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Old 01-31-2018, 12:07 PM   #1
Scribbled
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: The UK
Posts: 2
Default How to tame very hidey hamster, clicking his teeth

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a little bit of advice, (I have read the taming guide for the timid or new)
Recently we adopted 2 new hammies, both male from the same cage, however the person in the store could not tell us if they were from the same litter, so we separated them from the get go.
both have two bincages + a main cage and lots of toys and hiding places.

Our newest little fur babies are Scribble and Smudge (pics in attachments)
We brought them home and left them alone for a week, so they could get accustomed to their new home, sounds and smells. Scribble is the grey one and Smudge the black one.

Smudge is always hiding, he won't show his cute little face during the night or the day, he only comes out when we're gone. We try and keep the noise down as much as possible to he doesn't have to be too scared.

I wanted to start taming Smudge, but I'm not sure how to, considering that I don't want to pester him in his little house. When I'm cleaning his cage you can hear his grinding his teeth or clicking them, but he won't show himself.

Smudge has bitten me once, but that was my own fault and I cannot be angry at him for that. I was cleaning his cage, he just woke up and was grumpy, I should have waited with cleaning it (just spot cleaning) But it is hard to tell when he is sleeping or awake when he's always hiding away from me (unless I hear his teeth then I know)

I wash my hands 15 minutes before cleaning their cage, I rub a bit of his sawdust on my hands so it smells like him. I talk in a very soft voice and very gently to him to he knows I'm there. I don't pester him in his house, I know he is eating and drinking as his food bowl is empty in the morning and his water is slowly going down.

I hope someone has some advice as to how to approach this without too much stress for this little handsome man.

Thank you in advance.
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Old 02-05-2018, 07:54 AM   #2
cypher
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Location: Wales UK
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Default Re: How to tame very hidey hamster, clicking his teeth

Hi & congrats on your two new boys
They both look lovely!
How recently did you bring them home? Some hams will take longer to gain confidence than others so sometimes it's just a case of being patient really.
With the very nervous ones I tend to spend a lot of time just talking to them gently & always leave a treat near to where they're hiding so they begin to associate me with nice things.
You can try doing the tissue trick, putting some plain white toilet tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then shredding it up & putting it in the cage, sometimes they'll use it for nesting sometimes not but it doesn't really matter as the idea is just to get them accustomed to your scent & not see it as a threat.
Even spot cleaning can be difficult if they don't come out as it can be quite stressful for them if they're in the cage & awake so do try to keep it to a minimum.
If Smudge doesn't begin to gain confidence then you may want to consider taking him out for short sessions in a taming bin but personally I prefer to wait for them to get braver.
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Old 02-05-2018, 01:33 PM   #3
Dalis_mum
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Default Re: How to tame very hidey hamster, clicking his teeth

I had similar problems with Edison. It took three weeks for him feel comfortable enough no to bolt just for walking in the living room. I know it sounds bad, but I didn't clean him out for those 3 weeks. He used his toilet from the get go so I changed that but I left everything else so he could make it his. They're not just getting used to their cage, but everything and everyone that goes on about it like the noise of the washing machine, room lights coming on and off, the smell of cheesy chips when you get take out. Lol. It's all new and to a 3inch baby its huge and terrifying. I find they come round when they're ready. Treats definitely help. And I definitely wish I'd thought of the tissue trick.
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Old 02-17-2018, 03:53 PM   #4
Scribbled
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Default Re: How to tame very hidey hamster, clicking his teeth

Hello! Sorry for the lack of a reply, I have read your answers and I appreciate them loads!
I decided to leave it up to Smudge to come out himself, he's been a brave hammy and came out to explore, at first I spoke to him softly for a while, then a few days later I started giving him treats. He eagerly awaits those now! Then we did the cup technique, he thought it was a game haha! And now we've come to the point where he crawls all over me, lets me cuddle him and pet him softly he comes out frequently to play and gets rewarded with a sunflower seed or a piece of veggie! And if he doesn't show I leave him alone to laze
Scribble has stopped biting as well and I no longer need to use gloves for either of my cuties! They both get the love and attention they need and should have.
We're getting places, and getting to just see them liking the attention and enjoying their toys (I've sewn them a fleece hamster tunnel maze) is enough for me to know they will live a good life with me

I'm happy I had them both despite one being a biter and the other scared of his own shadow, patience, determination and lots of understanding for your little hammy(s) works wonders! I would never give up on them because of their personalities, I would have been prepared to accept it if they didn't like to be handled, at least they would have a nice home with me

Last edited by Scribbled; 02-17-2018 at 04:00 PM.
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Old 02-21-2018, 09:49 AM   #5
zarch
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Default Re: How to tame very hidey hamster, clicking his teeth

Im happy to here this post. My Tubro has been hiding/sleeping a lot. mostly goes out during the night and some during the day when i'm at work. He then makes a noise if i try to get get his attention/see where he is hiding. He does come out when im around but only when he feels like it most of the time, he isnt scared of me during these times either, just runs around and does his thing (sometimes running over my hand if i put it in).

I have been leaving him treats when i leave hoping he might see me as something good. Ill continue doing this in hopes he will come out more often knowing i'm a treat giver. I talk to him often when im home as well, i do think some issue is my cat being around when im in my home office (thats where he is kept since it has a door). ill lock her out during the day and when i take his cage top off but i cant lock her out all the time (im her fav human so she cries if i shut it for too long).

either way im glad to read this post and see the out come, it gives me good feelings.
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