Rescue Syrian Hamster Help

Mr Pudding · 09-30-2015, 01:07 PM

I am looking for some advice about how to tame a rescue hamster.

I just got Fudge the Syrian hamster from the SSPCA the other day. The SSPCA volunteer I spoke with gave me a bit of Fudge's back story. She is about 6 months old and her previous owner brought her in because they could no longer look after her. Fudge was bought for her daughter and we think Fudge nipped her one day and so hasn't been handled very much. In fact Fudge has nipped a couple of the SSPCA volunteers and even hissed at one of them. Fudge is on the chubby side so we also suspect that her wheel was taken away.

Fudge now resides in a lovely big Hamster Heaven with a Senior Wodent Wheel. After 15 minutes of giving her new home a good sniff she went straight to her wheel. She already seems to love that wheel as when she's not sleeping she is running round and round which makes me smile.

Fudge seems pretty flighty so I just let her get settled in and left her alone the first day. Then I started sitting and talking to get through the bars so she could get used to my voice. I've held my hand close to her so that she can get used to my smell but I'm keen to progress things because the longer Fudge goes not being handled the worse its going to be (more stressful for her).

I really want to give Fudge a happy forever home so if anyone has any words of wisdom or encouragement they would be much appreciated.

Bertiebobbins · 09-30-2015, 01:23 PM

Just keep doing what you're doing! Give her a couple more days to settle in, that won't make a difference and she can get to know her cage and get used to the sounds in your home. Do you know the "tissue trick"? Put some toilet roll up your sleeve while you're sleeping at night (or in the day it doesn't matter lol!), then put it in her cage. It will have your smell on, hopefully she will use it for her nest and help her get used to your smell.

I had a ham when I was in my teens who had been neglected by its owners, my friend's mum was a social worker and she was always coming home with animals her clients couldn't care for. This ham was in a cage the size of a postage stamp, no wheel, never been handled. He was about 7 or 8 months. Anyway after he got a half decent environment (ok it was the 90s, cages were still too small but it was a lot bigger than what he had had before!) he was the sweetest ham ever. A bit of kindness goes a long, long way.

bbbarker · 09-30-2015, 01:48 PM

I would carry on talking to fudge, also do the good old toilet paper trick. Put some toilet paper in your socks or up your sleeve and your scent will rub off onto it. Put this in her cage and this will help her get used to your smell. You may notice her getting a bit more confident and walking up to the bars and approaching you. You could try feeding treats through the bars at this point, after she's confidently done that several times try putting your hand in her cage and offering treats, it might take her a while to gain the confidence to take it but it's all about having patience. Remember don't expect too much from her and just take it one step at a time, don't rush things and just give her time to start trusting you.
Good on you for rescuing her, I myself rescue Hamsters and it's so nice taking them from a horrible situation and giving them a fantastic home. I would love to see pictures of fudge if you have any? I'm adopting a hamster from my local rescue in around 3 weeks, I can't wait. The whole taming process really does create a good bound between you and hamster especially in my opinion from my taming process with Tibbles. Good luck with things, it may take a while but will be worth it in the end x

Nancy's Hamsters · 09-30-2015, 02:20 PM

Some rescues just don't settle as well as a hand tamed hamster who was handled from the start. Not sure if her cage is a tank like or bin or a bar cage but since you mention talking to her through the bars I am concluding she is in a bar cage. How do you have to reach in to take her out? If it is an over head door then she may be frightened from you having to reach for her that way. You may wish to try the method I have to use with one of my Yellow boys that was sold and mistreated when he bit his owners from fear as they were always trying to grab him from above his head. This built a huge fear in him and he will bite every time if you attempt to pick him up like they used to do.

Instead I slowly trained him to climb in a plastic container which used to hold a large container of Yogurt. It is big enough that he can crawl in and turn around, and crawl back out. At first I would place a dab of Yogurt on the bottom of the container which he would have to crawl in to reach and enjoy. I did this for a few days, and then he started climbing in without any treat. I then would pick up the container hamster inside and just lift it up so he could feel the container was moving. At first he panicked but quickly found I was not gonna make him stay in it if he wanted out.

About two weeks passed and now if I want to hold him I just lift him and the container up and out to my hand. I slowly tilt the container so he slides very slowly out and on to my hand then he is just fine with being held. Just take it slow and don't be worried if you have to back up a bit if she becomes scared. Lavi now allows me to stroke him from above so slowly but surely he is over coming his fear of hands from above.

Mr Pudding · 10-01-2015, 01:44 AM

Thanks everyone. I will try the toilet paper trick today and see how we get on.

The cage does have an overhead door but I've never used it because it has a large side door as well. With Fudge's predecessors I just used to open the side door and let them wonder out when it was time to play or clean the cage out. Based on Fudge's behaviour I think her previous home had an overhead door.

I don't have any photos of Fudge yet but I'm hoping to take some at the weekend which I will post on the forum.

Thin Lizzy · 10-01-2015, 05:36 AM

Hi Amy,
Good on you for adopting a rescue ham. Fudgr will need more time to fully settle, let her scratch and mark her new home, also avoid cleaning it out for at least 3 weeks but do a daily spot check on her toilet area and remove any soiled substrate.
The tissue trick is a great way for her to get use to your smell.
Always use the side door as going in from the top door may frighten her with a hand coming down on her.
Talking loads to her is a great way of her getting familiar with your voice.

Mr Pudding · 10-05-2015, 03:43 AM

I just thought I would post an update.

I tried the tissue trick and this weekend Fudge seemed quite happy as I sat and stroked her. Before she flinched a lot but now she seems a lot more relaxed. Next step is letting her walk into my hands and hopefully from there lots of cuddles.

I've still not managed to take a photo of Fudge yet but I will post one when I do.

Thin Lizzy · 10-05-2015, 07:06 PM

Great stuff AmyR! It's amazing what the tissue trick can achieve.

de4life · 10-07-2015, 12:22 PM

My current Syrian hamster, Rosie, was a rescue from p@h. She was estimated at about 5-6 months, and hadn't had a very good start to life. She was brought into the store by a foreign woman in an airtight container, with two other Syrians in the same box!

She's never liked hands or being held. Whenever she feels hands around or under her she jumps around like she's being electrocuted. I tried for a little while to change this behaviour but have never managed it. I don't know what happened to her before she came to me, but whatever it was clearly wired into her brain that human hands are bad news and to be avoided at all costs. It's especially hard as my previous two Syrians were very tame and would walk into my hands - Rosie would never do this. I let her jump into her ball, now. She'll run around on the floor free roaming and will let me stroke her, which is an improvement as she used to jolt and run away even when lightly stroked. Funnily enough she's never bitten me even when I've attempted to pick her up or stroke her - she just wants to get away. I've had her since July '14 and whilst she is okay with being stroked now, that's as far as I've been able to get with her.

Unfortunately, with smaller animals it's very difficult and sometimes impossible to change how they feel about certain things, particularly if they've had bad experiences for an extended period of time. Their brains learn certain things very early and rarely forget things which signal danger. All you can do is keep trying, and if you are able to make any progress that's a good achievement. I'll never be able to pick Rosie up - which is really difficult when I've taken her to the vet - but she's comfortable with me and I think trusts me as much as she can.

Piebald · 10-08-2015, 12:06 AM

That's great you rescued her and are giving her a good patient foundation to your relationship. It may take some time for the bad memories to fade and be replaced by good ones. I have had a number of rescued pets of different types and they can surprise you with a sudden trust. I think that trust is more appreciated in a rescued animal and is very special. So just take it at her pace and don't try to force progress. She sounds like she'll come around if given time and understanding. I bet you will end up with a strong bond in time. xx