Taming older hamster?

[rememberingem]

I recently took on a syrian hamster (Gus) about 6 months old. His previous owner had him in a tiny cage and just wasn't looking after him properly (child was given 100% responsibility).

I've given him a big new cage, which he loves (he's a climber, and a cage biter, with a cheeky personality) with plenty of toys and things to chew and play with.

However, he was never tamed. He used to bite the child if she tried to hold him or feed him, over the last few weeks he's bitten me hard enough for me to bleed a number of occasions. I'm getting him used to trusting me, and he'll take food from me happily, but since he's never been held, he doesn't trust me.

Is there a way to tame older hamsters? I've tried some of the little tricks you can try on new 5-6 week old hamsters, and nothing seems to be. He seems quite bored and wanting attention, but the moment i get near him (without food) he bites (and boy, does he bite hard).

[Inky104]

Hey,

From experience older hamsters are a little trickier to tame (as I'm sure you've come to know) but there's always a way.

Personally I like to begin with putting my hand in the cage on the substrate/flooring and just keeping it very still, letting the hamster learn my scent and that I pose no that.

I then start offering treats from between fingers, and again just keep my hand still for the next minute after they've taken the treat.

The next step I'll try placing a treat (bigger one are easier for this) on my hand and allowing the hammy to come and get it. Leaving my hand still for a while again.

Hopefully the hamster will become more comfortable and not just take it and run off. After staying on that step for a while you can attempt to stroke the hammy whilst they noble the treat or come for it. I personally then just slowly increase the number of fingers I stroke then with and on different areas of their bodies so they get used to physical contact.

Sometimes it can be tricky to take in their cage so if you have a ball you could let them have a run in it then return them to the cage and after a couple of ball sessions start putting them in a plastic tub or plugged and empty bathtub after so you can take where there is a lot of space and then return them to their cage by letting them up into the ball.

It might sound silly but even using gardening gloves can help of you struggle with the pain of being bitten.

Don't give up just try and work your way through taming steps and eventually the hammy will become tamed. It just can take a little while for some hamsters especially older ones. Also there are many great taming methods and videos online if you don't like the sound of mine or if after giving it a long go and it doesn't work. Just remember to go back a step of the hamster is struggling and take your time with it.

[cypher]

It will take longer to tame a ham that age but with patience I'm sure he will become tame or at least tamer than he is now.
He's had a lot to adjust to & he may also be a bit cage territorial after being in a tiny cage before.
I would try taming out of the cage, make or buy a playpen or use the bath with the plug in & a towel in the bottom, give him some toys to explore & maybe hide a treat or two for him to hunt for, give him a few minutes to run around then introduce your hand, if he bites the just slowly move it away & try again after a few minutes, he may be much less inclined to bite out of the cage. Keep sessions short at first if he appears to get stressed.
As he's so unused to being handled & probably not even really used to the scent of humans i would do the tissue trick if you haven't already (put some plain white toilet tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then shred it up & put it in the cage) to help him get used to your scent.