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Old 12-10-2019, 03:00 AM   #1
Druishkrys
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Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Rhode Island
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Default Suddenly skittish

Last week, the taming was going really well! She was starting to go on my hand right from her cage and I could pick her up, twice. Since then, now she doesnt come out when theres any kind of light, and runs and hides when i go near the cage. I live alone, so i know there couldn't have been some one else that would scare her. She doesnt go in the ball for me to take her out like she used to either. She has 5 places to hide, plenty of water and food. Everything else is normal. Shes just afraid of me all of a sudden and idk why?
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Old 12-11-2019, 04:22 PM   #2
souffle
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Default Re: Suddenly skittish

They can go through these skitty periods sometimes and you never know why. Maybe she saw something out the corner of her eye or heard a firework or something that gave her a fright. Once they are settled hamsters the do get harder to get out the cage as they know where to go and hide and have more of a routine so you may have to go back a bit to the basics of taming her.
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Old 12-13-2019, 06:33 AM   #3
Ithuviel
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Default Re: Suddenly skittish

Mine did almost the same. Everything was going well....the he suddenly decided that he does not want anything to do with humans any more. After leaving my hamster alone about 2 weeks am in now at 0 again.
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Old 12-13-2019, 08:11 AM   #4
chloeeruth98
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Location: Wiltshire, UK
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Default Re: Suddenly skittish

Taming can be a really tricky and long process for some hamsters; just depends on their personality - my current shy Syrian baby is taking a lot longer than my previous more curious and outgoing Syrian. They do sometimes go through a spook period again during taming, but all isn't lost and you will get there!

A couple of ideas to try... hamsters aren't keen on overhead lights or bright white lights; you could try a dimmer, more mellow lamp in a corner of the room. I have mains operated fairy lights over a bookcase in the room where Wintergreen lives, and the mellow glow they give doesn't usually deter her from peeping out, unlike the room's main recessed spot lighting. There's still enough light to see her though!

Another thing to look out for is scent; hamsters hate us having other odd smells on our hands, so it's a good idea to wash them thoroughly with the same soap each time you interact. If you haven't already tried it, you can also take some fresh bedding, and rub it on somewhere like the inside of your elbow or neck (weird Ik but it's got to be somewhere that will carry your scent more strongly...!!), then pop it in her cage nearby her nest. She can then nest with it, and get used to your scent being associated positively with her secure cosy bed.

Hope that helps!

p.s. did notice you'd mentioned using a ball to get her out in... not sure if you mean something else or not, but hamster balls for rolling around in aren't good. Ik they're sold in pet stores etc., but they're cruel and dangerous for hamsters. Here's a great explanation of why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-78oX2R0eo A coffee mug with a treat to encourage them inside is a great way to lift a hamster out of their cage, and you can work at petting them inside the mug first, before even taking them to somewhere safe like a bathtub with a blanket in the bottom for further taming and handling practise.
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Last edited by chloeeruth98; 12-13-2019 at 08:18 AM.
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