Amazed

CharlieEcho · 02-10-2018, 11:57 PM

For some time now I have been trying to hand tame my Syrian Hamster Charlie but he just seems to afraid to actually step up on my hand. He will take food from my hand but won't step on my hand to actually take the treat. So tuesday I got a new hamster Echo who is believed to be thanks to your guys help a Pied Roborovski. Every time I go near the cage he runs up to the side to greet me. So tonight I thought I would try to see how he would take some sunflower seeds from my hand. He got a little spooked the first time my hand went in but the second time he come took the sunflower from my hand and then another and then another. So I put the sunflower seed on my fingers just to see if maybe he would just touch my hand at all, and with no hesitation what so ever he hopped onto my hand ate the sunflower seeds and stayed there. Now I was not expecting that at all I figured maybe he would come over take the seeds a run off nope he stayed on my hand, started digging at my fingers and started to give me a little test nibble, wasn't hard just trying to see if maybe I was hiding more food. It just amazes me that after not even having him for a week he is so trusting to come up on my hand and actually be handled. I have always heard that dwarf hamsters were alot harder to tame than syrians. But I guess it just depends on the personality of the hamster really than the species.

Pebbles82 · 02-11-2018, 02:25 AM

That is lovely to hear about your robo! And yes it is maybe to do with different personalities in hamsters. Also sometimes to do with previous life experiences, but ultimately, different personalities. We have a robo who is terrified of anything going in the cage and won't come near a hand (or even a teaspoon!) with food on.

He is happy to sit and look at you and come to the front of the glass tank for a chat, but if a hand or anything goes in the cage he runs behind his wheel and hides in the most inaccessible place (flattened vertically between the wheel and it's stand!

I think even shy syrians can be hand tamed however, but it can take time. Once they are happy with being handled, and used to you,and a bit older and more chilled they are likely to eat from your hand although maybe not sit on it. Our current syrian took some time to do this,but will now. However our previous sytrian wouldn't take food from a hand unless you put it down - he learned it may be a trick! ie to be held and he didn't like being held for more than a few seconds,although would go to sleep on my knee or sit between us on the sofa!

So as well as personalities they have their individual preferences as well! Our last Syrian only liked "traditional" fruit like apple or banana and turned his nose up at blueberries and hated strawberries. Newt, our current one will eat anything lol and goes crazy for a bit of strawberry.

dreamtree1234 · 02-11-2018, 07:21 AM

Congrats on Echo eating and sitting on your hand after such a short time of getting him! That is definitely wonderful news.

With more time, Charlie may be eager to do the same thing, too. I would just keep offering Charlie your hand and one day he may very well surprise you.

CMB · 02-11-2018, 01:27 PM

Congratulations. Eco is so brave. It is lovely that you are able to have him on your hand.

Natasha95 · 02-12-2018, 12:55 AM

That's so cool! Congrats!

And I agree that it probably has to do with their personalities and preferences. My Syrian only takes food from my hand if I'm holding it out to him. He won't climb into my hand for food. He kind of skipped that stage. But he was no problem jumping onto my lap or being held if I pick him up. That took about 5-6 months for him to get comfortable with, though.