Taming a Dwarf Hamster

[Gemma_xo]

Seem to have back tracked on the progress, I haven't been home for the past four evenings, so Zak's been alone for the past four evenings (was home last night though), but I've been home in the day time and he's been in and out of his home a few times in the day but being a Hamster, he's nocturnal. Tried to scoop him into his paper towel tube to put him in the bath, he went in the tube naturally, wouldn't stay in it, when I put a treat in there he went & stayed in, on the move into the bathroom he was fine, as soon as I got him into the bath he did that screamy / screech type thing, so as soon as he went back into the tube he went into his cage.
The scream/ screech type thing scared me because for one I've never heard a Hamster do that before in my life, what could be the cause, could he be scared of the bath or is it just because he's been in his cage for four nights straight & suddenly got taken out?

Any help would be greatly appreciated and tips on what to do next?
Thanks =]

[cypher]

Four days is quite a long time for a ham so the bath probably seems new to him again, the screeching is basically fear so I think you need to kind of start over, just let him get used to climbing into the tube, do that a few times & then let him go back to the cage so he'll gain even more confidence with that.
Have you got toys & things in the bath?
I would just spend time with him while his in the cage then begin again to slowly introduce him to the bath for brief periods then if he seems ok leave him longer.
Did you get a play pen in the end? You might find he does better with that if he's really nervous.

[Gemma_xo]

I have to wait until next Friday to order a play pen but it's definitely on the to buy list. I figured the screeching was fear hence putting him straight back into his cage.
I'll start the training again from the beginning tonight and work on from there, being away 4 nights in a row was totally out of my control but I'm hoping it wont happen again because it was at such a vital time with training Zak & all.

There are toys in the bath, yeah. Mainly ones from his cage plus a few more tube things that wouldn't fit, but I guess he got cosy in his cage whilst I wasn't here, at least I know he likes it in there

Thanks^
x

[cypher]

I wouldn't worry too much, life just gets in the way sometimes so taming may take longer but slow & steady is fine, a little set back won't hurt & I'm sure you'll get there soon enough.

[Gemma_xo]

He was awake when I woke up this morning & took a treat from my hand in his cage again, so we haven't gone as far back as I thought, so yay
x