scared to even try it. She's opens her mouth when near my hands/fingers, almost like she wants to bite me.
I have tried so many different things with her, but nothing.

My other hamsters are perfect, but they weren't locked in a pet shop for 5 months, I guess. :/

[BrainGirl]

Try getting her out of her cage with a box/ball/tube that doesn't require you to reach down on top of her. Let her walk into it herself, maybe with a little encouragement (a treat inside should do it) and then lift it out with her inside. I really think it's the fear of "death from above" that's causing her upset.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Your fear is transmitting to her and causing more fear for her. If she were mine I would house in a smaller cage and place on gloves so you are comfortable in knowing even if she does bite you won't be hurt, or using a small container to scoop her up and then gently pour her out of the container and into your hands. She seems to have learned exactly how to intimidate you and probably any other human she has come by. With gloves on you can put your hand down flat and not risk a bad bite. She will learn she can't make your hand go away by her current actions and she should tame down but because of her past she may never be a cuddle hamster, but at least you would be able to pick her up without fear.
Good luck in your taming efforts

[Thin Lizzy]

Dave, seeing the video of Lilo reminds me of my youngest Twinkle. Twinkle was exactly the same, it really left me feeling frustrated and thinking she hated me. But, I found that talking to her before I stroked her helped her and helped me, I would also tell her that mom was going to stroke her back gently and I wasn't going to hurt her, letting her smell my fingers. Also , I would do spot checks and clean her cage while she was in the cage. The most important things are to be patient and go at her pace. You may feel like it's gone on for so long that she won't adjust but never give up.
Twinkle and I have a brilliant bond and she loves being stroked and spoken to.