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Old 03-20-2018, 07:03 AM   #1
RodentLove
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 83
Default First time hamster owner, need help

Hello!
I recently got a hamster for my family (I am a mom of two kids) and as an animal advocate, I would like to inquire some advice from the more experienced hamster parents.

I got our male banded cream syrian (named Herman) a week ago today. He seemed okay until about last Friday when my father came over to see Herman and Herman reared up on his back legs, put up his front paws and hissed loudly showing his inscisors. (Of course my father wants me to re home Herman in fear he will bite my son and daughter who know WELL to leave Herman alone unless I say.)

Herman hasn't shown any threatening behavior towards my kids and I, but we give him treats through the cage bar once a day. I let my kids do one small half a cm size of an apple bit from my son, and then a half a cm size of a banana from my daughter and that's all he gets in the afternoon. (I wake up in the early AM for work so our feeding, treat, and attention time for Herman is around 6-7pm. Central USA time. And then we adore him through the cage verbally praising him when he comes up to look at us with his ears perked forward.)

We have yet to try and handle Herman. I had to redo his bedding three days in a row already because he soaked it with urine and I didn't want him to get sick from the ammonia smell.
By Friday, I started to research Herman's behavior. The urinating, hoarding lots and lots of food, hissing at my dad, and gnawing at the cage water bottle like he wants to rip it's head off, and then the constant scratching.

After doing some research, just about every site I looked at said he was frustrated and stressed due to poor living condition and experiencing cage rage.

The cage I bought was a 21.00 USD cage from pet smart. About 2 gallons if it didn't have wires. All the sites I looked at said it should strictly be used as basically a hamster car seat for vet trips and that's it.

So, after calling up pet smart and chewing them out for promoting neglectful, abusive, living conditions I did more research. Quickly last night I got Herman a 30 gallon /120 quart clear tote bin. Placed in his bedding and I was going to put in a water bottle but with how he gnawed at it I fear he may have damaged his teeth. There are some pretty bad scratches on the water bottle metal tube so he has a water dish. Hamster savvy websites said that water dishes for hamsters are not okay by themselves but I feel if I keep a bottle in he will hurt himself.

To transfer him from the horribly small travel cage aka "Herman car seat" to the bin, I placed the "Herman car seat" in the bin after setting it up with bedding, and then used a peanut (no salt and not baked. Tasted horrible but he liked it) to lure Herman out of his carseat and into the bin and QUICKLY got the car seat out of there also using some of his old bedding to help him feel like he is at home in his bigger space.

Here's where I need the help...

will Herman ever come out of his cage rage mental illness or did I just create a "look no touch" hamster? We haven't tried to hold him yet. I have accidentally touched his back when I was moving stuff but quickly moved my hand to give him his space. He didn't seem to even notice (unless he pretended not to. I know lagomorphs will do that). He also comes up to the bin to see the kids with his ears perked forward. But again, when my grandmother came to put her hand in the bin, Herman lunged at her. He has yet to lunge at the kids and I.

How much longer should we wait before really trying to interact with Herman outside of afternoon treats and feed time with water change? I will be posting a picture of his new home to gain info on what else I should put in there. I tried to use toys from his "car seat" but... they suck. And the wheel has to be attached to cage bars. (He never used the wheel anyway).

Also, I've seen some controversy. Are hamster balls okay?
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Old 03-20-2018, 09:18 AM   #2
Razor
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Default Re: First time hamster owner, need help

Hi and welcome to HC and a wonderful experience with hamsters!

I'm perhaps not the most experienced person around, but I have been learning quite a bit over the time I got my hamster, so hopefully, provide a decent answer.

Considering that you just moved him into a new cage, I'd say maybe give him a few days to settle in and then try the taming process again. I remember reading somewhere that most hamsters usually bond with one or two humans and more or less just tolerate the others. So I suggest that maybe just one person go about the initial taming stage, or at least until he is a bit more confident about being in the presence of humans. Since, from your description, there's quite the audience for a new hamster, which can be really stressful. I'd also suggest using sunflower seeds instead of apples/bananas. It's almost like their Achilles heel I'd say.

Herman should calm down soon from the stressful period. Best to leave him completely undisturbed for a few days for him to settle into the new cage. This includes feeding treats or talking to him. And from there, I'd say, start over. Allow him to take his time to gain trust in you. And you will get there! Like someone in the forum said, It's often the hamsters that take longer to tame or trust you that often become the biggest cuddle monsters. Not sure if I quoted it perfectly.

The wheel is super important! Not having a wheel can lead to lack of exercise and behavioral changes. Check that the wheel is spinning freely and is of the right size for him? My girls resorts to heavy bar chewing the moment her wheel becomes harder for her to rotate. Oil it, and she's back to normal. It's also possible he runs when no one is looking. My girl never runs when she realizes I'm in the room.

Hope you get it figured out soon! Herman sure does sound like a lovely young lad!
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Old 03-20-2018, 10:23 AM   #3
minijeva
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Default Re: First time hamster owner, need help

just dont handle him until he gets used to your husband he probaly thought he was a threat he might need a little bit more time to settle down. and make sure his cage is big 450square inches
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Old 03-20-2018, 11:11 AM   #4
RodentLove
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Default Re: First time hamster owner, need help

I wondered if sunflower seeds were okay. I'll use those from now on.

I am making a DIY (Syrian friendly) hamster wheel from a hamster YouTuber who also got a lot of her info from here over the years apparently. It will be ready on Saturday.

Based on what you said, I think Herman might be on the track to recovery. (Even if he is a " look don't touch" hamster, the kids and I are okay with that as long as he won't try to rip off my finger during feed and cage cleaning time)

When I put Herman in his new bin, he ran around a lot in it after I shut off the lights for bed time. I could hear him toss his toys and when I checked on him at 5am before leaving for work, he was relaxing in his chewable bendy hut but the toys were in different places with food stored in them.

He is a lovely young lad and shows a strong interest in my kids and I for a new hamster.

But, we are the treat and food people. My grandma and my dad never offered anything to him.
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Old 03-20-2018, 12:24 PM   #5
Applewood Hamstery
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Default Re: First time hamster owner, need help

I wouldn't worry too much now that he's in an appropriate enclosure. As long as he has a big wheel, a place to nest/hide, lots of toys and peace and quiet, he will calm down. Like Razor said, give him a little while to settle in and then start the taming process. Give him a little rub here and there when cleaning the cage or feeding him. Touching him and then giving him treats associates contact with reward, so he'll probably warm up to you all quickly. As for the situation with your father, Herman probably didn't hear or see him near the cage until last second and may have just gotten spooked. It happens. If that's the only instance of "aggression", then being scared for a moment was likely the case.

I've had a couple difficult rescues in my many years. I had one case of a hamster that would lunge, scream and bite. But after months of peace and quiet, frequent treats during her calm moments, gentle speaking and occasional contact, she was transformed into the sweetest baby I have ever had. Herman is going to be a piece of cake if he has everything he needs. Most pet store and rescue hamsters start off jumpy, you're not alone in this situation.

Hamsters, in my experience, once tamed by one person will be tame with everyone. I have yet to meet a selective hamster in terms of handling. So once he is comfortable being held by you and your kids, he should be just as comfortable with anyone else. Do let me know if that doesn't end up being the case!
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Old 03-20-2018, 07:27 PM   #6
RodentLove
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Default Re: First time hamster owner, need help

Thanks guys I really appreciate it!

Yes the only thing needed is a more suitable hamster wheel than the crappy one that came in the cage, and a lid with a screen.

And I'll let you know. He seems to be driven to love those that feed him. If I can get my father to give Herman a treat, maybe he won't be so stand offish towards him.
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Old 03-22-2018, 01:40 PM   #7
CMB
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Default Re: First time hamster owner, need help

You can put some toilet paper up your sleeve for a while to get your scent on it. Then tear it into strips and put them into the cage. Doing this gets the hamster used to your scent and can help with taming.

Some hamsters can be aggressive in their cage, but are ok once they aren’t in their cage. You could get him to climb into a box (bribing with food if needed) then take him somewhere safe for taming.

There are diy play pens which are nice as a out of cage play area. If big enough you can sit in it and let your hamster climb on you and also get used to handling and stroking.
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Old 03-23-2018, 06:45 PM   #8
RodentLove
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Default Re: First time hamster owner, need help

Quote:
Originally Posted by CMB View Post
You can put some toilet paper up your sleeve for a while to get your scent on it. Then tear it into strips and put them into the cage. Doing this gets the hamster used to your scent and can help with taming.

Some hamsters can be aggressive in their cage, but are ok once they aren’t in their cage. You could get him to climb into a box (bribing with food if needed) then take him somewhere safe for taming.

There are diy play pens which are nice as a out of cage play area. If big enough you can sit in it and let your hamster climb on you and also get used to handling and stroking.
Ooooo! Love the toilet paper idea!!!

Maybe it will teach him not to explore my fingers for treats by nibbling them!
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Old 03-24-2018, 09:22 AM   #9
CMB
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Default Re: First time hamster owner, need help

He may still nibble. Young hamster can often be a bit nibble, but it usually stops as they get older. Probably due to getting used to hands, stroking, handling etc.
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herman, cage, hamster, water, bin, car, seat, kids, bottle, time, bedding, put, home, research, quickly, space, afternoon, half, treats, wheel, hand, small, size, smart, looked

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