Try to tame or take care of him as he is

Rashy · 06-24-2021, 11:00 AM

February this year, I took over a syrian boy. He came to me as the owners did not have the patience to tame him.
As he is at the same stage in the process, I have more or less decided to leave him alone as he has shown me that he dont wont anything to do with me other then climbing the bars sometimes. I feel so bad for him, and he has been at the vet today to find out if he has any issues with the body.
I felt kinda angry as the vet was laughed a little as she said to the hamster that he talked a little, when he was scared. I did scream when I took him out of the cage when we left home and did scream when the wet did want him out of the cage.

I`m not sure if it is best to work with him or just take care of him without any contact. My question is, should I try to work with him more or just take care of him without do anything? He do have a criceti 100 cage.

LunaTheHamster1 · 06-24-2021, 12:11 PM

I would try to work with him, I haven't met a Syrian yet that can't be tamed, including ones that have come from horrible backgrounds. I know my experience isn't vast, but the rescue I know who has dealt with hundreds of syrian hamsters, many from horrific backgrounds hasn't had a syrian hamster that couldn't be tamed either. Depending on what your definition of tame means, to me being able to pick the hamster up when needed to at least examine them, offer food, have interaction with them of some kind.

Rashy · 06-24-2021, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

I would try to work with him, I haven't met a Syrian yet that can't be tamed, including ones that have come from horrible backgrounds. I know my experience isn't vast, but the rescue I know who has dealt with hundreds of syrian hamsters, many from horrific backgrounds hasn't had a syrian hamster that couldn't be tamed either. Depending on what your definition of tame means, to me being able to pick the hamster up when needed to at least examine them, offer food, have interaction with them of some kind.

Tame in as get used to my hand. But should I use another cage for him with door in front insted of door on the top? I felt the vet were negative to the visit we had, as she told me that he is a hamser, and I thought so what and told her I have experience with hamsters there are tamed.

LunaTheHamster1 · 06-24-2021, 12:36 PM

It might help if you have a cage with a front door but, even in that cage you could try interacting with him from the sides.
I think vets are used to dealing with a lot of untamed hamsters, I know my vets love my hamsters as they can be handled. If you didn't like the vet, could you find another one?

Rashy · 06-24-2021, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

It might help if you have a cage with a front door but, even in that cage you could try interacting with him from the sides.
I think vets are used to dealing with a lot of untamed hamsters, I know my vets love my hamsters as they can be handled. If you didn't like the vet, could you find another one?

The shelfes takes a lot off space in the cage. I can try to buy some other ones, but the problem then is the lather. Sorry for bad english btw.
The only cage I know about there is good with big door, is the hamster heaven.I felt so bad for him when I heard the scream, here at home and at the vets office. She did laugh a little as she ment he was talking.

Amethyst_ice · 06-24-2021, 02:31 PM

I agree with Luna in that it depends by what you mean tame.

Over the years I have come to realise that hamsters (and rats) all have their own persona's and some just aren't that fond of people!

However, I always get them to a level where I can at least do a basic health check and no bites.

My last hamster Borormir never let me pick him up out of the cage but he learnt to come to the door and climb out into a ball then he would walk out of the ball onto my lap and I could pick him up then.

I find sitting by the cage talking to them lots and little treats at the door build up the trust

Rashy · 06-24-2021, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

I agree with Luna in that it depends by what you mean tame.

Over the years I have come to realise that hamsters (and rats) all have their own persona's and some just aren't that fond of people!

However, I always get them to a level where I can at least do a basic health check and no bites.

My last hamster Borormir never let me pick him up out of the cage but he learnt to come to the door and climb out into a ball then he would walk out of the ball onto my lap and I could pick him up then.

I find sitting by the cage talking to them lots and little treats at the door build up the trust

He gets scared when I do change some off the bedding because off pee for exmpl. The question is, should I try a cage with front door or should I use the cage with door at the top?

Ria P · 06-24-2021, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rashy

He gets scared when I do change some off the bedding because off pee for exmpl. The question is, should I try a cage with front door or should I use the cage with door at the top?

Just leave him in the cage he is in now so you won't unsettle him again. It doesn't matter where the door is. Taming is easier done outside the cage so let him walk into something and interact with him while sitting in a safe area like a bath tub, large playpen or hamster proof room.

It just takes longer to tame a scared Syrian hamster and you will need to work at his pace. It took a good 6 weeks for my Syrian Rodney, who was a very scared hamster when i rescued him, to trust me and he's very tame now.

I would definitely work with him and i would also look for a vet who knows about hamsters. It is so important to have a good vet at hand because you never know when you'll need one.