brought home a baby hamster.

Carlea Skunkrawk · 03-01-2009, 08:08 PM

I was on hiatus for a while.

Anyway, I bought hamster recently for my niece. Her birthday isn't for another month, so I am holding it for her until then...considering that the hamster is young and not tamed yet.

So I'd like to know...how to tame her? To get her comfortable? I haven't even seen her get up and play yet. I've had her since Friday afternoon. She was active in the box on the way home, and then when she got in her cage she's just slept. She's had some food and water, but I have not seen her do this - only heard of it from my boyfriend. If I reach in to pet her, starting today, she hisses and almost cries.

haziebabie · 03-02-2009, 03:58 AM

It sounds like a good idea to get the hamster early. She will be settled and tame by the time your nieces birthday comes around, with a little work. There are some good taming tips here http://www.hamstercentral.com/wiki/Taming_tips

As for her hiding she is probably active when you are not about and is just very shy ans scared when you are about. Hopefully once she settles it won't be the case and she will instead be happy to see you. A lot of pet shop hamsters haven't been handled much and it is harder for them to get used to humans, but they het there in the end.

Good luck.

happysaz133 · 03-02-2009, 06:55 AM

I think its a great idea for you to tame the hamster before giving it to your neice. The link Hazie posted is a good one for taming tips, I'd follow that.

As for her hiding, she will most likely be nervous for a little while until she settles into her new home. And remember, they are nocturnal creatures, so she could just be getting up as you go to bed. I've found that staying up until they are awake and just talking to them as they go about their business in the cage is good, they get used to the sounds and as long as you don't do too much too soon, she will become less nervous.

Best of luck!

Carlea Skunkrawk · 03-02-2009, 09:06 AM

thanks. I'll try some of that stuff.

She actually didn't come from a pet store. The guy that I bought her from brought home a hamster from a store who was pregnant.

Carlea Skunkrawk · 03-02-2009, 06:47 PM

The hamster died.

haziebabie · 03-03-2009, 01:29 AM

Oh, I'm so sorry. Sounds like she probably had underlying issues with her health, especially as she was likely the result of inbreeding. Or that she just couldn't cope with the stress of it all. There was nothing you could have done.

souffle · 03-03-2009, 03:21 AM

I am so sorry Carlea. Obviously the reason for her shyness was that she was not at all well poor little mite.
Where are you Carlea? Are you in the UK? It may be best to seek a breeder who has a litter of nice tame babies for your niece.

Carlea Skunkrawk · 03-03-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

I am so sorry Carlea. Obviously the reason for her shyness was that she was not at all well poor little mite.
Where are you Carlea? Are you in the UK? It may be best to seek a breeder who has a litter of nice tame babies for your niece.

I am in the States. I'll likely go to a pet store myself and get one than try to find a breeder.

The thing that annoys me most is that I if I had let my niece have her now, she would have been horrified.

Tazmanic · 03-03-2009, 12:35 PM

Hi Carlea thats so sad, she must have been poorly, what a git the guy was that sold her to you
he must have known she was poorly if your close to a ham then you will see the difference in her or him so he would have known, people who have any animal that they dont take care of make me sooo angry!!

Carlea Skunkrawk · 03-03-2009, 09:15 PM

Black Bears are like $20 at Petsmart...ughh. I'm hoping they're cheaper at Petco, and I wish the pet store in the mall didn't close.