Help with taming Shadow please?

Tish36 · 02-08-2010, 10:28 AM

I got Shadow on the 5th of February, and have found him to be more anxious than my other 2 syrians.

He has let me stroke him, but at one point began to squeak and has jumped around the cage a few times. He has tried to take treats from my hand but has backed away at the last minute so I have left them there and he has eaten them later.

He seems to sleep an awful lot and doesn't appear to play that much.

I was up a lot of the night last night due to Sprout knocking down parts of his cage and I didn't see Shadow playing at all

Any tips?

fluffymunchkins · 02-08-2010, 10:45 AM

well its only been 3 days so far, so once you start picking him up more he will get better. He may also be very tired after moving home and all these new experiences so hence why hes sleeping quite a bit. Plus his nest feels like a safe place so he likes it in there.
Its good that he let you stroke him so keep up with that, but another thing you could try is just putting your hand in the cage and letting him climb on if he choses. Then after a few times when hes climbed on lift your hand up a bit then put it back down (this way you can gain his trust) If he dosen't come on your hand try putting a treat on your hand or even better something like a bit of peanut butter so he has to lick it off.
When he comes on your hand keep completely still and lay your hand flat.
Good luck and i hope some of this helps

Tish36 · 02-08-2010, 11:26 AM

Thanks a lot Mel

annie81 · 02-08-2010, 12:57 PM

yeah...just give him some time. my first hamster horst started squeaking at me as soon as i came near the cage...and that lasted for 4 weeks. in the end we had such a good bond

paige · 02-09-2010, 10:36 AM

it is quite soon, i got my hammy the day after yours. try talking to him so he recognisies your voice or put a tissue with your scent in the cage. good luck xx

Iluvhamsters · 02-09-2010, 12:17 PM

If he won't take a treat from your hand, you might want to try putting the treat in his cage and having your hand near it. You might even need to try just putting your hand in the cage first, without being near the treat, then as he becomes more confident you can move your hand a little closer. Once he accepts you hand being near the treat, you can then start offering it from your hand, maybe placing it on your fingertip first then gradually move it further on to your hand as he starts to trust you. I've had to do it this way with a hamster once and it worked quite well

HayleyBrooks · 02-10-2010, 04:46 AM

Deffo give him some more time to get settled in. He sounds just like my Sakura. I've only had her two weeks and she is really stubborn when it comes to playing/treats etc. She's only just started to take pieces of apple out of my hand, and letting me stroke her. I got to cuddle her for the first time last night which was great. All I did was do what i did with Renesmee and Hammie but just a little slower. Some hamsters take longer than others : )
Good luck : )

Hayley xx

Tish36 · 02-10-2010, 01:34 PM

UPDATE!

Shadow has started taking food from my hands and is letting me stroke him.
I have picked him up, but moreso scooped him up from underneath when trying to get out the cage.
He is still nervous about being picked up otherwise, but there is improvement!

Thank you all for your advice

Iluvhamsters · 02-11-2010, 03:01 AM

The scooping up when he was trying to get out is a great idea

It's a technique I've used before with a nervous hamster. After doing this a few times, she realised I was *helping her to escape*

and started to trust me after that. It got to the stage where she would start climbing up my arm whenever I put my hand in because she knew that that was the way out

annie81 · 02-11-2010, 04:46 AM

oh yeah...they are not stupid