Hammond the 3 week old Syrian

[Katie779]

I thought I'd start a thread here keeping track of the progress my 3 week old Syrian, Hammond, is making, and so I can ask questions and keep track of the answers.

Thanks to everyones help on my intro thread Hammond is doing well. Just to summarize our story for anyone interested:

This past Sunday I got a call from a women who I was in contact with about her baby hamsters. I was under the impression that the hamsters would be ready for their homes sometime after this week, but instead she called me over a week early and told me I needed to pick up Hammond asap, at only 3 weeks old. I was a little at a loss on how to care for such a young baby, and also haven't had a hamster since childhood, but so far we're doing well. He's been eating and drinking and has taken a few nibbles of cucumber from my fingers, as well.

Now question time!
When can I start trying to tame him? He's still pretty scared of me so I'd like to start soon, but I don't want to cause him harm by beginning too soon.

Also, I want to upgrade his cage already, as the one I bought is only temporary and is much too small (and a little annoying). Can anyone recommend a good cage in the US? And will it be to stressful to switch his cage so soon?

Thanks again for all the help!!

[POLAR WHITES]

I wouldn't do any cage switching just yet with such a small hamster he has been though a lot already and cage switching will only stress him out even more, also with being so young a small cage is ok will give him a feeling of being safe, I would do the cage switching at about 6 weeks old, As for taming again with being so little take your time, its fine to hold him but over the cage in case he jump, which he will at that age then if he fallis it will only be into his cage,

[Katie779]

Ok, thank you. I don't think I'm going to hold him just yet, but keep trying to hand feed him and let him smell me/be around around him and talk to him. I don't want to rush it as he is very skittish.

[souffle]

I wouldn't advise changing the cage just yet. Remember he is tiny baby and that will be plenty space for now. May think about it when he is settled, growing well, taming nicely at around 6-12 weeks I'd say. You should handle him though. We would start handling babies younger than this and it is important he gets used to handling. They are always skitty at this age till they get used to the handling. Lift and lay him down then progress to running through your hands. He will be fast at first but will settle.

[Stockannette]

Love his name! Seems to me the most cost effective cages here in the US are those made from storage bins, like Carmelita's. There's a good "Cages in the US" thread somewhere... and many people end up using big aquariums so they can have a big deep digging layer of substrate.

[Katie779]

I'm thinking about just using an aquarium. He's actually gotten pretty big over the course of this week, I'm actually surprised. I'll attach a few not so clear pictures. lol It's so hard to take clear pictures of a running hamster!

[Char]

He is so cute

[LoveMyHams]

Aww, another all black ham! Pepper says hello!
Looks like the little guy is doing well. I'd say keep doing everything you have been, plus letting him smell and run over your hands. Maybe scoop him into a ball/cup and taking him into the empty bath tub and let him just run around on you.

[PinkyDinkyDoo]

he's adorable

[Katie779]

I've been trying to get him used to me. He doesn't seem as scared as he was at first, but is still really skittish. I think this will probably take some time.