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Old 05-07-2019, 07:04 PM   #1
mapfef
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Unhappy Syrian won’t tame

I got my new male syrian hamster almost a month ago and i have been trying to tame him. Every time i turn on the lights or walk into the room he freezes and doesn’t move for a good few minutes. He takes treats from my hand eventually and never bites but I haven’t taken him out of his cage yet because I don’t want to rush him. I am just worried that he will never let me hold him because he’s not used to it because I didn’t start it when he was young. Should I just keep hand feeding treats until he’s comfortable or try and hold him now?
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Old 05-08-2019, 12:54 AM   #2
Shannonmcn
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Default Re: Syrian won’t tame

Freezing when you come into a room is not related to how tame he might be. That's just a natural impulse. "Taming" is about him getting to know you and when you turn the light on suddenly or suddenly appear he doesn't know right away that IS you. I wouldn't worry about it.

He can't get used to being held if you never start holding him and there is no point worrying before you have any reason to. But keep to baby steps if you're nervous. If hes taking food from you then start stroking him while he does. Get him to walk onto your hands while he's in the cage. Use a carrier to get him into a secure playpen where you can sit with him and let him get used to being close to you. You don't have to go straight from 0 - 60, there's a nice slow process for you to follow.
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Old 05-08-2019, 04:13 AM   #3
alpacassei
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Default Re: Syrian won’t tame

Hamsters cant see very well so when he freezes it’s because some big blurry shadowy creature is approaching his territory and he’s trying to work out if its a threat or not. It’s entirely instincts, even my snuggliest tamest hammies will do it, especially if I suddenly turn on the lights as well.
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Old 05-08-2019, 06:30 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Syrian won’t tame

There's a thread by Sunflower 'How get Syrian used to being held' listed under -Behaviour- which includes Souffle's taming techniques. It's very helpful. My Syrian is an unsociable little sod by nature but I still handle him almost daily because he is a pet and not a wild animal so has to learn to deal with it. You may find that your hamster likes time out of his cage and being held etc but doesn't know it yet because he hasn't had the chance to find out. Let us know how you get on.
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Old 05-08-2019, 07:22 PM   #5
mapfef
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Smile Re: Syrian won’t tame

Thank you for the replies I will try and take him out into a playpen or my bathtub maybe and let you know how it goes
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Old 05-11-2019, 06:19 AM   #6
mapfef
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Default Re: Syrian won’t tame

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shannonmcn View Post
Freezing when you come into a room is not related to how tame he might be. That's just a natural impulse. "Taming" is about him getting to know you and when you turn the light on suddenly or suddenly appear he doesn't know right away that IS you. I wouldn't worry about it.

He can't get used to being held if you never start holding him and there is no point worrying before you have any reason to. But keep to baby steps if you're nervous. If hes taking food from you then start stroking him while he does. Get him to walk onto your hands while he's in the cage. Use a carrier to get him into a secure playpen where you can sit with him and let him get used to being close to you. You don't have to go straight from 0 - 60, there's a nice slow process for you to follow.
So i tried bath tub bonding so i took him into the bath with a towel down and was feeding him treats. He seemed ok to just be walking around and exploring, he was very curious. But when I tried to actually hold him he just sprung out of my hand
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Old 05-11-2019, 10:14 AM   #7
Ria P
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Default Re: Syrian won’t tame

You could sit in the bath tub with him next time and let him walk on your legs, stroke him etc. I let mine run down my legs then grab him and place him back on my lap and he's off again. Hamsters don't always sit still for long enough to be held unless they are eating or washing. My hamster is not a cuddly one and does his own thing. The closest i get to holding him is him sitting on my hand while eating. Soon as he's finished eating he's off again.
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Old 05-11-2019, 03:17 PM   #8
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Default Re: Syrian won’t tame

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Originally Posted by mapfef View Post
So i tried bath tub bonding so i took him into the bath with a towel down and was feeding him treats. He seemed ok to just be walking around and exploring, he was very curious. But when I tried to actually hold him he just sprung out of my hand
That sounds really positive to me! He is going to ping out of your hands many many times until he gets used to it. Just keep your hands low so he can't fall any distance and keep at it! Agree with Ria, get in the tub with him and let him explore you! Just watch he doesn't climb up you and use you as an escape ladder, have another pair of hands about if you can. Been alone in that situation before and it's hard to grab a squirmy half tame hamster off the back of your own neck before it takes a leap towards the toilet bowl.
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Old 05-12-2019, 02:57 PM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Syrian won’t tame

When he's tame he won't "ping" any more Take it slowly - start by just stroking him on the back with one finger in the bathtub but don't try and hold him. He may jump. Try again later - or the next time. Once he accepts that you're almost there. Then let him walk across the flat of your palm (hand on the base of the bathtub) but again don't try and hold him. Next time, lift your hand slightly - just 1cm or so but let him walk off. When you've done that a few times you should be able to hold him and let him walk from hand to hand.

Sitting in there as well, as the others say, can help him just see you as an object and run all over you, and he'll get used to your scent. But for hand taming, try the above.
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Old 05-16-2019, 04:25 AM   #10
Puddle
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Default Re: Syrian won’t tame

Iv found myself making a tutting noise or saying their name before i walk into the room so they know im coming etc.
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he’s, treats, tame, syrian, hold, hand, cage, don’t, rush, worried, feeding, comfortable, young, didn’t, start, time, turn, ago, month, won’t, male, hamster, lights, walk, takes

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