Rescue hammy

LeenaT · 08-17-2021, 08:42 AM

Hi All!

I've very recently adopted a Syrian hamster from a girl who openly admitted she had no idea what she was doing. Now I've had hamsters before but due to this boys past he's very nervous. At the moment I'm just taking to him while he goes about his hamster business and he's stopped hiding every time I speak. He has lots of hiding places and enrichment... I'm just wondering if there's anything else I should or could be doing?

Ria P · 08-17-2021, 01:00 PM

Hello and welcome to HC!

I also have a rescue Syrian who was very scared and nervous at first. I got him from a clueless family who didn't even like him. I just talked to him for the first couple of weeks and gave him treats when he came to the bars. You could put some tissue up your sleeve for a few hours and then tear it up and put it in his cage so he gets used to your scent. Eventually my hamster stopped hiding when i opened his cage to feed him and then i was able to lightly stroke him while he was occupied with eating. After a few weeks he walked into a mug for out of cage taming exercises. It took a good six weeks and lots of patience until he learnt to trust me. I would have been happy with whatever the hamster felt comfortable with so it was quite a surprise that he turned into the tame, confident, funny and friendly hamster that he is. I was also surprised about the strong bond the hamster and i formed.
Your hamster is making progress already by not hiding away when he hears you. Be guided by your hamster and go at his pace. Your patience will be rewarded.

LeenaT · 08-19-2021, 08:19 AM

That's really reassuring, thankyou! I'm very happy to move as his pace and just go with flow!

Pebbles82 · 08-19-2021, 12:17 PM

It’s time and patience

. And building up trust. Keep talking to him - they can sense when someone is caring and safe.

At some point you could get him out for some taming sessions - they usually will walk into a tube with a smelly bit of food at the far end and you can lift him out that way (hands over the end of the tube) either into a playpen area or box which you can carry to a safe area for out of cage time and taming.

It does usually take two weeks for any hamster to fully settle in a new cage. Meanwhile don’t clean or move things around. So it doesn’t stress him. Spot cleaning a pee corner once a week is fine.