New winter white hammy

[LouiseL]

I got a new little winter white hammy yesterday. I bought it from someone that breeds hammies and has spent a lot of time taming them and getting them used to human contact. When I went to collect it, he climbed onto my hand and sat on my arm and let me stroke him, it was the cutest 🥲 the car journey was quite bumpy unfortunately I was really worried it stressed him out. He came out a little bit in the evening but every time I go over to him and talk to him he runs back and hides. The lady said to keep interacting with him so he gets used to me. I I know he needs time to adjust but im worried that he's used to being held everyday, if I leave him yo adjust and don't touch him for a few days will he stop being used to human contact and have the start taming him again? I cant pick him up at all atm because he's so scared, I feel so sorry for him ☹

[Merle]

The best call is to be patient! I know it is hard when your hamster does not react the way you wanted to or the way he did when you picked him up.

When getting a new hamster he might react differently in the environment of the breeders home that he is used to than in his new cage and a new room. For him his whole world changed, his cage and even the smell of the room.

I would suggest to just be in the room as much as possible without really disturbing him. Just go about your day and he will get used to you being there, your smell and your voice. As soon as he feels at home in his new enclosure he will start to trust you again.

Just keep at it! Wishing you all the best! :3

[Ria P]

Hello and welcome to HC!

Same advice here, be patient and give him time to settle in.

Would you trust a complete stranger? I don't think so, so why should he. We have to earn our hamsters trust and first of all he needs time to get used to his new home. Everything is different for him, different smells and different sounds.

I'd just talk to him quietly for a few days so he gets used to your voice and put some tissue with your scent on it (put some tissue up your sleeve for a few hours) in his cage.

Once he's more familiar with his new home he'll become more confident and relaxed as well.