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Old 07-09-2022, 01:42 AM   #1
Sadies
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 5
Default Rescue Robo terrified of hands.

Hello,
I rescued a Robo hamster a little time ago, he's about 5 months, and he is absolutely terrified of hands and hand movements. This is my first Robo/Dwarf, I have owned Syrians before. Have done some research and understand they are usually the most wild/untamed type of hamster.

I can be around his enclosure and he will even sit pretty close to the glass while I am moving about and talking to him, but as soon as there is a hand he is hiding for a long time. I am pretty sure his first owner used to chase him around to catch him.

I want to attempt to tame him, but am not really sure how because as soon as I attempt to give him a treat with my hand, he's gone. He isn't even around long enough to realise I am giving him a treat or to see my drop a treat next to him. I tried to stand with my hand in the tank for a long time but he doesn't come back out again for over over an hour and sometimes never does. I have also been giving him toilet paper with my scent on to get him used to me too.
He might simply be untameable with this fear, which I would be fine with because it's also nice to be around him.

I also haven't been able to take him out the enclosure yet to run in his playpen, I tried with a toilet roll to transport him but he freaked out when I cupped the ends. I don't want to stress him and he was pretty stressed after that one try. He's in an Ikea Detolf with a lot of spots to hide in.

I would at the least love to be able to allow him some playpen time, even if he will never be a sit in your hand type hamster, would love some advice on how I can do this without stressing him.
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Old 07-09-2022, 01:51 AM   #2
cloudy
Whimzee dealer
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: World
Posts: 1,912
Default Re: Rescue Robo terrified of hands.

Hello Sadies. I am new to hamsters and have my first hamster which is a robo. My robo is also 5 months old and I have never once attempted to touch him or take him out of his cage. I feel it is far too soon when he is not okay with my hands yet. Maybe you could take things at his pace? He has a big cage so perhaps he has no need to come out for play time.

If he is okay with you sitting close to him and talking to him then I think that is great. It means he is learning to trust you. I personally would carry on with that.

In the future he may get used to your hand but perhaps not attempting that until he is more settled may work.

This is just my opinion and I am sure other members will have different ideas.
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Old 07-09-2022, 10:06 AM   #3
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Rescue Robo terrified of hands.

Robo's are naturally very fast, often run away and hide on instinct and can take months not weeks to start to trust humans. Your Robo may have had bad experiences with hands which wouldn't help matters. A lot depends on the individual hamster's personality, regardless of species.

I currently have a rescue Robo who belonged to a child who got fed up with him. He was probably wrongly or excessively handled because all he wants now is to be left alone to carry on with his life.

I recently put him in a playpen but he panicked and raced around squeaking very loudly so i have no plans on repeating this in the near future.

You can try and catch him to put him into a playpen and see how he reacts. Many hamsters behave differently when out of their cage and it can go either way.

He may be very happy living in a detolf and not want out of cage time though.
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