Taming my robo hamster?

Peaches2001 · 08-09-2016, 03:42 PM

Hi everyone, I'm really struggling to tame my hamster as she is so nervous. The minute I put my hand in the cage she panics and begins to run on her wheel like crazy. I've tried giving her treats but she completely ignores me. The woman at the pet shop advised us to just give her a few days to settle in and then jump straight into handling her to get her used to it but I'm not sure if that's the best idea. Should I just continue with what i'm doing with the treats until she plucks up the courage to take them from my hand? She's not attempted to bite me or anything which I suppose is a good sign.

xFluffyHamsterx · 08-10-2016, 04:06 AM

Just keep talking to her gently when she's out and she'll get used to your voice. You should try the tissue trick (stick some up your sleeve for a while and give to your hammy to make nesting) she'll recognize your scent, this works really well. Yeah give her a few more days to settle in though moving homes is very stressful. Once she stops darting away when you come, slowly attempt to put your hand in the cage once a day for a few minutes. Even if she doesn't sniff straight away she'll get used to you being there. Generally speaking its best to handle the hamster straight away but if that fails take taming slowly.

AmityvilleHams · 08-10-2016, 05:03 AM

The pet shop advise is partially correct.Hamsters do need time to settle in,however this can go from days to weeks or even months if not more!Also,jumping into handling right after that period of adjustment time is a bad idea

You do want to start slow and carefully overall,not jump into things,as jumping into things can actually make it even harder to bond with your hamster and achieve taming.

Yes,you do need to do things to get your hamster used to handling,however you need to take it slowly.Desensitization is the best way to describe it.You start with things like the tissue trick as mentioned,and eventually move on to offering treats and at some point(though this can take months or years so be prepared to be extremely patient even when it seems like nothing is changing)you should be able to handle your hamster.

Maybe for now keep your hand out of the cage as much as possible and instead try bathtub taming or taming in a plastic storage bin,since that is neutral ground and would be easier on your hamster since they won't feel the need to protect it as it is not their territory

cypher · 08-10-2016, 06:00 AM

Robos can take a bit longer than other species so don't be in a rush with her, I would just continue what you're doing for a while longer, if you patiently stand there with your hand in the cage while she runs in the wheel she will get used to it & find it less threatening, curiosity usually wins out eventually!
The tissue trick should definitely help.
If you find you aren't progressing with her in the cage letting her climb into a box, mug, tube or whatever she's comfortable climbing into then taking her to a taming bin might work better. Just short sessions daily to begin with & even if she won't take a treat from you leave something nice in the cage for her afterwards & she should begin to associate the treat with taming time.

POLAR WHITES · 08-10-2016, 07:57 AM

I don't know very much about robos but there was a Internet you tube site called erins hamsters she used to have robos might be some usefull infomation on there

velma · 08-10-2016, 11:20 AM

Robos can be a but more skittish. And they're aren't all great at being handled so I'd build up to that. When she's had time to settle in, she should hopefully be getting used to your hand being in her cage to change her food. The tissue trick, as already mentioned can also get them used to your scent in their cage. Although my robo ultimately ended up staying in a smaller cage (he didn't like big spaces) I found it helped with settling him in too, in a mini duna - it can all be a bit over whelming for them otherwise. I found with Hector what worked was working out the thing he liked best (sunflower seeds and mealworms ) amd would hold one out for him - you have to be patient and not chase them round the cage and hopefully she'll come over to you of she wants a treat enough! When she gets a bit braver and is taking treats more regularly, you can run transferring her to a taming tub. i used a jam jar for Hector. I'd out a couple of sunflower seeds in, lay it in his cage and pick the jar up when he'd crawled in. This is also useful for doing health checks too when you want to get a better look at them. I had a plastic storage tub with a handful of Hector's substrate in it, his sand bath and a wheel, sometimes a loo roll so he had some familiar smells and places to run in but not so much as in a cage so he couldn't hide. I found the tub made it easier to lay my hand flat on the base with a seed on it so Hector could get used to walking in my hand and eventually get used to being lifted up. As you're hand will only be an inch or two from the bottom, if they jump they won't hurt themselves and they'll land in the tub so they can't run away. Robos are so wee I'm not sure I would reccomend the bath tub method that can be good with Syrians. Good luck and remember patience is the key

aragneer · 08-15-2016, 12:23 AM

I just got a robo and we've been doing the hand trick. We just lay it on the sawdust once a day and let him see it. He usually peeks out of his little window of his house and watches nervously but he knows what is happening.

What I have also been doing is talking as I rattle the food bowl and I filter sawdust through my fingers so my smell is on some of it in a corner. He doesn't seem to mind. He is still extremely nervous but I think little things like this can build the trust between you and your robo. Your robo will see that you're not a threat soon.

My last hamster was tame immediately so this is different for me too but let's not lose heart!