Newbie with a WW :)

[missduoglide]

Hi All!!

I am new to the forum as well as being a hamster owner. We got Walter on Sunday. I put him in his bin cage and pretty much left him alone for a few days. I had read that they needed 2 weeks to acclimate and have also read 3-4 days. So yesterday I decided to try to let him get to know me. I woke him up slowly by taking his igloo out of his cage. Which is prob not a great idea. But I don't know how else to get him out. I put my hand in there so he could smell me. When he went into his tube, I picked it up with him in it and help my hands at either end so he could smell me and possibly walk on my hands. This lasted for just a couple of mins. I really don't want to scare the little guy. I have heard that WW's are really fun after they have been tamed. Any advice on your taming procedures would be appreciated.
I have done a lot of reading. Walter came from a pet store so I know he is likely a hybrid. I also know that they are prone to diabetes and so I have not gotten any sugary treats. He doesn't seem to much care for them any way Hopefully this will change cause I need to bribe the little guy to hang out with me LOL
I guess I am asking if I am doing this right. What else should I be doing and so forth?

Thanks for any reply!

[kyrilliondaemon]

Welcome to the forum Hams often only need 24-48 hours to settle in so I'm glad you've started trying to interact with him

Your ham will be a hybrid. Have you got a bathtub or a large playpen (or a ham-proof room) you could sit in with him? Then he can explore the playarea while you sit with him, in time he'll get more confident and start climbing on you and getting used to you that way

The wiki also has some taming tips that should help - http://www.hamstercentral.com/wiki/Taming_tips

[missduoglide]

I don't have a tub, but my shower has a basin with a glass door, I can sit in there with him. I am nervous to pick him up. I don't want him to bite me LOL
My kids really want to hold him and of course I don't want to freak the little guy out. I will check out the link you posted

Thanks!!

[kyrilliondaemon]

*shrugs* Sitting anywhere with him is a good start. I understand being nervous, most hams won't bite though and even if you are one of the unlucky people who gets bitten dwarf bites really aren't too painful

You can also sit by the cage and talk to him or read aloud or something to get him used to you being nearby

[missduoglide]

I have been going into the kids room and talking to him. Calling his name and such.
Tonight I carefully scooped him up in a large mug along with a bit of his bedding. Sat in the shower with him and his wheel for about 10 mins or so. He did crawl up my legs a little bit and got in my hand once. Then just hid in the mug LOL.
I did slowly pour him into my hand and lowered him into the cage. hoping that will show him that I am not here to hurt him.

And since I was hanging out with him, I was able to snap a couple pics

[Thin Lizzy]

Hi and Welcome to the forum!
Walter is sooo cute!
You're making good progress, I would continue what you're doing.

[cypher]

He's really gorgeous!
It sounds as though you're doing fine with him, just keep it up & take things at his pace.

[racinghamster]

Hi, welcome to HC. Walter is lovely! He will be a hybrid coming from a pet shop/store, but he doesn`t know that! His diet should be a good variety hamster mix with some added budgie millet and spray. Treats (as such) should be natural like crushed nuts, small pieces of raw veg like a garden pea, broccoli, carrot and a small piece of fresh apple. Apple is sweet, but does no harm as the fructose (natural sugars) are not added sugars.

Try also if you can not to wake him up if he`s snoozing as this itself can cause a hamster to be grumpy and bite. They do usually like to sleep during daytime hours and will be more active later on in the evenings normally. x

[Snowz]

Hello and welcome to Hamster Central! Walter is very adorable. Seems good that your practicing with the taming. Maybe try and give treats like : Yogurt drops, carrots, broccoli and plain natural nuts! lay a treat on the palm of your hand and the hamster with climb onto your hand to get the treat. Slowly rise your hand into the air and once Walter is done eating you can "stroke" him.

[kyrilliondaemon]

He's really cute and thats definetly good progress

Oh and Snowz most'd advise against yoghurt drops for hybrids too often, while a small amount of sugar probably won't hurt it seems a bad idea to feed diabetes prone species too much sugar