Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Behaviour

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-01-2017, 07:37 AM   #1
alipali1
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Clacton-on-Sea
Posts: 50
Question Taming?

So my 2 roborovski dwarves ended up being separated (I'm super sad about it)
They weren't too bad together yet but one hammy was just not really coming out and seemed to hide a lot and his brother was a lot bigger so we were unsure of whether that was just his personality or he was scared of his brother.
Turns out it was just him and after separating he's still just happy to hide out in his house even when awake.
Hopefully the separation is for the best still though.

I've had them a week today so can I start taming?
I got lots of advise from the man in the shop but to be honest I'm not sure how much I trust and I'd much rather hear it from you guys!

Also have people had any experience of dwarf hamster escaping bar cages?
alipali1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2017, 07:53 AM   #2
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Taming?

Hopefully your smaller ham will gain confidence once he's had time to settle on his own, it may take a while so patience is the key!
What kind of cages do you have?
With barred cages you can begin by offering treats through the bars if they'll come close, once they've done that you can try putting your hand in the cage, this is easier if you have a front opening door as approaching from above can scare them, if you have to come in from above still try to approach them from the side as you lower your hand, with tank style cages you can just try laying your hand flat on the substrate with a treat, keeping it still & waiting for them to come to you, this can take quite a few attempts depending on how confident the ham is, some people prefer to use a taming bin doing the same thing, it's good to have a wheel, some substrate from the cage & maybe a toy or two from the cage too so it has their scent on it, either use a separate bin for each or clean the bin between hams.

As long as bar spacing is 1cm or less with no larger gaps & the doors close securely then you shouldn't need to worry about escapes.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2017, 07:54 AM   #3
Drago
The Hamtologist
 
Drago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Southern United States
Posts: 2,855
Default Re: Taming?

If it's been a week and they seem to have settled in okay, then I'd say it's comepleteoy fine to begin the taming process. Take things slow, start by leaving tissue with your scent on it so they get used to your smell in their cage, and so that when they use it as nesting material, they smell you around. This also helps to combat cage aggression by introducing the idea of you being in their territory. After they are used to your scent, putting your hand in the cage and talking softly can help them get used to you. When you let them out for excercise, try putting them in a bathtub (at separate times since they no longer live together) and sit in the bathtub, letting them crawl about on you.

I'm not an experienced dwarf owner, but I've been told that robos can be tough little guys to tame, and some never truly tame down. Just be patient and persistent! What is the bar spacing on your cage? Anything over 1/4 of an inch isn't very good for dwarfs from what I've heard. Enjoy spending time with your little hams and have fun throughout the whole taming process
Drago is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2017, 07:57 AM   #4
CMB
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Hertfordshire - UK
Posts: 3,190
Default Re: Taming?

You could start taming with both, but the shy one may more time. Put some plain toilet paper up your sleeve for a while. Then tear it into strips and put the strips into the cage. It gets the hamster used to your scent, so hands are less scary.

You can offer food/treat from between you thumb and finger or on your hand. Once they are happy to eat on your hand. Slowly lift your hand up a little and then lower your hand. Repeat this until they are ok staying on your hand for a longer time. You can also see if they will climb onto your hand with out the food.

You can also stroke the a little with your finger or a toothbrush to get them used to stroking.

Go slowly with each step. They may go backwards in taming, before going forwards again.

Another way of taming is getting the hamster into a box, ball, tube etc and let them run around in a dry bath, playpen or taming box/storage box. You put your hand in and in an attempt to climb out of the box the hamster climbs onto your hand. You can have tubes, wheel etc in with them or leave them out.

You may need to adjust the taming method to suit your hamster(s)

.Hope taming goes well.
CMB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2017, 02:36 PM   #5
Jennie F
Adult Hamster
 
Jennie F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 353
Default Re: Taming?

Hey guys. Ive been reading through the comments on taming as I need to start taming Khaleesi too. Ive had her since the end of January. She seemed confident at first before her wheel was fixed, then kind of lost interest in me. Then the naughty washing machine scared her, so I gave her some space for a while. I've just recently set her up another connecting cage, so she plays in both cages so I'll give her a few days to settle in there as well. She will happily take apple drop treats through the bars from me ( but she will drop everything for those things haha) . I usually rub my hands in her substrate to get her smell on my hands. I have offered her my hand tonight and she had a bit of a sniff round my fingers ( this time with no teeth like she did last week) so i think i will keep trying with her. I did try the tissue trick previously and shredded it up and put in as bedding in her house but then she staged a protest refusing to sleep in her house and instead slept in her tubes. Snubbed. I hope i havent left it too long to start taming her. I just wanted to give her a bit of space
Jennie F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2017, 03:24 PM   #6
Drago
The Hamtologist
 
Drago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Southern United States
Posts: 2,855
Default Re: Taming?

Sounds like you're doing things the right way, keep being patient and working at it with her. If tubes are causing trouble, I'd recommend removing them. Tubes are okay if your hamster goes in them for play every now and again, but if they use them as a bolthole then they should not be left in the cage for sanitary reasons. There's nothing wrong with giving her space, it helps her gain confidence and trust in you. I think this is more a matter of time, she'll come around eventually. Keep being persistent and patient with taming, you're doing things right. Hope all continues going well for little khaleesi and your other little ones
Drago is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2017, 03:36 PM   #7
Jennie F
Adult Hamster
 
Jennie F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 353
Default Re: Taming?

She only slept in the tubes that one day after I changed her bedding and put the tissues in. She started taking food and bedding in there, so in order to stop her making it a habbit I caved and took the tissues out and she went back to sleeping in her house the next day. She only uses the tubes to get from ine cage to another. This hammy has me wrapped around her little paw haha. My friends and family think I'm mad for giving her so much stuff and 2 cages. Spoilt like a true Khaleesi haha
Jennie F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2017, 01:42 PM   #8
CMB
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Hertfordshire - UK
Posts: 3,190
Default Re: Taming?

When doing the tissue trick. You just put the tissue with your scent in the cage, not in the nest. If just helps the hamster get used to your scent. Some will take it into the nest which is a bonus.
CMB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2017, 02:43 PM   #9
Jennie F
Adult Hamster
 
Jennie F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 353
Default Re: Taming?

Quote:
Originally Posted by CMB View Post
When doing the tissue trick. You just put the tissue with your scent in the cage, not in the nest. If just helps the hamster get used to your scent. Some will take it into the nest which is a bonus.
Should I shread the tissue up for her or put it in whole?
Jennie F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2017, 03:06 PM   #10
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Taming?

You put the tissue/toilet paper in your sleeve for a couple of hours, and then tear it up into strips I tear it lenthways into about five or six strips. You need a few sheets to make a good pile of nesting material. Torn up plain white toilet paper is the safest nesting material and hamsters like it - it's nice and soft and they can pouch it, take it to the nest and then weave it into the nest so they have a cosy hole shaped bit in the middle.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
lot, brother, taming, hide, week, today, start, separation, experience, cages, people, lots, trust, shop, honest, hamster, escaping, dwarf, man, guys, advise, bar, hear, bad, hammy

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:05 AM.