Unusual Amount of Fear?

[BrainGirl]

As most of you know I adopted a pair of Syrians only a few days ago, a male and a female. They're both hand tame but the male is not nearly as bold as the female. In fact, he's quite skittish. I've been trying to take it slow with them both because they're new but when I open the girl's cage she's happy to launch out into my hands. The boy on the other hand recoils from my fingertips like a dog that's used to being struck! It breaks my heart to see his reaction

Once he's out he's fine but is there anything other than time that will take care of this?

[DrKMcK]

Time is what it will take. All he knows is that everything has changed. Hammies are individuals and some doen't take new things as well as others. Timmy will settle. Go at his pace and use a cup for a while so he doesn't stress over your hand. Lovely boy.

[Stockannette]

I second the cup idea. Or you can also use a tube or run-about ball. And have treats handy.

[BrainGirl]

Thanks guys, will do

[BrainGirl]

He's doing better today He didn't cringe when I put my hand near him and he sniffed my nose while I had him out. I think the brushing helped him feel better about me.

[Hams&Hermits]

thats good. i hope he understands that you are a good owner and he doesn't need to worry.

[Grubbbery]

My ham was quite the little jumper when we got him. He can still be a bit iffy sometimes, he always has to sniff us first, if he doesn't know who's hand is touching him he isn't happy! He did the exact same "cringe away" thing you are describing.

Kind of a timeline of how we tamed our ham:
Day 2 and 3 we fed him a few seeds but left him alone.

Day 4 and 5 we gave more seeds, this time putting them on our finger tips. We started making clicking noises with our tongues (not too loud) while presenting sunflower seeds to him. I'd say we spent about 30minutes a day (in short bursts everytime) holding our hands in his cage with seeds, or just holding them in his cage.

Day 6 and 7 we started to try to stroke/touch him. I started with a finger brush just gently on his butt mustache (no really he has one >_>). We started to learn where and where not to touch him with the brush and the brush meant if he bit it, no fingers bitten! Though he mainly tried to chew rather than bite it.

Day 8 - 10 we had been putting him in his ball after day 3 so he was nice and settled with his surroundings. We started sitting on the bed with him after giving him 10 minutes in his ball, letting him out onto the bed (using arms for walls!) and letting him climb on us. He started to get really used to us after this.

He has to sniff our hands everytime we open his cage, I think just to make sure he knows who is around as both me and my boyfriend handle him. But after he knows who it is he is content to sit in our hands for a minute or so and he lets us stroke him a lot. I don't think he is a massive fan of hands, he prefers to climb around on us and tries to run off and explore a lot but he is never nervous when we hold him, just excited and curious.

[BrainGirl]

Thanks Grubbbery I think he's going to be ok and perhaps his fear response was just due to his personality. His ex-cagemate is bold as brass and shows none of the same behaviours! I expected some unease given all the upheaval they've experienced in such a short time, it was the difference between their reactions that worried me.

[Amethyst_ice]

Just treat him like a new hammy and tame from scratch. They are two seperate personalities plus if she is pregnant that will be affecting her behaviour, chill xxx

[BrainGirl]

Hehe, thanks Amethyst, I fear that "chill" is not in my vocabulary