Anti-Social Hamster?

[Phoebe05]

Hi Hamster Friends!
I’ve had my Syrian for around 2 months now, and he has a huge cage perfect for him! He is pretty nervous, however I have been talking to him as often as I can and feeding him treats so he is getting used to things. When I go to get him out his cage, he either won’t come near me or he hides in his tube that is on the outside of the cage (I can’t open the tube) therefore I cannot get to him! And if he does come out the tube, he runs away from me. I am just wondering if it is normal for a Syrian to be anti-social? It may be that he loves his cage, and he has many many things to do in his cage that he doesn’t want to come out because he loves it? He doesn’t really like being handled.
Any advice would be amazing!
Thankyou x

[Ria P]

Hamsters have all different personalities and some prefer their own company then come across as anti social.
Mines like that.

You could put a treat in a mug and lift him out that way. Then put him in a playpen or bath tub with you sitting in it too to do some taming and bonding but keep sessions short at first.

I used to sit in my hamster's playpen and let him run down my legs then pick him up when he reached my feet to let him run from my lap again rather than try and hold him which he doesn't really like.

Make sure you wash your hands with unscented soap before you handle your hamster. They are very sensitive to smells and mine was put off by my handcream!

It could also be that he wants to come out at a time when you are asleep like 02.00 or 05.00 like my male Syrian who never ever asks to come out at a time that would suit me.

I don't think that many hamsters sit still and enjoy getting petted. Most like to sniff and run around. Mine climbs on and over me when i lie on my bed and that's about the closest interaction i have with my hamster which is fine with me.

Does he really need the tubes when he has a large cage?

Keep an eye out for condensation which can be caused by lack of ventilation should he spend longer periods of time in there.

[Phoebe05]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Hamsters have all different personalities and some prefer their own company then come across as anti social.
Mines like that.

You could put a treat in a mug and lift him out that way. Then put him in a playpen or bath tub with you sitting in it too to do some taming and bonding but keep sessions short at first.

I used to sit in my hamster's playpen and let him run down my legs then pick him up when he reached my feet to let him run from my lap again rather than try and hold him which he doesn't really like.

Make sure you wash your hands with unscented soap before you handle your hamster. They are very sensitive to smells and mine was put off by my handcream!

It could also be that he wants to come out at a time when you are asleep like 02.00 or 05.00 like my male Syrian who never ever asks to come out at a time that would suit me.

I don't think that many hamsters sit still and enjoy getting petted. Most like to sniff and run around. Mine climbs on and over me when i lie on my bed and that's about the closest interaction i have with my hamster which is fine with me.

Does he really need the tubes when he has a large cage?

Keep an eye out for condensation which can be caused by lack of ventilation should he spend longer periods of time in there.

Thankyou so much for your advice! I will try and start to use your ideas, thankyou! His tubes connect his house, so he has two really big tubes that allow him to move to the different sections of his cage☺️ If I get him out, he does like running over my legs and climbing onto my arms. He also likes to run up my dressing gown and crawl around on my shoulders too, so this is a great sign☺️X