My new hamster doesn't allow me to pet him. ):

n4tive · 06-23-2014, 01:54 AM

Hello, guys! I'm new here, and a new Syrian hamster owner as well.

I've bought my little baby (I think. He's quite small, about 4 inches? And his eyes are closed most of the time, especially when he eats in his bowl) Syrian hamster (male) yesterday.

I've held him in the pet shop. He climb my arm and was quite active. His eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tail and fur are good, so I guess he's healthy.

So anyway, today's his second day with me and so far I've not been able to pet him. >< When I try, he flinches and freezes a bit. Maybe I shouldn't touch him yet? Or maybe I shouldn't pet him from the back? He doesn't get scared when I talk in front of the cage.

I tried searching this topic up, but most that come out are about "taming". My baby doesn't bite, but I think he's just scared. Does this count as "taming"?

How can I make him feel comfortable around me and allow me to pet and pick him up?

Oh and he can already take food from my fingers. But I can't pet him or carry him (he runs away when I try to carry him).

Also, his first night in a new home, he got really, really active and started climbing the bars and chewing the bars. Is this normal?

I'm still thinking of a name, though. Any suggestions?

Thanks for all your help! ^^

**kyrilliondaemon** · 06-23-2014, 04:03 AM

Taming is getting a ham happy and confident around you, they don't have to bite to need more taming work.

I'd try handling him before you stroke him, with time you'll get there - just follow the general taming advice you've already seen

humfry · 06-23-2014, 04:23 AM

Take your time. He's just a scared little baby in strange surroundings where everything (especially you) is HUGE! I have had my humfry for 3 weeks now & it is only in the last 4 or 5 days that he has started to trust me & responds to my voice a little & allows my hand near him without jumping away & hiding. Lots of really useful tips on here, especially the one about sitting in an empty bath with your ham. I did this twice last week & it has made a massive difference to the trust humfry now shows. He quickly let me gently stroke his back when he was hunched up in his food bowl at first. Just a light touch with my finger. It does feel like you'll never have a tame ham but you will!

Sometimes a name comes to you quickly, sometimes you have to wait for inspiration. Think of favourite characters from books or TV etc

n4tive · 06-23-2014, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfry

Take your time. He's just a scared little baby in strange surroundings where everything (especially you) is HUGE! I have had my humfry for 3 weeks now & it is only in the last 4 or 5 days that he has started to trust me & responds to my voice a little & allows my hand near him without jumping away & hiding. Lots of really useful tips on here, especially the one about sitting in an empty bath with your ham. I did this twice last week & it has made a massive difference to the trust humfry now shows. He quickly let me gently stroke his back when he was hunched up in his food bowl at first. Just a light touch with my finger. It does feel like you'll never have a tame ham but you will!

Sometimes a name comes to you quickly, sometimes you have to wait for inspiration. Think of favourite characters from books or TV etc

o: 3 weeks? I read that it's harder to tame older Hamsters. But for now, how do I do the bathtub thing when I can't carry him? He'd run and I'd have to chase him.

squishyhammy · 06-23-2014, 09:55 AM

he still hasnt set in an is still getting used to new smells and sounds maybe leave him alone 24 hours to let him settle?

and some hamsters take longer to tame i had one who took 6 months to tame (~doubt your lil one wil take that long to tame)

what cage is he in as that too can affect taming

Munchies · 06-23-2014, 10:12 AM

I would start by offering food, let him take it from your hand. After a few days put him in his ball so you can transport him to the bath tub for more hands-on taming. You'll get there, just give it time, you're really only at the very beginning of your friendship.

NiceCrocs · 06-23-2014, 10:20 AM

I'd suggest leaving him completely alone for The next two or three days. Make sure his water bottle is clean and full, and give him a decent supply of food, and just leave him to settle in. Don't even approach the cage. This will allow him to settle down comfortably and get used to the new surroundings before introducing taming. Some people suggest doing this 'isolation' period for up to a week, but I found three days to be just right for my hamster.

Then you can start taming. Start with offering a treat in front of their nest, and wait for them to come and take it. Then you can start putting treats flat on your fingers and palm, and encourage them to put their paws on yours hand to get the treat (at first they'll probably just stretch their necks to get the treats without touching you. Just be patient and put the treats a little further back each time.)

Keep taming sessions short (10 or 15 minutes) to keep from making your hamster stressed or cranky.

Handling and picking up your hamster is one of the last steps in taming, and should be approached gradually. It can take weeks or even months to get to where your hamster is comfortable being picked up regularly.

Just take it slow and listen to the signals that your hamster gives you.

**DrKMcK** · 06-23-2014, 10:57 AM

NiceCrocs describes a very nice way to get your hammy settled in. During the first two or three days, when you pass by his cage, talk to him a bit, very softly, but give him the few days to explore and mark his territory. Then do as NiceCrocs says about giving him treats from your hand. The best thing to do is to let your hammy lead you in the process. If you see he is still scared or anxious, back off and slowly start again. He's a baby and the world is scarey right now, so allow him the space he needs and he will learn to trust you. Building trust is the most important thing you can do in order for you to have a good relationship with your hammy. You won't be able to do the bathtub method until you are able to have him sit on your hand. Look at Souffle's thread "Sparkle's last chance". In it she starts the taming process with a hammy who was unsocialized. She shows, step by step, how to slowly get a ham used to touching. Unfortunately, Sparkle passed away, but the thread is wonderful for it's pictures of the taming process. The link is below.

Sparkle's last chance

Once you can handle your ham a bit you can then transfer him into a cup or hamster ball and try the tub taming method. Make very sure the drain is well blocked, and put some toys in there for him to play with. Take a few nuts or seeds in with you to offer him. The tub taming method is wonderful because you sit in the tub with hammy and allow him to come as close as he wants or to stay away. The choice is the hammy's, which helps them not be afraid. It takes time, but you will have a wonderful friend if you invest that time in good tamimg. Everyone here on HC will answer any questions you have during this process to help

I'd love to see a photo of this little one

Skeever · 06-23-2014, 12:42 PM

First way many transport their hamster is using a tube, or a play ball that they can also run about it, while being in a protective ball. Hamsters find a small opening hard to resist...even after an escape, he would still decide to crawl into the plastic ball, or box, or something new, like a bucket.

I used the plastic ball at first, even if he didn't mind being in my hand, he also wanted to get out of my hands? hehe.....now we don't use the ball.

Taming happens fast usually, but it's still step by step patience, and not willpower. I remember having rats and getting them all tame in a day or so....hamsters are solitary, wary and stuff for predators, so let the hammie dictate how fast he bonds with you?

Keep us posted

oimysizex · 06-23-2014, 04:33 PM

Don't worry too much if he runs away, he's a new hamster. Leave him alone for a few days.
Start off with just talking to him and putting your hand in the cage, don't touch him just let him sniff, offer him treats too. He will soon get used to your hand being in the cage.

When you feel it's ready to step the taming process up, offer a play ball for him to step into, or a tube or something that you can use as a method of transportation. You can put a towel in your bath and let him out in it. You should really start off by just stroking him in the bath, let him get used to being touched. Also you could try by keep picking him up and putting him down to get him used to being picked up.
It took me AGES to tame my first hamster he hated being touched and picked up and I got him at 4 weeks, I got my second at 12/13 weeks old and he was tame almost within a day of the bath tub technique!

Don't give up he will let you stroke and touch him soon as he knows your hand isn't a threat