Hello!

[BellaUnicornSparklePants]

Hi all, my daughter brought home her first pet today - a beautiful Syrian whom she has named ... wait for it 🤣 "Bella Unicorn Sparkle Pants" (so glad it's nit a dog and I'm yelling that at the park!
It's very timid and hanging out in the cage tubes for now. I presume it will find its bed (at the top of the cage) at some point!?

[cypher]

Hi & welcome to HC
That is some name lol!
It sounds as though her cage may be unsuitable unfortunately, tubes are best avoided as new hams will often hide out in them, sleep, pee & store food in there so it very quickly creates an unhealthy environment.
The house should always be on the bottom of the cage, no base to the house & laid on a deep layer of substrate so your ham can build a good sized nest, hams aren't natural climbers so levels aren't really the best option & they won't be comfortable sleeping high up.
If you can't remove the tubes & change the house set up then you'd do better with a different cage tbh, if you let us know where you are we may be able to suggest something.

[Hammy992]

Hello and welcome That's a big name for such a little one
I agree with Cypher about the cage. When I first brought my hammy home he had a cage with tubes and it quickly caused issues. He would block them up and then started chewing on them so I ended up replacing the cage with something much bigger without tubes.
Having the house on the bottom level means you can add thicker layers of substrate for them to burrow into as they sometimes like to scoop out a nest area and then cover themselves up with shredded toilet paper and bedding like a blanket. It insulates well this way and having no base on the house keeps things ventilated so it doesn't get damp. They also tend to store their food underneath the nest so having those extra layers of bedding gives them somewhere to bury it.

[BellaUnicornSparklePants]

Thanks both for your replies! She seems to have found her bed and is settled in there at the moment! Will see how the tubes get on and will keep your suggestions in mind for sure!
How and when do we go about beginning to handle her?
Thanks x

[cypher]

Give her a day or two to settle in, just talk to her quietly during that time then you can try offering some treats, just put your hand in close to the door & keep your hand still, let her come to you, if she doesn't at first leave the treat & walk away for a moment that will help her to begin to get used to your presence & not be scared.
Once she's got a little used to you then you can transport her by offering something she will climb into like a tube, box, large mug or something similar you can carry her safely in then put her into a playpen or play bin with some toys & things to explore & slowly begin interacting with her there, short sessions to start with.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Hello and Welcome to Hamster Central - that is a very impressive name you daughter came up with for her hamster.

cypher has given some really good advice with regards to starting taming. A thing I would add though is before you start handling (normally I start trying to handle after a week of settling in) is in the mean time doing the tissue trick. So this is something that you daughter or even you could do - is by placing some white unscented tissue up you sleeves for a while - so they get your scent over them - then tear the tissue into strips and place in Bella Unicorn Sparkle Pant's cage. As hamsters will often take the tissue to their nest this should help her to get familiar with your scent and find comfort in it too.

[CMB]

Welcome. All the best with the new hamster.

[BorisPasha]

Hello and welcome to HC

[Thin Lizzy]

Hi and welcome to HC. I love your ham's very long name.