Taming my Syrian

Hammymoo · 01-02-2019, 05:03 AM

Hey so recently I have started to loose hope on taming my female Syrian.

She will take food from my palm but only sit on it for about 3 seconds before wanting to jump off. She is a friendly, always curious when I'm there.
However yesterday she bit my index finger, it drew blood but wasn't a bad bite. She also sometimes chatters her teeth when I'm around usually if I'm in the room she is and she is sleeping she will wake up and start chattering.

When I put a treat in the middle of both of my hands she will walk on, I can then lift her up in her cage slightly. Although she wI'll only stay on my hands for a couple of seconds before jumping off.

I have been stuck at this step for over a month now as everytime I try to move on she doesn't co operate.

randomthing42 · 01-02-2019, 05:52 AM

my female syrian took 2 and a half months to tame so son't worry. Although now she always wants to come out which is annoying.

Hammymoo · 01-02-2019, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomthing42

my female syrian took 2 and a half months to tame so son't worry. Although now she always wants to come out which is annoying.

How did you tame your Syrian, what method?

randomthing42 · 01-02-2019, 11:06 AM

https://erinshamsters.wixsite.com/ha...ming-a-hamster
That method, don't worry about the est time. It took 1 month of palm feeding and another month of walking over my hands and then 2 weeks for picking up inside the cage.

mzwiwy · 01-02-2019, 11:47 AM

I’m no expert by any means. Ive only had our dwarf hammy for 5 months. So experts, you know who you are, please advise if it is too soon for this idea. I was thinking you could try moving her in a small box (to prevent a bite) to a DIY playpen or even easier, a bathtub. Then just sit inside with her and let her explore.

cypher · 01-02-2019, 11:06 PM

Remember she is a still a baby & wants to spend time running around & exploring so she probably won't want to sit still for more than a moment just yet & maybe not for a while, females tend to be more active than males too!
I agree that taming out of the cage in a large play bin, playpen or the bath with a towel in the bottom is the next stage you need to move on to, give her some toys & things to explore & just spend time interacting with her, sit in with her if you use a playpen or the bath & let her get used to being around you, she may want to climb on you & she will get used to running over your hands to begin with then with time you will be able to gently pick her up or hold her for short periods.

Kal · 01-02-2019, 11:47 PM

Sorry to hijack this thread but i need to ask this silly question as I keep seeing the advice to use the bath or similar to help with interaction when training - but how do you get your hamster from cage to bath if not yet handling?

cypher · 01-03-2019, 05:05 AM

Kal you need to find something your ham will be happy to climb into, this might be a tube (one hand over the other end!) or a cardboard box, a large mug, a hamster ball (about all they are of any use for!) something like that then you can safely transport your ham to & from the play area.

Chicleteer · 01-03-2019, 08:45 AM

I've only had one hamster, also a Syrian, whom I've had for about 9 months. It does take time. And while I can pick her up and hold her briefly, she rarely tolerates sitting still in my hands for more than a few seconds. But when I sit with her in the playpen, she'll run around me, and over/under my legs and try to climb up my sleeve if I'm wearing long sleeves, so I do feel she's comfortable with me.... She bit me maybe twice in the first month or so, but hasn't since then, other than an occasional gentle nibble (I assume she's seeing if my finger is food or has food on it).

I guess my main point (sorry if this is so long-winded) is that at least until she's a sedate senior citizen, she's so active that I don't expect her to sit quietly in my hands, as much as I'd love to just gently cuddle her in a relaxed way. I think that's just how hamsters are, especially young ones! Anyhow, good luck, and don't lose hope!

Kal · 01-03-2019, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

Kal you need to find something your ham will be happy to climb into, this might be a tube (one hand over the other end!) or a cardboard box, a large mug, a hamster ball (about all they are of any use for!) something like that then you can safely transport your ham to & from the play area.

Thank you. Makes perfect sense and just retrieved a tube from the rubbish which will be perfect when the time is right.