Hi I'm new!

[conversekatie]

Hi Hamstercentral, and fellow Hamster owners!

My name is Katie and I am a new hamster owner, and came across this website while searching taming videos on YouTube. Me and my partner recently bought a female Syrian hamster, who we have named Kiko, and we have had her for only 5 days. I have owned 2 Syrian hamsters in the past, a male and a female, but this is my first hamster since being, well, an adult . I didn't even realise forums like this existed, especially when I was a younger hamster owner, so I am quite excited to share the joy of hamsters with others who appreciate them too .

Kiko is a lot more nervous than my two previous hamsters, and the first few days she was very vocal - making kind of scared screechy noises any time I spoke softly to her in her cage. It freaked me out a little but I think she was just frightened being moved away from her two sisters in the pet store and into her big new cage at home!

She has settled a bit better now, but is still quite scared of any louder noises. She is however, very inquisitive - any time I come home she hears me and is out of her bed waiting at the door of the cage, even during the day. Because of her interest, I have tried to let her sniff my hand etc but she just tried to bite it, and anything else I've put near her - aggressively grabbing small treats, and attacking a small soft toothbrush that I bought to try and stroke her with (for a bit of distance LOL).

Today however a little progress was made, she took a treat from my hand (I was wearing gloves...the first bite was a bit nippy ok.) and she voluntarily climbed from her cage into the hamster ball I got her. I kept the ball on the stand that came with it however, just a little test today to get her used to it. I did also manage to gently stroke her back with my hand without the glove, but i still feel like anytime I go near her head she is ready to bite...what would you guys suggest I do next? Is it better to keep her in her cage to get her used to my smell, or to maybe make a playpen for her and take her out her cage for the taming, since she is quite happy to come out?

Any hamster taming tips would be greatly appreciated, as I can't really remember how I went about taming my last hamsters...it just kind of happened. However they were never very bitey.


Katie

[Sasha04]

Hey Katie and welcome to HC! Glad you got antother hamster! They are great companions and awesome little creatures. Congratulations on Kiko! I’m exited to see some pictures!

You said you had her 5 days? Five days is not a lot of time for your hamster to fully settle in. Going from one home to another is problem the scariest part of their life. Imagine it from their point of view, they were in a area with maybe another hamster or sibling in their cage or a just familiar scent and setup. All the sudden, they are transported out of that familiar area and into a small box (travel cage) with loud noise (car/bus/train etc). Then, they are put into a new area that smells different with new sounds and smells.

Being vocal, skreaching, or screaming is very normal for hamsters. They do this when they are feeling threatened. When they do this, just back your hand away. It will go away soon. My ham was screaming an d screaming at every new noise when I brought him home. Now, he never screams.

For tips for taming, get plain, unscented tissue rub your hamster all over it or stick it up your sleeve for a few hours. Then, put it in Kilo’s cage. This will spread your scent around the cage so she can get used to it.

I like to start off putting my hand in the cage with a treat in my fingers and let them take it. If they don’t, I leave the treat down and back my hand away slowly. I will keep repeating this until she is used to my hand. Next, I will lay my hand in the cage and put treats on it and wait until he will climb up on to it. Can you also post a picture of her cage?

Hope this helps!

[cypher]

Hi & welcome to HC
Congrats on getting Kiko.
It sounds as though she's settling in well for 5 days, the biting could be a bit of territorial behaviour if she's in the cage so I would try setting up a playpen, if possible big enough for you to sit in with her, & begin interacting out of the cage.
Put toys & things in for her to explore & let her have a run around then just begin to introduce your hands, she may start by just running over them & you can try stroking or holding her as she starts to get more confident. If you can sit in with her she may well climb on you & get more used to you that way.

[Thin Lizzy]

Hiya Katie, welcome to HC. Congratulations on your new hammy Kiko.
Great advice given above.

[conversekatie]

Originally Posted by Sasha04

Hey Katie and welcome to HC! Glad you got antother hamster! They are great companions and awesome little creatures. Congratulations on Kiko! I’m exited to see some pictures!

You said you had her 5 days? Five days is not a lot of time for your hamster to fully settle in. Going from one home to another is problem the scariest part of their life. Imagine it from their point of view, they were in a area with maybe another hamster or sibling in their cage or a just familiar scent and setup. All the sudden, they are transported out of that familiar area and into a small box (travel cage) with loud noise (car/bus/train etc). Then, they are put into a new area that smells different with new sounds and smells.

Being vocal, skreaching, or screaming is very normal for hamsters. They do this when they are feeling threatened. When they do this, just back your hand away. It will go away soon. My ham was screaming an d screaming at every new noise when I brought him home. Now, he never screams.

For tips for taming, get plain, unscented tissue rub your hamster all over it or stick it up your sleeve for a few hours. Then, put it in Kilo’s cage. This will spread your scent around the cage so she can get used to it.

I like to start off putting my hand in the cage with a treat in my fingers and let them take it. If they don’t, I leave the treat down and back my hand away slowly. I will keep repeating this until she is used to my hand. Next, I will lay my hand in the cage and put treats on it and wait until he will climb up on to it. Can you also post a picture of her cage?

Hope this helps!

Thanks Sasha04,

You have definitely reassured me there, that the noises are quite normal for a new hamster.

I've been trying the tissue trick and she has been collecting all the little pieces to make her bed, so hopefully she is becoming acquainted with my smell. She takes the treats from my fingers well, but when I try to put them in the palm of my hand instead, she still bites whatever she finds first - for example my finger tip or the side if my hand. Not as aggressive as before but it still seems to be her first reaction.

I will keep going though, and hopefully she will realise I'm friendly LOL.

Katie

P's below is a picture of Kikos cage...spot Kiko :P Any recommendations on cage improvements are very welcome

[Sasha04]

That’s great to hear that she’s taken the tissue! What your doing with the treats is great and I would keep at it. She’ll get that your not a threat soon enough.

First of all, Kilo is absolutely gorgeous! What cage do you have? I would add more substrate so she can burrow. Hamsters love to make burrows to store food, sleep in, etc. The best you can go for is 6 or 7 in. and 4 at the minimum.

You can also add more to do. I love how you added the cardboard tubes, hamsters always seem to love thoses. I would also advice to make a ramp down the platform. Just to make sure she doesn’t jump and hurt herself. You can also add an empty tissue box to the cage too. It makes a great cheap hideout and there is cardboard to shred aswell! What size is your wheel? I’m sure others will be able to give better advice too!

[conversekatie]

Originally Posted by cypher

Hi & welcome to HC
Congrats on getting Kiko.
It sounds as though she's settling in well for 5 days, the biting could be a bit of territorial behaviour if she's in the cage so I would try setting up a playpen, if possible big enough for you to sit in with her, & begin interacting out of the cage.
Put toys & things in for her to explore & let her have a run around then just begin to introduce your hands, she may start by just running over them & you can try stroking or holding her as she starts to get more confident. If you can sit in with her she may well climb on you & get more used to you that way.

Dear Cypher,

Thanks for your reply too! We have now had Kiko just over 2 weeks and things seem to be going much better. She is still very nervous and a bit all over the place but she is really keen to interact with us. She now sniffs my hand without biting (nearly all the time) and we created a playpen for her, like you suggested, in which we put a blanket that we often use - so it smells like us. She seemed to quite like it and started out very confidently - she can happily take treats from my fingers. However when I put a treat in the palm of my hand she still bites whatever comes first, which is normally my finger lol. Its not super aggressive, but enough to make me bleed. I think however this is just when she gets a little nervous. She also however has started putting her two paws onto my hand when I open her cage door, and last night while sitting in front of the cage she happily came out onto my legs had a sniff then went back in! Progress woo hoo! She then came out onto my cupped hands...then bit my finger again LOL. But we're getting there .

Thanks again for your advice!

Katie

[conversekatie]

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

Hiya Katie, welcome to HC. Congratulations on your new hammy Kiko.
Great advice given above.

Hi Thin Lizzy,

Thanks for your welcome! Kiko is doing great, settling in much better now

I see you're from Lanarkshire - thanks where my family are all from It's a small world ! Say hello to your hammies from me

Katie

[cypher]

Sounds like you're making great progress now, well done
You could try tucking your fingers under something or just burying them in the substrate when you have food on your palm until she gets more used to it to avoid getting nipped.

[Sasha04]

Great progress! Sounds like she is doing great! Cypher gave great advice!