Hit a standstill

Fluffagrams · 05-07-2015, 03:02 AM

I've had May for two months and have been trying to tame her since her second day with me. Sometimes it appears that she's making progress and then she'll go back a few steps again.

She'll let me stroke her when she's in her cage and she'll climb over me if I sit her on my lap but she still won't be picked up from her cage or voluntarily climb into my hand most of the time. The only way I can get her out is to get her to climb into her exercise ball and then let her climb out from there. I have tried putting food or treats on my hand to try to encourage her but she's a fussy little madam when it comes to food so that doesn't work. I've tried putting a tissue with my scent into her cage to try to familiarise her with me. I've tried just leaving my hand in her cage and letting her sniff at me and I'm just getting no further.

Is there anything else that I can do or is this likely to be as good as it gets?

cypher · 05-07-2015, 03:15 AM

My only experience with Chinese is with Zephyr so I don't have a lot to go on but she's the same about being picked up, she really hates it, she will happily climb onto my hand though & if you can find a treat food she really likes I'd persevere with that.
I don't think Chinese generally tend to be as cuddly as syrians might be, I know some do like to go to sleep up a sleeve or in a pocket or something like that but mine is far too hyper & prefers to just run around on me or inside my shirt or something, maybe the males (like my hybrids!) are just more laid back?
It sounds to me as though you're doing well with her, it's still quite early days really but I think you may have to let her decide just how tame she wants to be, what she will or won't tolerate or enjoy, she will probably become tamer over time though.

Thin Lizzy · 05-07-2015, 06:06 AM

I would give it more time as you've only had her 2 months. It's really up to her and it's important to go at her pace. Some hamsters take longer to tame.

phinox · 05-07-2015, 12:44 PM

I would try sesame seeds I have not had a hamster yet who could resist them.

Pebbles82 · 05-08-2015, 12:18 PM

Is it a chinese then or a Syrian? Whichever, Charlie is a bit the same. I think Hams are a bit contrary sometimes lol. They do the opposite of what you want. It's not personal it's just some hams are a bit more independent. Charlie never walks onto my hand and tolerates being picked up, but he'll sit in the crook of my arm to be stroked (sometimes!)

racinghamster · 05-08-2015, 01:03 PM

I took on my Chinese female when she was around a year old so I went in blind with Chinese hamster ownership, but what I done was much the same as you Fluff. You mentioned using her ball to let her climb in and come out again? That`s a good way to start actually. What you could do, is line the now defunct play ball with a piece of fleece or something cosy she can get her scent onto and use the ball as a carry tactic to tempt her onto your knee or a play area. She will soon familiarise herself with this as a good thing, especially if you always put a sunflower seed inside for her as a nice treat, a reward. When I put Prinny back into her cage, she always immediately turned around expecting a seed treat, so I would quickly place my hand at her chest, she would take the treat and I would remove my hand.

Chinese hamsters have the intelligence of mice and in many ways, the same characteristics. They take time to come out of their shells, but once they do, their true characters shine through, but consistency and patience is the key fluff. x

LoveMyHams · 05-08-2015, 01:08 PM

Keep it up. My chinese now loves to snuggle up in my shirt so they can be friendly and cuddly. I can't remember how long it took to tame her as she is 2.5 years old now but it took a bit.

Fluffagrams · 05-09-2015, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Is it a chinese then or a Syrian?

She's a Chinese.

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinghamster

You mentioned using her ball to let her climb in and come out again? That`s a good way to start actually. What you could do, is line the now defunct play ball with a piece of fleece or something cosy she can get her scent onto and use the ball as a carry tactic to tempt her onto your knee or a play area. She will soon familiarise herself with this as a good thing, especially if you always put a sunflower seed inside for her as a nice treat, a reward.

That's a good idea actually and I'm going to see if she'll respond to seeds as a kind of treat rather than the commercially prepared treats or small pieces of fruit/veg that she's previously ignored.

My other Chinese, Meat, was so easy to tame in comparison to her that I'd almost forgotten what it was like to tame a hamster that is a little bit more difficult. She's not a 'bad' hamster and is not at all aggressive but she's such a nervous little thing.

racinghamster · 05-09-2015, 04:01 AM

Some Chinese hamsters can be fluff. They can take some time to tame but keeping a routine they can associate with is crucial. Just go slow, if she`s not in the mood, don`t force it. Just go back a step. x

cypher · 05-09-2015, 04:18 AM

Mine never has commercial treats but responds really well to all kinds of small seeds so you may well have more success offering those in your hands, I think maybe you got lucky with Meat, such a laid back guy! Give May time & she'll come out of her shell at her own pace.