Say hello to Meatloaf!

[StitchedEgo]

Alright everyone, now that i've gotten to handle him a bit (lemme tell you it wasn't easy) I want you all to give big hello to Meatloaf! my tiny Male Short hair



and lemme tell you my first night with him was a DOOZY.

I attempted to give him a tiny snack as a hello gift and i was waiting for him to get done with his saucer run. His tiny butt booped my finger and startled him big time. he screamed and flew across the cage. I felt really bad as that's probably no way to introduce yourself to your new hammy.

I tried later, this time placing cup down and waiting for the little guy to crawl in, which worked and then placed my palm on the opening. he was hesitant at first, but he soon boarded my hand and began his exploration.



I found myself in this position for quite a while as he climbed on my shoulder/back area and didn't seem to want to leave that area. after a while i decided to gently raise my torso, careful to make sure he landed in my open palm. then i reached into the food bag and held an open palm of food in it which coaxed him to board my palm andd forage through the mixture, eating. I let him eat on his own at first until i attempted a gentle stroke with my finger. and to my surprise he did not seem to mind. So i pet him for a while while he ate from my hand and then returned him to the cage.

I spent tonight with him as well, it went a lot easier. .I'm using the cup method to remove him from the cage as he hasn't learned to board my hands yet. He explored me a bit more, but on a lesser scale, staying in front of my in my arm area. let him run around in the bathtub before picking him up and allowing him to explore my arms again. This time i had put a treat on my hand, which he promptly ate and enjoyed while i pet him.

he did do something i don't quite understand ass when i petted him whilst he was on my arm, he kind of laid flat like a pancake as i pet him and stayed like that for a while and only got up to move when i began to stand up and secure him safely in my hand.

I concluded the night by placing him gently into his cage.

so aside from all this, is there any reason he laid down flat while i pet him? was he scared and just freezing? i'd like to know.

[cypher]

Hello Meatloaf

He's so cute, it does sound as though he's still nervous, pancaking is a sign that he's scared but it's still very early days so slow & steady & I'm sure he'll soon be fine.

[StitchedEgo]

Originally Posted by cypher

Hello Meatloaf

He's so cute, it does sound as though he's still nervous, pancaking is a sign that he's scared but it's still very early days so slow & steady & I'm sure he'll soon be fine.

got it. Do you by chance have any advice for taming a nervous lil ham?

[cypher]

I always start with the tissue thing & keep that up for a while so my scent becomes really familiar & non threatening to them, (just in case you don't know that's putting a tissue up your sleeve then putting it in the cage) spend lots of time just talking to them quietly by the cage then gradually begin to introduce my hand into the cage but let them come to me rather than forcing myself onto them, some hams seem more confident with handling out of the cage than in, if that's the case then find something your ham will happily climb into like a ball, tube, cup or little cardboard box then let them climb from there into your hand if they will or put them into a safe play area or the bath & try letting them climb on you from there.
Every ham is different so it's best to just go slow & try to let them take the lead so they gradually become more confident.
Keep us posted on how it's going!

[Piebald]

Hello Meatloaf! What a cutie!
Do you know how old he is? I'm guessing quite young as pancaking when scared is a common still-in-the-nest defence for very young animals, when hiding is the best course as they are still dependent on Mom to look out for them. However, freezing and making ones self small are still good methods for an older prey animal (which Hamsters are) to try and trick predators. Predators see movement (remember the T-rex in Jurassic Park?) and are attracted to it. It sounds like your little guy is very good natured many a scared Ham will nip you instead of just trying to hide!
I'd suggest taking it a bit more slowly if he is scared like that-- you don't want to push him into a nip. Let him settle and scent mark his new cage and get comfy with the idea that it is home so he will be going back to a safe place. After he has a few days to settle in and you have been doing the tissue trick try a short (10 mins) play session. Set up a secure play area or use the tub where you can let him explore you and some toys without worrying he might escape or hurt himself doing a leap. Depending how that goes you can do a little bit longer the next day. If you work and want to get him into a routine you can start training him now so he won't have to change later.
Keep us posted on his progress!
Looking forward to lots more pictures!

[StitchedEgo]

Originally Posted by Piebald

Hello Meatloaf! What a cutie!
Do you know how old he is? I'm guessing quite young as pancaking when scared is a common still-in-the-nest defence for very young animals, when hiding is the best course as they are still dependent on Mom to look out for them. However, freezing and making ones self small are still good methods for an older prey animal (which Hamsters are) to try and trick predators. Predators see movement (remember the T-rex in Jurassic Park?) and are attracted to it. It sounds like your little guy is very good natured many a scared Ham will nip you instead of just trying to hide!
I'd suggest taking it a bit more slowly if he is scared like that-- you don't want to push him into a nip. Let him settle and scent mark his new cage and get comfy with the idea that it is home so he will be going back to a safe place. After he has a few days to settle in and you have been doing the tissue trick try a short (10 mins) play session. Set up a secure play area or use the tub where you can let him explore you and some toys without worrying he might escape or hurt himself doing a leap. Depending how that goes you can do a little bit longer the next day. If you work and want to get him into a routine you can start training him now so he won't have to change later.
Keep us posted on his progress!
Looking forward to lots more pictures!

he's approximately 7-8 weeks old. a wee bab. i'm gonna start with the tissue trick and keep that going before i introduce myself a bit more.

[Penguin]

Oh what a cute little fluff ball! Congratulations with the little guy! He sound very dolice, I hope we get to see more of him in the future (:

As Cypher and piebald mentioned, make sure that he gets a few days to get comfortable with his new home and the tissue trick usually does wonders. When I first got my ham she would try to eat me. She weren't aggressive in any way, but she simply had no idea who or what I was. I tried the tissue trick and popped a piece of tissue up my sleeve for a few hours before putting it in her cage, and she dragged it to her nest. (lucky for me).
This sped up the taming process a ton. I would mention that washing your hands with an unscented soap, before interacting with him can help too. Hams have poor eyesight and rely on their ability to smell things. But for young hamsters especially, locating your scent among the smell of the hundreds of things you have touched that day isn't always easy.

Also make sure your ham is aware you are there before touching him. Hands coming from above or from behind usually surprises them, and their instincts tell them it is danger. Make sure to show him your hand before touching the rest of him (:

Lastly try to offer him treats from two of your fingertips. Praise him with a soft voice for taking it. This way he will associate you with something good. When he is in no way uncomfortable taking treats from your fingertips you can try to place one on your open palm and see if he has courage to get that one as well. If he sits on or touches your hand then keep it completely still until he is moving away from it. If he is nervous, very small movements can surprise him and set back the taming process.

Hope we get to see more of him soon! Cheers!

[StitchedEgo]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Oh what a cute little fluff ball! Congratulations with the little guy! He sound very dolice, I hope we get to see more of him in the future (:

As Cypher and piebald mentioned, make sure that he gets a few days to get comfortable with his new home and the tissue trick usually does wonders. When I first got my ham she would try to eat me. She weren't aggressive in any way, but she simply had no idea who or what I was. I tried the tissue trick and popped a piece of tissue up my sleeve for a few hours before putting it in her cage, and she dragged it to her nest. (lucky for me).
This sped up the taming process a ton. I would mention that washing your hands with an unscented soap, before interacting with him can help too. Hams have poor eyesight and rely on their ability to smell things. But for young hamsters especially, locating your scent among the smell of the hundreds of things you have touched that day isn't always easy.

Also make sure your ham is aware you are there before touching him. Hands coming from above or from behind usually surprises them, and their instincts tell them it is danger. Make sure to show him your hand before touching the rest of him (:

Lastly try to offer him treats from two of your fingertips. Praise him with a soft voice for taking it. This way he will associate you with something good. When he is in no way uncomfortable taking treats from your fingertips you can try to place one on your open palm and see if he has courage to get that one as well. If he sits on or touches your hand then keep it completely still until he is moving away from it. If he is nervous, very small movements can surprise him and set back the taming process.

Hope we get to see more of him soon! Cheers!

right, do short sleeves work too? i wear pretty only short sleeves, and even on my light jacket, i roll up the sleeves

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by StitchedEgo

right, do short sleeves work too? i wear pretty only short sleeves, and even on my light jacket, i roll up the sleeves

You could put it anywhere for a few hours as long as it touches your skin. In the top of your sock or against the skin under your belt (: If it can stay put in your short sleeve without being annoying that would work too, but there's no need to suffer for your ham to like you

[Fluffagrams]

The tissue trick worked very well with May who was such a nervous little lady when I first got her. I think had I not have done that then taming her would have taken even longer.

Love the name btw, is he named after the food?