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Old 03-17-2017, 04:29 AM   #1
Naomi27
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Default Hello! and help

Hello,

Yesterday I bought the cutest little (syrian) hamster at my local petshop (her name is Baloo). When I asked the store if the hamster was already tame they told me it was not. Since it is a baby I didn't worry about this. When I took her home in her little box she was screaming a lot but the shop told me that this was normal and would stop as soon as she was comfortable in her cage. I put her in the cage as soon as I got home an left her alone for the day. When I wanted to put food in her bowl this morning she started screaming again and she seems very afraid.

My question is: Is this normal and can I just start using the treat taming method in about 4 days?
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Old 03-17-2017, 07:27 AM   #2
ladyntramp002
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Default Re: Hello! and help

I really don't know if this is normal. My syrians were fine when I brought them home from the adoptions, but your hammie could be just really scared with your presence and its new surroundings.


I personally would let it settle down first (a week? or a couple of days) , but you can use the tissue trick.

The tissue trick is where you put tissues inside your sleeve and wear it for a couple hours. Then place the tissues inside your hammie's cage so it can use it for nesting.
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Old 03-17-2017, 07:37 AM   #3
Naomi27
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Default Re: Hello! and help

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Originally Posted by ladyntramp002 View Post
I really don't know if this is normal. My syrians were fine when I brought them home from the adoptions, but your hammie could be just really scared with your presence and its new surroundings.


I personally would let it settle down first (a week? or a couple of days) , but you can use the tissue trick.

The tissue trick is where you put tissues inside your sleeve and wear it for a couple hours. Then place the tissues inside your hammie's cage so it can use it for nesting.
Thanks! I will try the tissue trick, I hope it helps her. I feel so bad for her since she is so scared.
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Old 03-17-2017, 07:41 AM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: Hello! and help

Going into a new environment can be very scary for them especially if she is very young & may be missing any siblings she was caged with at the pet shop.
Make sure she has deep substrate (about 15cm) to burrow into if she wants to, a good house to sleep in, a cardboard box will do but only open at the base with a door cut into one side (it needs to be really dark in there), a nice big pile of shredded plain white toilet tissue to make a nest with.
You can put some toilet tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then put that in the cage to help her get used to your scent.
I would just leave her to settle for a couple more days, talk to her quietly but don't try to interact just yet & if she's that nervous it might be an idea to change water & put food in when she's sleeping, try not to wake her though.
She should settle soon enough if you can make her feel safe in the cage, then slowly begin to offer treats, just put your hand up to the bars (if you have bars) or lay your hand flat in the cage & let her come to you.
Don't be in a hurry & rush things or taming will just go backward.
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Old 03-17-2017, 08:07 AM   #5
Naomi27
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Default Re: Hello! and help

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Going into a new environment can be very scary for them especially if she is very young & may be missing any siblings she was caged with at the pet shop.
Make sure she has deep substrate (about 15cm) to burrow into if she wants to, a good house to sleep in, a cardboard box will do but only open at the base with a door cut into one side (it needs to be really dark in there), a nice big pile of shredded plain white toilet tissue to make a nest with.
You can put some toilet tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then put that in the cage to help her get used to your scent.
I would just leave her to settle for a couple more days, talk to her quietly but don't try to interact just yet & if she's that nervous it might be an idea to change water & put food in when she's sleeping, try not to wake her though.
She should settle soon enough if you can make her feel safe in the cage, then slowly begin to offer treats, just put your hand up to the bars (if you have bars) or lay your hand flat in the cage & let her come to you.
Don't be in a hurry & rush things or taming will just go backward.
Thanks for the tips! The substrate I have in the cage now is about 4 cm, won't it be more stressful for her if I change this now? I'm afraid that if I make changes to her cage now she will get more scared than she already is.
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Old 03-17-2017, 08:13 AM   #6
cypher
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Default Re: Hello! and help

Normally it is best to avoid making changes when they are new & nervous but if you can just gently add in as much extra substrate as you can manage she will probably feel more comfortable & safe a lot quicker so I would say it would be worth it.
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Old 03-17-2017, 09:36 AM   #7
ladyntramp002
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Default Re: Hello! and help

Adding substrate is a good idea. I know my hammie loves to burrow, and it makes him feel very safe if he has quite a bit. I totally agree with cypher on this. Just try to add substrate in gently and as quietly as you can.
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Old 03-17-2017, 09:46 AM   #8
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Default Re: Hello! and help

Deep substrate is far less stressful than not enough substrate.It allows the hamster to burrow and hide more,which in turn reduces the stress of exposure!

15 cm would still be on the shallower end of the spectrum and even deeper would be better,20-30 cm or more ideally!
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Old 03-17-2017, 10:55 AM   #9
Naomi27
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Default Re: Hello! and help

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Normally it is best to avoid making changes when they are new & nervous but if you can just gently add in as much extra substrate as you can manage she will probably feel more comfortable & safe a lot quicker so I would say it would be worth it.
I put in more substrate this afternoon. I did it very quietly but she wasn't very happy with the disturbance and started screaming again. But when she calmed down a bit and the room was quiet again she immediately started digging and I think she is quite happy with the change. This tip helped a lot!

I had another question, I bought the minimum size cage for her but from what I have already seen of her she is quite an energetic hamster and I want to buy a bigger cage next week. (Friday I think) Would it be okay for me to put her in the new cage next Sunday. (not in 3 days but the Sunday the weekend after next)
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Old 03-17-2017, 11:06 AM   #10
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Default Re: Hello! and help

It should be fine to upgrade to a bigger cage.Just take the same exact procedure of waiting and not handling etc for the same amount of time or as long as necessary before handling and such.A cage change is just as stressful as moving to a new home,and unfortunately not everyone considers that cage changes do require settling periods as well so a hamster may seem stressed or uncomfortable in a new environment before they settle!

Minimum cage sizes can be a bit silly and rarely if ever work,except in the case of the German minimum(which cannot be purchased premade,without heavy modification in the case of a tiny amount of guinea pig square meter cages).

Being an energetic hamster I would just order a square meter guinea pig cage and mesh the bars over,or make a DIY square meter cage.Try and block off a portion though and do a gradual transition as well as keeping open spaces to a minimum,as this does help the settling process move along better!
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