New Hamster

[SKB_Hamsters]

How long have you had her for?

She sounds likes she is being territorial of her cage, my past Syrian hamster, Toffee was the same and she used bite if I placed my hand in her cage. When I first had her she used to get scared when I approached a used to hide behind her house. My hamster came around with some time and patience, so Peanut should do the same.

[Abi5sos1d]

Originally Posted by SKB_Hamsters

How long have you had her for?

She sounds likes she is being territorial of her cage, my past Syrian hamster, Toffee was the same and she used bite if I placed my hand in her cage. When I first had her she used to get scared when I approached a used to hide behind her house. My hamster came around with some time and patience, so Peanut should do the same.

She is not as bad as your hamster Toffee she just seems very nervous and she has not bitten me (yet) she just screamed at me when I approached her cage to change her water, and I have not put my hand in the cage yet so I don't know how she would react to it.
P.s I got her yesterday

[Pebbles82]

I think the others have said it all really She is just scared at the complete change of environment. Usually you leave them 2 or 3 days to familiarise themselves with the cage and scent mark their way around it. I would say talk gently to her through the bars so she gets used to her voice, but maybe not just yet if she screams at you!

In a few days you could try feeding her a treat through the bars. Her confidence will build gradually and after a week or so of treats through the bars you could move on to having one on the palm of your hand and putting it just inside an entrance door (unless the door is on top - they don't like hands coming from above). And see if she takes it from your hand (ie means putting her paws on your hand). The tissue trick should help with this if you've done it first. Leave the toilet paper (plain white) up your sleeve for a couple of hours. I then tear it into sheets and tear each sheet lengthways into five or six strips and put a big pile of the paper strips somewhere in her cage. She will probably take some for her nest so she'll be getting used to your scent in her nest, which will help when trying a treat on your hand.

If the treat on the hand doesn't go well, you may need to get her out in a tube and take her somewhere for taming (eg the dry bathtub). I had to do this with our hammy. I'd put the tube partway in the cage (sometimes with a treat at the far end to tempt him in) and have the other end of the tube in the hamster ball, so he'd walk into the tube and straight into the hamster ball. Then pop the lid on the ball and carry it gently to the bathtub. Putting towels on the floor of it can help it be less hard if they jump while in there. Gently put the ball down and take the top off. Somewhere to hide while in there, like a tube, or ceramic cup helps so they can run for cover. They can run around safely in the bathtub and gradually get used to touch. It took us a while just to be able to stroke our hammy with one finger, but once he got used to that, handling him came quite quickly.

She will probably tame much easier than that if she's been handled before and once she has settled in a bit. The main thing is not to disturb anything in the next couple of weeks (so wouldn't recommend moving the cage anywhere else). And no cleaning for the first two weeks. You can spot clean a bit - ie take out the odd handful of pee'd on substrate and replace it with another handful, and mix it in a bit, but best to do as little as possible and not remove the nest she builds.

Looking forward to hearing more about your hammy!

[SKB_Hamsters]

But when I first had Toffee she would always be wary as to what I was doing if she was in her wheel she would just stop and stare and watch me. Although she never screamed, she once did lunge at the cage bars.

As you only got her yesterday, I think that may be some of the reason she is showing these behaviours but normally after the first week they always a little wary and a little stressed but as soon as they realise that you bring food and treats they soon realise to trust you. But they normally scream to make themselves seem bigger and to warn you to leave her alone. This is another form of being scared/stressed they either flight (hide) or fight (scream or bite). I normally continued my normal routine and she realised that nothing was going to happen to her.

Also I recommend after a week or two to use a playpen (can be made out of an old cardboard box) to start taming as my hamster was completely friendly out of her cage.

[Abi5sos1d]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I think the others have said it all really She is just scared at the complete change of environment. Usually you leave them 2 or 3 days to familiarise themselves with the cage and scent mark their way around it. I would say talk gently to her through the bars so she gets used to her voice, but maybe not just yet if she screams at you!

In a few days you could try feeding her a treat through the bars. Her confidence will build gradually and after a week or so of treats through the bars you could move on to having one on the palm of your hand and putting it just inside an entrance door (unless the door is on top - they don't like hands coming from above). And see if she takes it from your hand (ie means putting her paws on your hand). The tissue trick should help with this if you've done it first. Leave the toilet paper (plain white) up your sleeve for a couple of hours. I then tear it into sheets and tear each sheet lengthways into five or six strips and put a big pile of the paper strips somewhere in her cage. She will probably take some for her nest so she'll be getting used to your scent in her nest, which will help when trying a treat on your hand.

If the treat on the hand doesn't go well, you may need to get her out in a tube and take her somewhere for taming (eg the dry bathtub). I had to do this with our hammy. I'd put the tube partway in the cage (sometimes with a treat at the far end to tempt him in) and have the other end of the tube in the hamster ball, so he'd walk into the tube and straight into the hamster ball. Then pop the lid on the ball and carry it gently to the bathtub. Putting towels on the floor of it can help it be less hard if they jump while in there. Gently put the ball down and take the top off. Somewhere to hide while in there, like a tube, or ceramic cup helps so they can run for cover. They can run around safely in the bathtub and gradually get used to touch. It took us a while just to be able to stroke our hammy with one finger, but once he got used to that, handling him came quite quickly.

She will probably tame much easier than that if she's been handled before and once she has settled in a bit. The main thing is not to disturb anything in the next couple of weeks (so wouldn't recommend moving the cage anywhere else). And no cleaning for the first two weeks. You can spot clean a bit - ie take out the odd handful of pee'd on substrate and replace it with another handful, and mix it in a bit, but best to do as little as possible and not remove the nest she builds.

Looking forward to hearing more about your hammy!

Thank you so much for your response, I will take note of everything you have said and I hope it all works out. My sister also owns a hamster and she suggested the bathtub to me too, it's just I don't own a hamster ball but would a shoe box be okay to carry her in if I need to try it out?

[pinkneon]

As long as she can't climb or jump out the sides then it should be ok. Could use a plastic storge box without the lid for playtime and taming too. In theory she shouldn't be able to get out of a plastic box ... But my Sweep did today because he is a naughty boy!

[Abi5sos1d]

Originally Posted by SKB_Hamsters

But when I first had Toffee she would always be wary as to what I was doing if she was in her wheel she would just stop and stare and watch me. Although she never screamed, she once did lunge at the cage bars.

As you only got her yesterday, I think that may be some of the reason she is showing these behaviours but normally after the first week they always a little wary and a little stressed but as soon as they realise that you bring food and treats they soon realise to trust you. But they normally scream to make themselves seem bigger and to warn you to leave her alone. This is another form of being scared/stressed they either flight (hide) or fight (scream or bite). I normally continued my normal routine and she realised that nothing was going to happen to her.

Also I recommend after a week or two to use a playpen (can be made out of an old cardboard box) to start taming as my hamster was completely friendly out of her cage.

That is exactly how she behaves, I have noticed every now and again that she will stop and start in her wheel and she sniffs the air for a moment before carrying on. I don't really own any cardboard boxes that would be big enough so I think I may go for the dry bathtub idea.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Line the bathtub with a towel and make sure it cleaned with no chemicals (pet safe disinfectant works best). Also when your hamster becomes more confident you can sit in there with her.

[Abi5sos1d]

Originally Posted by pinkneon

As long as she can't climb or jump out the sides then it should be ok. Could use a plastic storge box without the lid for playtime and taming too. In theory she shouldn't be able to get out of a plastic box ... But my Sweep did today because he is a naughty boy!

Haha aw, how long have you had him for, and what does he look like? It has been a while since I last owned a hamster but my last one was a boy and he was a cinnamon banded too (I believe). She should be fine in the box as the breeder gave me it to bring her home in so it should be ok.

[Abi5sos1d]

Originally Posted by SKB_Hamsters

Line the bathtub with a towel and make sure it cleaned with no chemicals (pet safe disinfectant works best). Also when your hamster becomes more confident you can sit in there with her.

Alright I will make sure of that then, if not I may use a plastic storage box.