Skittish hamster

tedxsprinks · 07-30-2018, 10:43 AM

Hi!
I’ve gotten a syrian hamster around two weeks ago and she’s one month old now. I am trying to tame her and she is ok with climbing onto my hand and letting me hold her. but she’s really skittish and get scared easily when she is out in the playpen (when i try to stroke her) and even in her cage (very slight movements and noise might scare her). She trembles a lot as well.

Her previous owner did tame her and handled her without much issues.

Do i need to give her more time before handling again?
Would appreciate any kind of advise on this

cypher · 07-30-2018, 11:54 PM

Two weeks isn't long so she will still be settling in, you're doing ok if she's happy to be handled now, what is her set up like in her cage & playpen? Some hams can get a bit nervous if there's too much open space so make sure to have plenty of toys, hideouts etc in both to help her feel safe & confident.
It sounds as though she just needs more time really, I would keep up with handling & playpen sessions but keep it short so she doesn't get too stressed, slow & steady is always best.

tedxsprinks · 07-31-2018, 04:27 AM

The playpen set up includes 5-6 toys and hide outs for her.
As for her cage, her previous owner advised me to move her into a smaller cage at the moment for her to settle in without any hideouts because she was more skittish/jumpy when she was in the bigger cage. hence for now there’s only a wheel, climbing toy, a sand bath and 2 chew toys.
The previous set up had additional 3 hide outs for her, another toy and tube.

Hopefully i will be able to move her back to the bigger cage soon.

ps: i do know the minimum requirements

the set up i have currently is only for the time being.

Thank you!

cypher · 07-31-2018, 06:05 AM

Using a smaller cage (as long as it's not too small) for taming is ok, a lot of people do that but she must still have a house where it is completely dark so she has somewhere safe to sleep, at the very least something like a large bendy bridge with a big pile of toilet tissue to make a nest. Without one she is going to continue to be nervous & skittish.
Did you ever see her cage set up with her previous owner? Hamsters will be skittish in a larger cage if it isn't set up well so that may have been part of the problem.

tedxsprinks · 07-31-2018, 06:40 AM

oh alright, will take note of it!
thank you so much