My first hamster untamed, help.

MissCake · 11-09-2016, 11:40 AM

Hi, so after much research (and hamster sitting for a friend) i recently got my very first hamster, she is a female Syrian I've named Cake.
when I went to the pet store to get her the lady at the store sort of ignored me when i asked if i could hold Cake first to make sure she was fine, I'd seen her run on her wheel and such for a good 20 mins before i decided she was the one i wanted. when i had said I wanted that hamster the lady just sort of coaxed her into my carry case without picking her up or touching her at all.
I took Cake home and clipped her carry case onto her main cage so she could just walk in because I didn't want to handle her right away.
I've had her 2 days now and though she seemed settled enough to try offering her a treat, she took the treat fine but the second time she took the treat then tried to get out of her cage, of course i panicked and put my hands up to block her! She seemed fine and just sniffed my hands for a few seconds before biting me!
now I'm scared she will bite me or try to get out if i open her cage!
I've come to the conclusion that she has not been tamed or handled much at all before I got her.
please help, I love her but I'm scared to open her cage now.

Wisper · 11-09-2016, 02:35 PM

It can be scary when a hamster nips but she is still getting used to you and your hand might have still smelt like treats. She needs to get used to your scent as being different to food and also not a threat.

Many people on the forum use the tissue trick where you carry around some tissue in your sleeve for a while then give it to the hamster to sleep in and they soon see your scent as something comforting.

All hamsters are different and some just need more time than others to get used to their human. Please don't be discouraged with a little bit of work you will be able to handle Cake fine.

I tamed my current ham by coxing him into a carry cage then sitting with him in the bath tub, just letting him explore me rather than picking him up (which is scary for a small animal) I did that every night for a couple of weeks and he was soon climbing into my hands.

Best of luck, Im sure others will have more helpful tips.

CMB · 11-09-2016, 02:44 PM

Taming time varies a lot. Take things at your hamsters speed. First the hamster needs to be comfortable within their cage i.e. Not hiding and coming to the side to see you. Try giving the treat through the cage bars rather than opening the cage door to start off with. That way your hamster won't try to escape.

The dry bath or a playpen you can sit inside and allow your hamster to climb on you can help with getting your hamster used to you and the tissue trick is good too.

velma · 11-09-2016, 02:55 PM

Some good tips from Wisper there. The tissue trick is a good one. I use cheap White loo roll, they can shred it for their nest then.

You've only had Cake for a couple of days so she's still settling in. Try just talking to her gently for a few days before trying to interact with her too much. The best thing you can do, I think, is not to rush them.

Even hammies that seem tame in a pet shop can become a bit withdrawn when they come home as it's such a big upheaval. Or they can feel scared and bite you. Ideally, if it happens, try not to react because they learn that's the way to get you to go away. And if your hands smell of food they are likely to bite - rubbish eye sight and a keen sense of smell sometimes mean fingers get mistaken for something for more tasty! Just because they haven't been tamed or handled in the pet shop doesn't mean they can't be tamed so don't give up! You and Cake will get there

NotARobot · 11-09-2016, 09:04 PM

I am also having some problems with my hammie. I tried wiping the tissue through my armpit then placing it near her.. She just ignores them for a few days and won't take it till the scent is gone I think..

Quote:

Originally Posted by velma

Some good tips from Wisper there. The tissue trick is a good one. I use cheap White loo roll, they can shred it for their nest then.

You've only had Cake for a couple of days so she's still settling in. Try just talking to her gently for a few days before trying to interact with her too much. The best thing you can do, I think, is not to rush them.

Even hammies that seem tame in a pet shop can become a bit withdrawn when they come home as it's such a big upheaval. Or they can feel scared and bite you. Ideally, if it happens, try not to react because they learn that's the way to get you to go away. And if your hands smell of food they are likely to bite - rubbish eye sight and a keen sense of smell sometimes mean fingers get mistaken for something for more tasty! Just because they haven't been tamed or handled in the pet shop doesn't mean they can't be tamed so don't give up! You and Cake will get there

velma · 11-10-2016, 01:54 PM

You just need to pop your pieces of loo roll up your sleeve or down your top for a while to,pick up your scent. Some times they'll take it for nesting but it's not important that they do. It's just getting them used to your scent being around them so when you do interact with them it's part of what they're used to.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 11-11-2016, 08:38 AM

Just to add, I thought that if Cake is biting hard you could use gloves until you feel it's time to try taming him, maybe in a play pen until he gets used to you. Try not to get discouraged, normal for new hams I believe. I mostly have dwarves but awhile ago I had a Syrian but was lucky that he never tried to bite but he was older, maybe more tamed. You'll be able to tame Cake, just a little patience.

AmityvilleHams · 11-11-2016, 08:54 AM

Another thing to keep in mind is that even if you do get bitten it doesn't tend to hurt much

If anything it feels like a pinch,but nothing too bad if you've been bitten by other animals.I'm sure it would seem terrible if a hamster is all you've been bitten by though,as you'd not have anything to compare it to!

MummaBorris · 11-13-2016, 03:05 AM

I have had my Syrian for 5weeks and taming is going very slowly. I am used to dwarf hamsters which seemed much easier to tame. My Syrian, Mittens, has only just started to take treats from my hand. She now climbs into her ball herself but that has taken 3 solid weeks of coaxing her in with treats. Now she loves it.
She will happily climb into my hands but as soon as I try to lift her up she jumps off. On occasion, when I go up to the cage (slowly, quietly, calmly) she freaks out and runs away.
She is a rescue hammie so I knew it would take time.
I am going to try the bath trick too - I really want to be able to cuddle her! Good luck with Cake, I'm sure she will get there. I hope mine does too!

flowerfairy · 11-13-2016, 03:27 AM

I find that my female hamsters have all been much livelier and much less keen on being handled than my male hamsters.

They all got there in the end though.

Kashi (current female syrian) loves to explore and run about and is not impressed with cuddles. She uses every inch of her 100 x 50cm cage and likes plenty of chew toys, esp. cardboard which she shreds like an expert, creating beautiful cardboard confetti.