very scared hamster

Linandgeorge · 10-03-2011, 04:57 PM

I have had Georgie my 8 week old syrian for a week now, he will take treats from my hand from outside the cage with no problem at all and will come up to the cage bars and climb them when I talk to him. However Im stuck at the next stage because he is terrified of my hand within his cage.

I tried offering him a treat on the palm of my hand tonight and he took one look at my hand and ran squeaking into his house after biting me quickly and deeply and he didnt come out for 2 hours! I felt so bad for him.

I have no fear of being bitten and will take all the bites it takes to make him comfortable but what do I do if he flees to his house just at the sight of my hand? Do I keep feeding from outside of the cage and talking to him for another week and take it really slowly? I do know about the bath method but Im afraid hes too nervous for that yet?

I have tamed two syrians before but neither were this afraid, Im so scared hes going to end up with wet tail because Im distressing him so much.

Teddybearhamster420 · 10-03-2011, 06:37 PM

Hi and welcome to Hamster Central!

My first advice to you, would be to stay calm and patient with him. I know its hard, but its WAY better than returning him. (Though it doesnt look like you are even thinking about retuning him, and sounds like to love him very much!)

Also i think you should keep it slow, I also had a very shy syrian at the beginning, and is now the most tame hamster Ive ever met in my life.

Start by leaving him and just talk to him for 3 days or so, and then keep your hand over the side of the cage and even if he goes and hides, levae it there for at least 30 mins ( for 3 days or more) and then the next week or so lay your hand flat in his cage and place a few treats in the middle, hopefully he will take to that.. But if he doesnt, dont give up, many hams dont at the beginnning, but if they get to know you more, its more likely to happen.

if you have any more questions, always ask! Btw--what cage do you currently have him in?

Linandgeorge · 10-03-2011, 06:44 PM

Aw,thank you so much for the advice (Georgie says thank you too!) I loe him to bits and Id never give him up, he has a home for life.

He is in a hamster heaven and he had a bin cage for playtime and burrowing although even in there he runs for a house and doesnt come out. He is a shy boy! I shall do as you say and take it very slowly, he did climb up the bars to say hello to me earlier so he doesnt hate me. Its just horrid to see him so scared.

**Emma&Bee** · 10-03-2011, 11:49 PM

being patient is so worth while. My Syrian girl, the second you touched her to begin with She turned round and sunk her teeth into you! But now she is a total cuddle monster. It just took a while to gain her trust. I went with the bath method and after 3 weeks i can pick her up, She lets me do pretty much anything with her now and my 3 year old can handle her now. At the start i thought i would really struggle to handle her. But i am so pleased i kept going

StarlightSerenity · 10-04-2011, 05:44 AM

Sorry Teddy but I completely disagree with your advice (no offense!). I really dont think the treat in the hand taming is any good at all.

Is there any need for you to put your hand in his cage...? (Apart from the obvious of changing food etc, which can be done when he's not in it) By the sounds of it he is scared when you put your hand in the cage, in his territory which is understandable as he is very young and Syrians are highly territorial.

If he's climbing the bars when you talk to him, its likely that he will climb out of the cage if you opened it up for him. Do you have a ball? Or a small box? You can open the cage up, hold the ball/box to the cage and he will probably climb in, then once he's fine with that, you can try your hand instead of the box or ball.

For general taming advice, plus some videos check out this link Taming handling hamsters and the HC Wiki Taming tips - Hamster Central WIKI

SnickersTheFirst · 10-04-2011, 08:31 AM

The treat in hand has always worked for me, even with Bailey. He's still not 100% tame but he never will be, I think.

Bath tub technique is a good one, coax them into a box or carrier then sit in an empty bath tub with them so they get used to you and your scent.

CocoTheHamster123 · 10-04-2011, 12:55 PM

The treat in the hand worked for me too! After a couple of days move the treat a bit more back and then it will start to climb on your hand like Coco did

I reccommend putting it somewhere to tame though, like a bathtub or a plastic tub or something. I had an old small fish tank that I cleaned out pretty well and I tamed her in that.
You could also put a tissue down your top or somewhere and give it to the hamster to smell your scent in the tissue, however this have never worked for me so I can't really say anything... hmmm....

Linandgeorge · 10-04-2011, 06:11 PM

thanks so,so much! Im so excited!

I put my hand in tonight but tucked my fingers in and placed the treat on the back of my hand. After circling a few times he climbed on and took the treat and sat on my hand to eat it! I couldnt believe it!

He then licked me a few times and had a gentle nibble but didnt break the skin or hurt at all. Im so proud of him!

Now I need to figure out how to get him to come onto my palm rather than the back of my hand and avoid getting my fingers bitten.

But huge progress tonight!

Teddybearhamster420 · 10-04-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnickersTheFirst

The treat in hand has always worked for me, even with Bailey. He's still not 100% tame but he never will be, I think.

Bath tub technique is a good one, coax them into a box or carrier then sit in an empty bath tub with them so they get used to you and your scent.

AHHA! I knew i was forgetting someting along with that.

Teddybearhamster420 · 10-04-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linandgeorge

thanks so,so much! Im so excited!

I put my hand in tonight but tucked my fingers in and placed the treat on the back of my hand. After circling a few times he climbed on and took the treat and sat on my hand to eat it! I couldnt believe it!

He then licked me a few times and had a gentle nibble but didnt break the skin or hurt at all. Im so proud of him!

Now I need to figure out how to get him to come onto my palm rather than the back of my hand and avoid getting my fingers bitten.

But huge progress tonight!

Congrats!! Its alwasy very exciting!

I would deff keep this same technique for a few more days though

Just so you can be sure hes comftorable, then try the Bath tub technique, with out you in it, then a few days later you could probraly sit down with him