New Hamster mum worries about scaring him!

[Frodosmum]

Hello, I am new here. Also a new mum to a long haired ‘teddy’ graciously named Frodo. I got him 3 days ago. He seemed open to a possible first time bonding session so I brought him out and into a crate for bonding time. I did not physically hold him just transferred him with a ball into the crate. •My concern is I was NOT planning on touching him for this bonding time BUT he accidentally got climbing on a towel and was about to get out so I got scared and used my hand to get him back in. This really scared the both of us as neither were on that level yet and I know he was not prepared to be touched but I couldn’t let him escape. (My fault for not have a secure enough area) but I am afraid I have traumatized him and possibly hurt my chances of earning his trust. I hope he is not too stressed out I haven’t seen him since I put him back in his cage, he tends to burrow for most of the time. Anyways, have I ruined my chances with him? How do I go about earning his trust after this?

Thanks Friends.

[yasmin_the_hamster]

Hello Frodo's Mum,
It will be ok, trust me. It can take hamster two weeks until it is used to its new environment. Going into a new home is the most stressful experience for every hamster baby, so you need to be patient. For me, it was really about two weeks until Yasmin started to go out of her house more. We were waiting for her, but she was just too scared to go out. Now, she is 3 months old and she is absolutely fine with us holding her.
My advice is:
1. Rub your clean hands on some tissue, Frodo will use it to build hid nest and it will smell like you. You can do that every day with bedding, so he gets to use on your smell.
2. Guve him food all the time. Yasmin is currently expecting me to always hold some food as sunflower seeds, tiny bit of apple, pumpkin seed, or you can try normal food mix, if he os not bored with it and takes it, if you give him many treats. Food is the best technique to build hamster trust. So if you hear him active in his nest, but hidden, you can hold a treat near to the entrance of his hause and talk to him. He will associate your hand with food
3. Be patient. You did not ruin anything, but every scare like this can take progress a day or two back. It will be surely ok, it just takes time.

[yasmin_the_hamster]

Also, please have a look on some info about hamster balls. They are not very safe for hamsters. I am sorry there are so many dangerous animal products, I have also purchased some things that I did not use at the end.

[Frodosmum]

THANK YOU!!!! I guess I just needed reassurance that I didn’t stress him out too much. I know how fragile they are especially at first and my worst nightmare is him getting wet tail. He seems better already and playing around like himself again. I’ll give him more time and follow your advice. As for the hamster ball-absolutely, I found that out after I bought it unfortunately but it am using it as a means to transfer him in and out of his cage without using my hands right now. I take him out as soon as he is transferred, do you think that’s okay, what are your thoughts about using it for that? Thanks again I’m so glad I found this forum! ❤️

[Ria P]

I was also going to mention the hamster ball. They are ok to use as a means of transport to safely transport a hamster from the cage to a play area but NOT to trap and let a hamster run around in it.

Don't worry about upsetting your hamster, he'll soon forget about it. I'd give him time to settle in first before trying to interact with him. Hamsters can be very shy and insecure at the beginning, especially if he is still a baby.
He needs to get to know your voice and smell which takes time and patience.