Taming hybrid hamster

[grumpywinter]

Hello!!

I got my hamster two weeks ago and on the first week he has been sleeping a lot and hiding in his little area. About two days in i tried giving him a lil treat to see if he’d come and get it but he only sniffed my fingers then nipped a bit it barely hurt but i jerked a little so he ran back to his hideout. After that I’ve actually left him alone, well aside from spot cleaning his cage every other day, i haven’t actually tried having any contact with him (i accidentally woke him up while i was cleaning his cage and he did some sort of chittering/chattering sound). On to the second week I’ve tried giving him treats but alas he doesn’t seem to be motivated by food he’s been exploring a bit more of his cage now because usually he just stays in one area. I’ve been thinking can i just do the mug strategy? like i would lure him to get in the mug then gently let him crawl all over my hand? (ofc being as close to his cage’s beddings so he wouldn’t fall too high. Or should i continue with giving him treats?

[cypher]

Two weeks is still quite early days so he may need longer to settle in.
Do you have a photo of your cage set up? If he’s staying in one part of the cage there may be some changes you could make to help him feel more confident, if you can post a photo we might be able to help with some suggestions.
A bit of nipping is normal to begin with, it’s your hams way of exploring all the new things including your hand so try not to react just gently withdraw your hand if he actually bites you.
What are you using as treats for taming? Favourites are dried mealworms & sunflower seeds, you can also pick out some of the best bits from his food mix & try those, you could also try tiny bits of fresh veg.
Spend lots of time just talking to him so he gets used to you being around, try to be consistent with taming, even if it’s for just a few minutes each day, keep offering treats but keep your hand still when you do that. & let him come to you. Even if he doesn’t come for the treats keep trying each day so he gets used to a routine.
I would let him settle a bit more before taking him out if he seems to be getting a little more confident then use a mug or whatever works for him & try him in a playpen or play box with some toys & things to explore & have some time interacting with him there.