Ive had a hamster for 5 weeks and hes still terrified of me

Rarity · 08-20-2014, 11:22 PM

So a little back story, I got a Roborovski hamster, he seemed to like me sorta, he wasn't to scared of me. But the very next day the poor little guy passed away, I went to pet smart and they said sometimes it just happens, so i got a new Robo.

I've been so scared that I might scare him to death, since the incident, so ive been slower to trying to connect to him, but he always just hides under the bedding. I tried to give him snacks and treats, and he will travel under the bedding, sniff the treat, but run away under the bedding. I later found out the cage I got was too small, so I made a bin cage, and gave him a wheel, a little clear house, a hamster "gym" and a salt lick. Its been two weeks, and he still travels under the bedding. He doesn't use any of the toys or anything, i tried to bribe him with treats in the toys but he just takes them and leaves, and just stays under the bedding.

I talk to him, and i try to be as quiet as possible when I try to give him treats but he just wont take it from me, he sniffs and runs away from under the bedding. He wont leave under the bedding unless its to eat or drink water. When I try to look at him, he will run under the bedding.

He seems to be active at 4 am, but even then, its just running on the wheel for like a bit then its back under the bedding.

Im really scared to pick him up. I dont want to hurt him, or scare him so much that he gets a heart attack (thats even if he gives me the chance to before running under the bedding), so it makes cleaning his cage very difficult.

Is there something im doing wrong? What should I do get closer to him? Im really sad that he runs away scared of me, and it breaks my heart.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 08-21-2014, 02:23 PM

I'm afraid that my first thought is "Sorry but he's a robo". Some roborovskis are really skittish and unfortunately it sounds like yours is just one of those who'll be a lot more difficult to tame than others

**DrKMcK** · 08-21-2014, 02:37 PM

Hello Rarity and welcome to Hamster Central. Unfortunately, Robos are really the fastest of all the dwarfies and are not the most easy to handle. They can be tamed but it takes quite a while. You aren't doing anything wrong and your little fluff won't have a heart attack. You just happened to have a bad experience with the first hammy. If you settle down and allow hammy to get used to its home and try not to expect a whole lot right away it will be easier for you. Look at the WIKI (Up in the left hand corner of the screen) and read about taming and caring for dwarf hammies. Check out this site:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ttU...YsRErdRJXghyug

Go slow and and have lots of patience. People often think that a hammy is friendly and will play as soon as you get it home. Not true. My wonderful Ted E. Bear took 3 month to tame. He was terrified of coming out of his cage. I hope this helps.

Skeever · 08-21-2014, 06:34 PM

I don't know what his cage layout is like, but maybe arranging it with a LOT of places to hide under and behind? He may come out of the bedding more if he can still be 'stealthy' ....some hams seem to feel cramped in even the biggest cage, other ones view open space as possible predator spaces to avoid, and prefer going 'underground' if there isn't enough 'clutter' for his sense of security?....theres less clutter in the baby hams tank cage atm, and he does a lot of subway commutes in it. Ziggy is fine with just lying in a corner or safe in a wheel when he wants privacy, though the weather has them both sleeping out in the open a lot.

**ianpallen** · 08-22-2014, 02:06 AM

My robo still hides from me. He is still skittish and 'freezes' when I say hello to him when he does eventually come out. I put it down to the fact he is a robo. They are not a hands on pet really. More for 'looking at' or a 'try and see' me pet as they are very quick and 'shy / nervous'. Anything bigger than them is a predator to them as they are so small.