Steve Bit Me :)

[MandyP]

Now i know you are not meant to be happy if your hammy bites you but this is a really big step for steve. He is very shy and runs from us when you go near his cage, we even put a towl over half of his cage to help him feel safe and secure. We have has him for about 3 - 4 weeks now and i have been trying to take him and not got very far. I have put him in his ball and he just sits there only once or twice that he has run around in it. So i thought i would try and put him in a hamster run with his wheel and made a digging box for him. He loved the digging box and went on his wheel in front of me Then i put my hand in the run and just sat very still. He ran around a bit wanting to come near me and then run away. Then he came right up to my hand and had a sniff and then bit me and ran back on his wheel!!! I am so glad he feels brave enough to come and say hello and tell me to go away lol!
We are going to leave the ball for a while and keep putting him in the run and see how it goes

I am a bit worried he doesnt like his cage. We have a Adobe cage and have a flying saucer, sand bath and tubes and a little cardboard box but we never see him running around in it. Do you think he feels too cramped in his cage and would benifit with something bigger? We are thinking of putting him in the Dwaft Ovo cage as Sookie loves hers. What do you think?

[jadalmation]

hey bud.

tubes arent great for taming hammies, they hide in them and try the bath technique? really worked wonders with Pongo and us. For 15 mins a day, get in the bath and let him run around and over you in it. Then slowly try stroking him, then holding etc.... Really does work

[KatiePillow]

I feel the same with my chinese hamster.. except I got over the cuteness of the biting now.. ;p
I also give her tubes because they make her comfortable.. I think steve might be a take it slow hamster (obviously, it's been 3 weeks) but I have to take it slow with sesame because she's so frightened..she literally shakes with fear..so It's been a month, and I still can't pick her up, but she's slowly coming along, like steve is.

I think with hamsters like that, the bath method is a bit too intensive.. but it's up to you if you'd like to try,
Obviously it's a good method in general, (although I've never actually used it >.<, I use the bribe them with food method )

[Womblehands]

I was wondering why there was a smiley face....aww bless him. I guess he just needs time. The bath thing may be worth a try.

[jadalmation]

Originally Posted by KatiePillow

I feel the same with my chinese hamster.. except I got over the cuteness of the biting now.. ;p
I also give her tubes because they make her comfortable.. I think steve might be a take it slow hamster (obviously, it's been 3 weeks) but I have to take it slow with sesame because she's so frightened..she literally shakes with fear..so It's been a month, and I still can't pick her up, but she's slowly coming along, like steve is.

I think with hamsters like that, the bath method is a bit too intensive.. but it's up to you if you'd like to try,
Obviously it's a good method in general, (although I've never actually used it >.<, I use the bribe them with food method )

i never used the bath method before Pongo. But he was just too scared, even with food, so id get him in ball then let him run around over me lol

[KatiePillow]

Yeah, I might try with my chinese soon, but right now I'm still just trying to get her to not be absolutely petrified of me..and obviously if Steve is the same with Mandy then it's quite a scary prospect for a little 'un.
I thought syrians were usually braver? it's interesting to hear that they can be scared too.. I've not had one for so long, I can't even remember taming my old one..I think she was just tame from when I got her >.<

It's great to hear that you are making progress though Mandy looking forward to hearing about your next breakthrough

[MandyP]

Originally Posted by Womblehands

I was wondering why there was a smiley face....aww bless him. I guess he just needs time. The bath thing may be worth a try.

Well the bite didnt hurt but i feel it shows he is comfortable with me to bite me. I dont think it was a horrible bite but just wanted to see what i tasted like. I hope he doesnt carry on biting me but its nice he could come over and say hello to my hand I feed him from my hand as ofton as possible but it takes a long time for him to come and take the food from me. I left him in his play pen for 30 mins last night and he was running around playing. 2 weeks ago when i put him in there he just froze and went flat to the floor. I know he will never really be a hamster that will want a cuddle from me but it would be nice if he wouldnt run and hide everytime you walk to his cage to say hello. But also last night when we put him back in his cage he ran around with us stood there looking at him which was good. I will keep him in the cage he is in now and maybe re look at it in a few months time. I dont blame him for hating humans after the way he got treated at P@H.

[MandyP]

Well i cant believe how much Steve has come round. Had him out again tonight in his run. I transported him from his cage using his ball then once he jumped out on to the floor he jumped back in and started to try and run in the ball. So after a while i put him back in his play pen and he ran around on his wheel. I layed my hand next to wheel and he jumped on my hand!!!!!!!!!!! I ran around on me for 10 seconds then jumped back on his wheel and done this a few times!! Also when it was time to put him back in his cage he jumped in my hand and let me carry him back to his cage instead of using his ball!!!!!! I am so pleased and happy he has settled in

[KatiePillow]

Wow, that's great.
He obviously decided you tasted good enough to be his friend,
Sounds adorable though

[Gillzy]

Hooray! That's fab! Glad he's decided to love you now!