How long does taming take?

[AprilPearl]

I have had hamsters before, but not for years so I can't quite remember how long it takes to completely tame them.

By 'completely tame' I mean that they will sit still in your hand.

I got my 10 week old Syrian Mushu last Saturday. He had never been handled according to the pet shop, but from the start he has allowed me to stroke him as he eats, grooms, drinks etc, taken treats from me, sat in my hands to eat treats, never bitten and never run away from being picked up. In the beginning, he was more nervous while actually being held unless he had a treat to distract him and would get off my hands. Now, he will climb over my arms and hands quite happily while being held and I am fairly confident that he won't jump. But, he still does not sit still unless eating!

My question is: how long did it take for your hamsters to just sit on you?

I should say that I love my little man, and I don't mind if he never likes cuddles, but I do remember that all my previous hamsters eventually reached this stage.

[September]

Your Mushu sounds a lot like one of my very first syrians, Aine. I always joked that she was a tiny tasmanian devil, because she was all over the place all the time (and quite destructive in the beginning!) I had her until she was over 2 years old, and she never sat still in my hand the way your describing--life was too much fun, and she was go go go.

Although Mushu is still very young, and could absolutely mature into a laid back, chill on your hand hamster, it may never happen--He might just have a zest for life, and if that's the case, I encourage you to enjoy it!

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by September

Your Mushu sounds a lot like one of my very first syrians, Aine. I always joked that she was a tiny tasmanian devil, because she was all over the place all the time (and quite destructive in the beginning!) I had her until she was over 2 years old, and she never sat still in my hand the way your describing--life was too much fun, and she was go go go.

Although Mushu is still very young, and could absolutely mature into a laid back, chill on your hand hamster, it may never happen--He might just have a zest for life, and if that's the case, I encourage you to enjoy it!

If he does stay this way, then I will enjoy it because all my previous Syrians have been cuddly and it would make a nice change! One of the things I love about hamsters is watching their antics which you can't do if they never move Having said that, all my previous hamsters were in fact more 'mobile' than Mushu as babies when being held but calmned down as they got older and more accustomed to being handled. I just wish I remembered how long it took!

[cypher]

Mushu really does sound very tame already, they're all different regarding how tame they become & how long it takes them to get there but I wouldn't expect a ham as young as him to just sit still & enjoy cuddles! Life is far too interesting & exciting for sitting still at that age

I hope you don't mind me saying but you really don't need to quote every reply you respond to, it makes threads really long & cumbersome to read!

[AprilPearl]

Thanks Cypher (see I didn’t quote that time! And thanks for telling me about that too, I have previoisly been on forums where people quote all the time so I didn’t know). In my experience, baby hamsters are always so full of life and energy and I love it.

[chesca_27]

It sounds like Mushu is quite tame already. Every hamster tames at a different pace though - it can take from days to months. Jasper was ok with being picked up within the first couple of days of getting him, but he was already tame because he was from a breeder.

[ChocoMintAnswersSincere]

Sounds like Mushu's tame already. Some hamsters are like that. You could try lifting Mushu up about a centimeter and every time you pick her up do it a centimeter higher.

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by ChocoMintAnswersSincere

Sounds like Mushu's tame already. Some hamsters are like that. You could try lifting Mushu up about a centimeter and every time you pick her up do it a centimeter higher.

Mushu would like me to point out that he is a boy he is fine with being held at any height, it’s more that he normally wants to explore all over you instead of sitting in one place - although he could sit in your hands forever eating broccoli!

[flowerfairy]

None of mine sit in my hand but both the boys are very chilled and will allow me to stroke them. That happened almost immediately.

[AprilPearl]

Having said Mushu won’t sit still, he just proceeded to prove me wrong and sat quite calmly on my arm just now. Funny little boy.