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Ria P · 02-03-2021, 03:05 PM

Welcome to HC and congratulations to your new hamster Milo!

Hamster balls are fine as a safe means of transport to take a hamster out of the cage and to a playarea for example but NOT to trap a hamster and let him roll around in it. Hamsters run in them because they're trying to get out and it is very stressful for them.

A big enough cage (80cmx50cm is recommended but some dwarfs are happy in a slightly smaller one) with deep substrate doesn't often need a deep clean and can go for weeks, even months with spot cleaning only.

Now to your question on how to progress and i can only explain what i do because people have different approaches to hamster taming.
I'd take him out of his cage and let him walk around on your lap while you sit inside a playpen or safe area so he gets used to you. You can stroke him and let him walk over your hands if he's happy to do so. I'd keep the sessions short and let him walk off you if he wants to go and explore or put him back in his habitat if he gets stressed.
After a while you should be able to scoop him up and hold him in your hands.
Whether Milo wants to sit in your hands for a while or not depends on his personality but you'll be able to hold him and stroke him for a bit anyway.
Three out of my seven hamsters like to be handled, climb onto my hands when i open their cage door and climb around on me while i'm sitting on the floor in their playarea which is the hall with the doors closed and a blanket and toys on the floor. The rest tolerates me stroking and carrying them, they're easy to pick up (aside from a new Robo) but soon as they've arrived where they wanted to go they're off to run around and don't give me a second glance until they get hungry and want back in their cage.

You'll get to know Milo and he'll get to know you. It's usually possible to tell by their behaviour how comfortable they are around humans. Some need lots of time and patience to learn to trust a human and others will let you handle them almost immediately.

02-03-2021, 03:05 PM
Ria P House of Hamsters Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,103	Re: Hello from Zoe and Milo 🥰🐹 Welcome to HC and congratulations to your new hamster Milo! Hamster balls are fine as a safe means of transport to take a hamster out of the cage and to a playarea for example but NOT to trap a hamster and let him roll around in it. Hamsters run in them because they're trying to get out and it is very stressful for them. A big enough cage (80cmx50cm is recommended but some dwarfs are happy in a slightly smaller one) with deep substrate doesn't often need a deep clean and can go for weeks, even months with spot cleaning only. Now to your question on how to progress and i can only explain what i do because people have different approaches to hamster taming. I'd take him out of his cage and let him walk around on your lap while you sit inside a playpen or safe area so he gets used to you. You can stroke him and let him walk over your hands if he's happy to do so. I'd keep the sessions short and let him walk off you if he wants to go and explore or put him back in his habitat if he gets stressed. After a while you should be able to scoop him up and hold him in your hands. Whether Milo wants to sit in your hands for a while or not depends on his personality but you'll be able to hold him and stroke him for a bit anyway. Three out of my seven hamsters like to be handled, climb onto my hands when i open their cage door and climb around on me while i'm sitting on the floor in their playarea which is the hall with the doors closed and a blanket and toys on the floor. The rest tolerates me stroking and carrying them, they're easy to pick up (aside from a new Robo) but soon as they've arrived where they wanted to go they're off to run around and don't give me a second glance until they get hungry and want back in their cage. You'll get to know Milo and he'll get to know you. It's usually possible to tell by their behaviour how comfortable they are around humans. Some need lots of time and patience to learn to trust a human and others will let you handle them almost immediately.