First time hamster owner says hi :)

[smallfuzzything]

Hi everyone, I'm Jen, or if you want, small fuzzy thing after around 8 years of keeping gerbils I decided to go for a syrian hamster for my new apartment! He's called Boris and is really cute, but I'm a bit lost on how I should handle him. I got him yesterday but Im going to be away from today til monday so will he still remember my voice when I get back? Is it ok to leave a few days before you start handling them, or will he be all wild when I get back (dont worry someone is coming to feed/water haha!)? The last gerbil I bought and still own, he is almost 3.5 years old, has never liked being touched, even from being really young, so I'd really like a pet I can cuddle now!
I'd really be glad of any advice/reassurance ha! thanks a lot and hello again

[Tammy22]

Hi Jen

welcome to the forum, i hope you enjoy your time here

With baby hamsters the more you handle them the better really. Did you get from a pet shop or from a breeder? If you got him from a breeder then he should be already used to being handled, but if you got him from a pet shop then he probably wont be used to being handled at all - but dont worry, this isnt a problem, it might just take a little longer to tame him.

As you havent really started the taming or bonding process yet, then i am sure another few days wont matter - but as soon as you get back start again with the handling.

Just get him out as much as possible and get him used to you by letting him crawl over you and around you, try not to make any sudden movements which may frighten him, and reward him with treats every time you get him out of his cage.

I am sure you will soon have him very tame the main thing is to just handle him a smuch as possible

Tammy x

[suga]

welcome to hc - hope you enjoy the forum and that you have the new little furball tamed really soon.

[smallfuzzything]

Thank you both I actually got a lift to the apartment rather than the train so I could bring him sooner than I thought yay!

He's from pets at home, we only went in for a bowl and ended up with a hamster and all the equipment! He was pretty nervous the first day and squealed really loudly when I had to transfer him into a carrying box (we moved him to the apartment tonight) but since then he's been really chilled out, not at all fazed by a noisy car journey and has climbed onto my hand a few times, though I'm letting him settle into his new home which is a tank before I try and handle him again. He's a bit confused as to were the bars went I think. I will deffo treat him, what treats are suitable for hamsters? My gerbils have always gone mad for fruit like apple and grapes, and tiny pieces of plain mild cheese, are these ok for hamsters too? eeee its so exciting having a new pet to figure out xD

[souffle]

Welcome to the forum Lovely to hear you have a cute new hammy.
If you look on the wiki there is a taming tips article which will help.
As to treats with a new baby like this you need to be very sparing with them at the moment as they can cause tummy upsets when they move hope. For a couple of weeks just give a sunflower seed or peanut from his mix. Then you can start giving a little bit of fruit and veg every 2nd day or so. Good treats for baby hams are fingernail sized pieces of chicken, egg, cheese, tofu, cooked pasta, a teaspoon of babyfood but only every second day at first. This time in their lives is the time when they are most vulnerable to tummy problems so it is best to minimise any risk with food till he is fully settled.
Looking forward to hearing more about him

[smallfuzzything]

awww thank you! After all this time keeping gerbils I have to keep reminding myself I have a hamster now hehe. Thanks for the advice on treats, if you fancy being even more helpful I've got a thread waiting to be approved on the Behaviour section that I could really do with some help on