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Old 05-19-2021, 12:13 PM   #1
kimbro
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2
Question New Ham-mommy- Play Time?

Hi!

I got a Syrian hamster just over a week ago and we've been giving him his space as he tends to run back into his hide when we try to give him attention. I think he's still just settling in, but I'm concerned because I'm reading a lot about having outside play time. I bought a pen and toys to have him out in the living room, but he still won't let me touch him, so I don't know how I'm supposed to get him to the play pen...
Is it okay for him to mostly be exercising and playing in his tank for now while he is still warming up to us? He has a 11-inch wheel, a sand bath, a potty, a hide, and lots of chews. I just don't want to be doing the wrong thing by him by denying him outside play time.
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Old 05-23-2021, 06:57 PM   #2
Shadow Cat
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 156
Default Re: New Ham-mommy- Play Time?

I think a week is a very short space of time. It took months for my Syrian to trust me, don't be disheartened. Be patient. And after everything, some hamsters just don't like to be outside their cage. Mine doesn't, although I still take her out every now and then.

Give him more time, he'll get used to you and his surroundings. After that, you can use a box or a mug or something like that to lift him out of his tank.
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Old 05-24-2021, 02:40 AM   #3
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: New Ham-mommy- Play Time?

They need two weeks settling in time Without any cleaning or changing things around. They need that time to adjust, to make it their own space, scent mark everything to find their way around and claim it as their own, and to develop habits in certain areas. If during that time he shows signs of wanting to come out - eg coming to the cage door, then it's fine to get him out for some taming. But if he's still a bit skitty then I'd give him the two weeks without disturbance. The change can be amazing after two weeks and they can seem much more confident in their environment. He will just be a baby so easily scared. They get much more confident once they're a few months old.

Taming starts gently though so to begin with you can familiarize him with your scent, presence and voice by talking to him through the cage. Also you can put torn up strips of toilet paper up your sleeve or down your bra for a couple of hours and then add that as nesting material (they then get familiar with your scent).

Then start offering him the odd treat through the bars - eg a pumpkin seed or two.

They tend not to like having a hand in the cage until they are very familiar with you.

I usually use a tube or hamster ball to get them out when they are not tame. But I'd wait until it's two weeks (unless he comes to the cage door).

If a hamster ball will fit in the cage easily, you can just put it in and hold it and he may climb in. Then pop the lid on and lift him out that way and carry him to the playpen area and let him out. If it won't then you can use a cardboard tube. Put one end near his house and a smelly treat at the other end - eg cucumber or cheese. He should walk into the tube to get the treat. Put your hands over both ends of the tube and lift him out that way.

If the playpen area is right next to you then you can just put the tube down in there and let him out, but if you have to carry him further I would have a box next to the cage, put the tube down in the box and carry the box to the playpen area (eg a fairly high sided box). Because they can make you jump when you're carrying the tube by pushing hard against your hand suddenly or even trying to wriggle past it - they are surprisingly strong when pushing!

Starting with the odd stroke on the back while in the playpen area helps get them used to touch and trusting you. And also putting your hand flat, palm up, so they just walk over it. It can take a few sessions before being able to pick them up without them "pinging" (which is wriggling free and leaping 2 foot in the air all at the same time!) They can fall and hurt themselves so any handling should be low down and/or over something soft like carpet or a cushion.
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