I need help.

DeweyTheHammy · 09-11-2010, 12:44 PM

I just don't have the patience anymore. Bloo. I've been trying to tame him nearly every day since May. It's just not working. He actually makes this screaming noise at me now, and I'm starting to get annoyed. I offered him to my friend Chloe, who used to have a robo, but her parents won't let her. I don't know what to do. I'm thinking he's never going to be tame, and I'm sort of regretting buying him. I know that sounds mean but its just... ugh.
I don't want to give him away, I really don't, but he can't be tamed.

Would he be better if I introduced another Robo to him? He was born in April, so he isn't an adult yet. Is he too old for a new buddy now?

starrylight99 · 09-11-2010, 12:55 PM

I know what you're going through, I had a robo who just...wouldn't be tamed. I tried for over a year until she passed away and she just never came around. She made the same screaming noise every time I got near her. I hate to say it, but I think some robos just don't want to be tamed. I hope some of the posters on here who have had successfully tamed robos can come give you some advice. I think what many people consider a "tamed" robo is one who will let you pick them up, or that will walk on your hands and arms. I don't think most robos are snuggly like Syrians (though I have seen a few).

Have you made any progress at all? If you have, I think it's worth it not to give up. My only real advice is the bathtub trick (which I'm sure you've tried) and that treats are your friend.

fluffymunchkins · 09-11-2010, 12:57 PM

He isn't too old for a buddy no, but i don't think it would help in anyway. You'd probably then end up with two untame robos!
I'm not going to blabber on about how robos are just like this anyway and it can't be helped, because they aren't. Honestly no matter what books/articles/websites say, they (in the right hands) can be really really lovely and tame

It also depends on where they cam from in teh first place. Breeder robos are obviously much more tamer, and a good pet shop that handles their stock will also be.
But there are individuals, like in any breed of hamster that just have to be excepted for the way they are.
Thats not saying he can't make gradual improvement over time though.

How long have you had him?
Peggy wasn't in my mind considered really hand tame until she was about a year old, partly due to my fault as i had no idea how to tame then.
But Dot was never really that tame for her whole life, she was only handable as a when she wanted to be, which wasn't very often.
A few days before she died she finally sat still in my hand and let me stroke her. I believe she was telling me it was her time and letting me have a special moment with her...

Sorry i'm waffling on and i've ended up at a very depressing end

There might be a few tips the more experienced members can give you that you haven't thought to try yet

DeweyTheHammy · 09-11-2010, 01:07 PM

I've had him since May. So 4 months or so? I have him in a spare bin right now with some bedding in it and I'm just trying to get him to run over my arms and stuff to get used to my smell a bit more.

**Hope** · 09-12-2010, 01:56 AM

Aww, dont feel disheartened hun, I am sure something can be done. I am by no means a robo expert and have never owned them myself, but I can think of a few things that my help, if you havent already tried them. Try putting her tissue bedding (fresh) in your clothing for a day before giving it to her to get your scent on it, you can pop it in a sock or somthing - I put mine in my bra when I was taming Phoebe! Also lift him out of the cage with somthing, a tub, or toilet roll tube, he will feel less threatened this way. I *think* I remember you saying that you dont have bath tub to do taming, so a big box as you suggested is great for an alternative, let him run over your arms and hands, does he bite at all?, if he does just try and ignore it as best you can, they will do it more if they learn that they get put back in their cage, ie getting what they want. Also offer him his favourite treats from your fingers or hand, he will learn that you = yummy treats! Try and do this at least twice a day for say 5 minutes and then gradually increase the time. The more often you do it the more he will get used to it.

Bless him screaming though - he is obviously so frightened, does he hid away in his cage alot or is he quite active? It might be worth only removing 50% or the sawdust and bedding each time you do a clean so that some of his scent stays with him, this will help him to feel safer and happier too. Good luck, im sure that you can do it!!

fluffymunchkins · 09-12-2010, 01:40 PM

anotehr thought, some hamsters don't work well on the 'letting them come to you' type of taming. And require a little more of a pushy method!
You can try quickly scooping him up and putting him down soon after, increasing the time gradually, if he isn't coming over to you so you can pick him up. But obviously if he seems disressed by this method its best to go back to a calmer way.
But generally they just need to get over the intial fear that your hands will hurt them, so this way they kind of realise "oh your not so bad actually"

RachK · 09-12-2010, 02:13 PM

I've had Pip since April & he is not yet fully tame. Is there anyway you can get him in a ball? Mick suggested I put Pip in his ball & then turn it so the open ending was on my hand I have been doing this every night for about a month and he isn't so scared of me now.

I also place his little house in the Playpen and he comes out. I have been just laying my hand down in the playpen with a treat on & he has started to take it, only happened this past week though. You just have to be very very patient.

They can take up to a year to tame. To be honest I am very happy with how he is now I place his ball in his cage now & gently tap on his house & he runs straight into to it. If this is as far as I ever get I don't mind, as he is a happy little chappy when whizzing around.

He is a Pet Shop Ham and if I ever get a robo again it will be from a breeder, I think out of all types of hams these ones really needing handling from a young age.

Please don't get too down on yourself. Good Luck

DeweyTheHammy · 09-12-2010, 02:54 PM

Well if I go a week without "bonding" with him does it all start over? because my schedule is a bit a weird. For a week I stay at my moms, then the next week I'll go to my dads, then the next week back to moms, etc. While I'm at my moms my dad just feeds the hams, because he really likes them(:
But I mean... Does that mess everything up??

fluffymunchkins · 09-13-2010, 12:36 PM

well that does make it a bit confusing for the hams and its likely to set you back as when your just making progress he then won't be handled for a week!

DeweyTheHammy · 09-13-2010, 12:50 PM

Ehhhh I'll just let him be as crazy as he wants. I've got my Dewey to cuddle with!