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Old 04-29-2022, 01:16 PM   #11
Lilafernim
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Join Date: Sep 2021
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

Other people might know more signs than me but honestly after about 15-20 minutes of out of cage time I put mine back in the cage and actually shut the door so if they need to wee or anything they can. Either they run straight back to the door and demand to be let out, and I just bring them back out again. Or they might start exploring they cage and go bed.

Also I know most people use a playpen but my room hasn’t got much on the floor and the plug sockets are unusually high so I let mine free roam and leave the door open. Sometimes when mine is fed up she’ll just climb herself back in the cage, I know this only works if you can let them run freely though.
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Old 04-29-2022, 04:15 PM   #12
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

You'll probably know when she's had enough when she has out of cage time - but yes 15 to 20 minutes is a good rule of thumb (pardon the mention of thumb ).

If you have a particular thing for getting her out (eg a tube or a ball or I use a fleece cube ours walks into to get him out of the cage) and you leave the transport vehicle in the play area, they will sometimes climb back into it to tell you they've had enough and want to go back.

If you can set up an out of cage area for some taming (the bathtub is good) with a couple of tubes and a hide and something like a flying saucer wheel, they can enjoy running round in it and you can do some hand taming as well.

I used to use a hamster ball to get them out (if it will fit in). Put a treat in it, they climb in. Pop the lid on and carry the ball to the out of cage area and set it down and take the lid off. If you can prop it so she can climb back in it again easily, without it rolling over then that's the kind of thing they hop back into when they've had enough,

I now use a snooze cube. Which is a square fleece cube - it's cosy and they like climbing into it - so I use that as the transport (with my hand over the entrance).

If it's any consolation our new Syrian just nipped me twice tonight! Had my hand flat on the floor of the playpen for him to walk over and twice he just nipped it! Testing it out probably to see if it was edible. He will accept a stroke on the back once or twice, but not being picked up or hands just yet. It takes time. Once they get used to a stroke now and then and get used to your hands not being food.

Maybe try having the palm of your hand flat up (ie flat with palm up) and when she walks onto it, just raise your hand slightly about 1cm or so but let her walk off. If you do that a few times, then do it slightly higher each time, you should be able to hold her after that and let her walk from hand to hand. But I wouldn't do it in her cage/bin. That's her territory. Another area for taming/out of cage time is better.
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Old 04-29-2022, 09:11 PM   #13
ilguy
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

I can't thank you guys enough for the tips. You guys + the other info out there on hamster communities have helped make this a great start.

We had some good interactions today, and she stopped testing my hand tonight. The last one was pretty funny! She came out and was totally standing up by me for treats, then showed me pretty quickly she was done with a zoom to her burrow. A "snack and grab" job on her part

It seems like she keeps signaling to come out, definitely curious to keep climbing on me at least. I'll try your hamster taxi idea, and practice gentle lifts with her too.

Our coffee break time:
https://streamable.com/qcie7x
https://streamable.com/pkj5mh

Did his nip hurt? Syrians are just so much bigger :O
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Old 04-30-2022, 12:00 AM   #14
cloudy
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

Aww, the videos are so sweet! Your hamster looks like she has already built a bond with you. She is beautiful.
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Old 04-30-2022, 01:47 AM   #15
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

She has lovely markings and seems quite tame. It's really lovely that she sits on your hand. That second one I reckon she was sitting on your hand thinking - come on then, get me out!
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Old 04-30-2022, 01:52 AM   #16
cloudy
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
She has lovely markings and seems quite tame. It's really lovely that she sits on your hand. That second one I reckon she was sitting on your hand thinking - come on then, get me out!
I thought that too!
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Old 04-30-2022, 08:52 PM   #17
ilguy
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

She did something I didn't know hamsters were capable of tonight (granted I'm still a newish hamster owner). There's not just a new burrow in the corner we interact in, she also built up the area around it too for easier hand climbing. That corner of the bin was 100% flat this morning.

New burrow + hill

Last edited by ilguy; 04-30-2022 at 09:01 PM. Reason: Share picture
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Old 04-30-2022, 09:31 PM   #18
ilguy
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

I got it on film, she has officially pulled me down into the play zone using the new burrow! It can't be denied, we're doing a freeroam together. She wants it so bad, what a sweetie!!!

Come Hooman!
Together time
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Old 05-01-2022, 01:46 AM   #19
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

Ha ha. Yes they are very good at building substrate mountains and rearranging the cage. That's a good sign as she clearly feels it's her home to rearrange. There is often some intelligent thought behind it as well. I find they can pile the substrate round the outside of a house in colder weather. Cleverly insulating their home. A mountain in a corner of a cage is to climb up so they can escape (this does happen! I've heard of a hamster climbing up their mountain to the top and pushing a detolf lid up enough they can climb out). Probably more syrians than dwarf hamsters. Some people have to weigh the lids down!

I couldn't see the videos unfortunately as they seemed a bit dark.
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Old 05-01-2022, 06:42 PM   #20
ilguy
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Default Re: Hamster Doesn't Like Thumb

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Ha ha. Yes they are very good at building substrate mountains and rearranging the cage. That's a good sign as she clearly feels it's her home to rearrange. There is often some intelligent thought behind it as well. I find they can pile the substrate round the outside of a house in colder weather. Cleverly insulating their home. A mountain in a corner of a cage is to climb up so they can escape (this does happen! I've heard of a hamster climbing up their mountain to the top and pushing a detolf lid up enough they can climb out). Probably more syrians than dwarf hamsters. Some people have to weigh the lids down!

I couldn't see the videos unfortunately as they seemed a bit dark.
Sorry about that, it was pretty late when she popped out. I also saw your post in my searching for hamster thread: she is on Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Blend.

That's absolutely amazing, they're much smarter than I bargained for before getting one! Has your new Syrian stopped with the nipping yet? I'd love to see some pics or videos of your ham too, they're too fun!
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