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Old 02-22-2021, 04:20 PM   #1
Littlehandsthehammy
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 1
Unhappy Can’t tame my hammy :(

Hi everyone!

I have recently got a Syrian hamster called Little hands. I brought him home from the pet shop 8 days ago but still haven’t been able to hold him. He has smelt me and got used to my voice and will take treats out of my hand but won’t sit in my hand to eat them. The one time I did try to pick him up he jumped a height on to the floor. I keep trying placing treats in my hand but he just doesn’t seem interested in sitting on it he only runs across. Has anyone else had the same issue or knows why he wouldn’t want to? I’m worried I’ll never be able to hold him and that I’m leaving it too long to build a relationship as most places I’m reading they say they could hold their hamster after less than a week! I don’t want to rush it and stress him but I’m also worried if I leave it too long will he never want to then? please help
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Old 02-23-2021, 06:12 AM   #2
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Can’t tame my hammy :(

Hi and welcome to HC!
Congratulations to your new hamster.

First of all you need to stock up on patience and then some more.

Please give your hamster time to settle in and get used to his new surroundings. He's just had a major change in his life and needs time to adjust. It's advisable to leave a hamster alone for the first week or two. Talking is fine of course and offering treats.

I have seven hamsters and not one of them sits on my hand for very long because its in their nature to explore, run and sniff around.

You could take him out of his cage by letting him walk into a jug but cover the top while you move him then sit down somewhere safe and let him walk around on your lap so he gets to know you. Offer him some treats on your hand if you like but keep the sessions short so he won't get scared or stressed. You could sit in a playpen or a bathtub with a blanket down.

Best not to take too much notice of what you read. Every hamster is different and they are not here to perform for us humans. Just because some people say that they were able to hold their hamster within a week doesn't mean that you can expect to hold your hamster within a week as well.

You've only had him for 8 days and he seems to be getting comfortable with you already so i wouldn't worry about leaving it too late to build a relationship with him because you are on your way to that already.

Relax and enjoy your hamster's company. Everything else will fall into place.
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Old 02-23-2021, 06:15 AM   #3
Fluffagrams
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bath, UK
Posts: 3,640
Default Re: Can’t tame my hammy :(

The process of bonding with a hamster is very much an individual thing and for some hamsters, this will take longer than others. I've had some pet shop hamsters who have been handleable from day one and then there was another that took over three months to really bond with me but in the end both trusted me entirely because I took things at a pace that they were comfortable with.

You've only had him for just over a week so he's probably still getting used to his new home so for now, I would carry on just talking to him and offering him the odd treat. Once you start to get him used to your hands, I'd start with just allowing him to run across your hands so that he has the chance to realise that you're not a threat and you're not out to get him and you will probbly find that he will become more tolerant of you touching him enough to be able to pick him up.

When I tame my baby Chinese, I always do so in a fairly small neutral territory such as a plastic storage box and if they try to wriggle out of my hands when I try to pick them up, I let them get down, give them a few minutes and try to pick them up again. Keep the sessions short and you'll probably find that your hamster will begin to trust you.
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Old 02-23-2021, 09:16 AM   #4
Shadow Cat
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 156
Default Re: Can’t tame my hammy :(

Be patient, you'll get there. It took about 9 months for my syrian to be comfortable with being handled. Even now, she doesn't exactly like it and if she's not in the mood for play time any perticular day I leave her alone. The more you watch your little friend, the more you will get to know his personality. Sometimes Peggy comes right up to her cage door to say hello the minute she knows I'm in the room, sometimes she will glance up when she hears me and go right back to doing what she's doing. I always let her come to me, I don't stick my hands in the cage to grab her as I want her to feel safe in her home. The one exception is when she was on antibiotics I had to give her twice a day and had to catch her to administer them.

If you have a wire cage with a front door, you can leave the door open with a treat just outside the entrance for him to find when he's exploring. Keep watch that he doesn't escape, of course.

Good luck!
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