Taming advice

AlanaChocolate · 04-06-2011, 08:21 PM

I've had Gil for about two weeks and I'm having trouble taming her. She is the first hamster I've tamed on my own. She's comfortable taking a treat from my fingers, but when I put a treat in the palm of my hands, she bites. I've tried to pet her a few times but she panics and bites me. I don't know what to do. I've been putting in in her ball every night, so she gets plenty of exercise, but I'm afraid she's really unhappy and bored.

juliedn · 04-06-2011, 08:41 PM

I tamed mine in a day, which is terrible don't try it, but what I did was go in the bathtub and just sit there and let him crawl around. That day when I got him, he squeak and jumped and bit a lot. But when we went into the tub he settled down. After that he crawled on me all day. Even when I was just talking to a friend. It was sort of weird because the employee said that he was the meanest of the bunch. All hamsters are different. But what I suggest is just to let him bite you because that's the only way he's ever going to get used to you. Go somewhere silent and where he can't escape and I'm sure he'll be comfortable with you soon.

samincittagazze · 04-06-2011, 11:33 PM

2 weeks isn't a very long time, so don't worry.

I recommend the bath tub method too. Get her out of the cage in her ball, take her to the bath tub (no water obv!), put the plug in and get in with her. Let her climb out her ball onto you and explore all over you. Out of my 4, I had two tame pretty much when I got them and two a lot more nervy, and this method has worked with all of them.

Also, I always rub their bedding on me (I stash it in my bra, lol) before I put it in their cages. That way they can smell me constantly and get used to my scent.

**Hamtastic** · 04-06-2011, 11:45 PM

Do your fingers smell like the treat you put on your palm? Also, when your hamster takes a treat from your fingers, it encounters the treat first and takes it. When you stretch your palm, the fingers themselves are a new beast to be tested for safety and nutritional value

I just wiggle my fingers when Lucy tries to nibble to remind her my hand is alive.