Hi im new!

[nickie45]

Hi, my names nickie and im new to this site. i have recently said a far well to beloved hamster Harry. he was a lovely sabel hamster. i bought him from a breeder and never had any problems with him. i wanted to buy another from the breeder but she didnt have any available so i stupidly bought from a pet shop which i didnt want to do. as i suspected he is a very nervous lttle thing who we cannot handle. we have had him around 7 weeks now and still cant hold him. ive put him in bath so i can touch him easily and he constantly goes to the toilet like hes nervous. how can i make him trust me? ive done all the usual things but im worried he will end up a hanster that we never touch
any help much appreciated x

[Stockannette]

Hi, and welcome!

We recently got a new ham, too... she seems more receptive outside her bin, so she'll get in a big tube and we lift it out and have "couch time." She (and the tube) will sit on the sofa between us, and we'll each have a seed in our hands, for as long as it takes. Eventually she'll come get them, and we "reload." It's not so much about picking her up or petting her at this point, as it is getting her used to us being around her.

When he's in the tub, are you? So you are more "terrain" than just a pair of hands? Maybe that will help?

[Trixafena2]

All my hams have been petshop hams along with my mice and guinea pig;

I find it so odd when people can't tame them from petshop, maybe some pet shops just treat the hamsters worse than my local one.

I had one hamster, Silica, who was REALLYY shy and scared of everything for the 8-ish months we had her before she got a tumor.

Honestly I got her to have a good life anyway because she'd crawl right into her ball and she'd run a round for a few hours or in her playpen. Eventually she was less handshy but she never tried biting, so I think you should just keep at it and don't try fixing the problem over night (I know you've had them 7 weeks.)

treats and bribery win the race >w<

[nickie45]

I asked my pet shop if they handled them and they said no. so hes never been handled and each time we try he runs so fast its like watching a cartoon character. my breeder always handled hers so we never had any trouble. i know its hard for him as hes not used to it so we dont expect miracles. just wanted some tips as im sure im not the only one who has had a nervous hamster

[nickie45]

i did get in the bath with him but he would tend to stay behind me or try and eat my jeans. hes quite nippy. i thought id sit out of the bath next time as there just isnt room to try and get round to him

[Sandti]

Welcome to the forum!! Try and put pieces of tissue down your bra to get your scent on them and then put them in the cage that our ham can get used to your scent x

[HammieandMerlin]

Hi and welcome!

Taming can sometimes take a long time so please don't get discouraged. Sandti's advice is a very good point, and for me it took nearly ten weeks to be able to hold one of my hams, and some even longer. Try developing a pattern, where you work together around the same time, doing much the same thing, consistently :3

[xxHoudinixx]

hello and weclome xx