Syrian is really resisting taming :(

dearymeemily · 05-21-2015, 02:36 PM

Hello!
I've had my new baby hammy, Ernie, for three weeks now. He is about 8 weeks old. He was in a too-small cage until last weekend now he is in a huge bun cage with lots of toys and a 12'' wheel. He started running in his ball a couple of days ago.
I've tried offering food, which worked at first but once he put his paws on me when I wasn't excepting it and jumped, which scared him, and he hasn't taken food from me since (but did from my fiancé).
I am doing the tissue tick but he won't use tissue that smells like me for his nest. He is fine with my hand being in the cage eh changing water bowl but freaks if I get too close. He runs up to me when he's in his ball and knows my voice but hates my smell!!
I've been trying to offer food every evening once or twice but he sniffs it, gets close, sniffs my hand then goes away.
I'm really losing hope and getting quite upset!! I don't want my ham to be scared of me and I'm losing faith in my ability to tame him and become friends

I've read all about the different ways of taming but I can't get past him not being scared of me and being able to take a treat!
Not sure what I'm looking for just encouragement I suppose... Or knowing I'm not the only one. Have read so many stories on here of hammies tamed in a matter of days!!

Emily

FluffySiberian · 05-21-2015, 04:20 PM

I suggest placing your hand in, Ernie's, cage for no longer than five to ten minutes (depending how comfortable he is) at regular intervals. If he climbs on to your hand, don't move or lift him up. I have tried this technique with all of my past rodents which has proved to be pretty successful. Well, in my case it has anyway. They soon learn to trust and get to know you after a while

Cricetinae · 05-21-2015, 04:21 PM

Hi dearymeemily and welcome to the forum.

Your far from the only one and you'll likely tame Ernie at some point.

If you look at rodent rescues, even hamsters that have been exposed to abuse reportedly come to trust humans at some point, though perseverance is required.

The main goal is to progress taming with as few set backs as possible. This may mean taking things slow for a while until you yourself are more confident (and less likely to panic and jump). The key I find, is to interact little and often. Some hamsters aren't keen when it comes to taking food from hands, but having your hands about the cage is some first level exposure. I've not personally found male Syrians to be particularly protective of their cages, and so I'm not sure if it would make much of a difference, but do you observe any difference between being having your hands near him when he is outside the cage?

Lexieshamster · 05-21-2015, 04:22 PM

Hi Emily. Sorry to hear this has happened. Have you tried washing your hands with a different smelling soap? To try and throw your hammy off the scent so to speak. If that doesn't work I'd try leaving the taming for a few days to give Ernie a bit of time to forget about what happened and then start afresh. He is very young so time is certainly on your side. Yes some hamsters get tame very quickly but they were probably used to being handled before they were aquired by their new owner and just needed time to settle into their new home. I read somewhere that hamsters shouldn't be handled until they are 5 weeks old and if that's true then you'll be the first person to try handling him.

cypher · 05-21-2015, 11:07 PM

Don't get disheartened it is still early days.
It doesn't matter if he takes the tissue into his nest or not, just so long as it's in the cage (& replaced regularly for a while) he will get more & more used to your scent & learn that it isn't a threat.
He's had a little bit of a fright which will set him back a little but just persevere, talk to him quietly when your by the cage, get him comfortable with your presence then gradually try offering him your hand again.
Just give him time, go at his pace & I'm sure he'll come round soon enough.

Ridley33 · 05-21-2015, 11:47 PM

3 weeks is still early. It took me two months with Ridley and now he's so relaxed and tame so stick with it.

Thin Lizzy · 05-22-2015, 12:25 AM

Hi and Welcome to the forum.
You've not had him long, sometimes taming can take longer so don't be disheartened. You both got a little fright when he put his paws on you. Continue talking to him, encouraging him and praising him whenever he's out and about. Keep with the tissue trick, he'll smell the tissues and get familiar with your scent.

dearymeemily · 05-22-2015, 12:37 AM

Thank you so much for your advice everyone

I will leave him be for a few days and keep topping up the tissues and start again. Feeling a lot more positive knowing I'm not the only one

henrythefish · 05-26-2015, 09:10 AM

What I did with Harry - who was a bit of a bully when I saw him with his cagemates at the shop - is use some leather gloves to pick him up and handle him. Rub your hands all over the gloves and give him a treat if he's been good, and a firm 'NO!' if he bites.