New Hamster

Abi5sos1d · 04-13-2016, 02:10 PM

Hi,
I got a new 2 month old female satin cinnamon banded syrian hamster yesterday and I don't know how to go about taming her. She seems very nervous and skitty and she screamed at me when I went near her cage, she was from a hobby breeder and they claimed that they have handled her and that she should be very tame but I am worried that is not the case. I have never had a hamster like her before as she won't even let me near her cage to even speak to her.
Someone please reply,
Kind regards.

SKB_Hamsters · 04-13-2016, 02:32 PM

I would leave her a week to settle in to a new cage as this is a new environment for her and this can be quite stressful to hamsters. You could do the tissue trick this involves putting a piece of tissue (white, unscented) in your sleeve/down your top and then put this in your hamsters cage so she can get used to your scent.

She is probably tame but this change is environment makes them a little wary as there is new sound and smells to what she was used to. After a week I recommend giving her small amount fresh vegetable as she will realise that you bring good things. Playpen also work as good areas for taming to happen. Also don't rush through taming let your hamster go at her own pace.

pinkneon · 04-13-2016, 02:36 PM

Hi, welcome to HC! Although a breeder may well have tamed her, a new cage, home, people, sights, smells, toys etc are very unfamiliar and also change is stressful for hamsters. She needs to settle in - it's best to completely leave her alone for a few days (sometimes even a week or two!) to completely settle in, before handling her. It is reccommended to only go to the cage to cahnge food and water but to otherwise leave her alone. Also, it may be worth putting her in a room that isn't too noisy - maybe a bedroom or something - especially if there are lots of people or children in the house. And keep other pets away from her

She'll settle down soon and then you can play with her. They are always so cute as babies and it's so tempting to get them out to play but they need time alone to settle

P.S. What's her name?

Abi5sos1d · 04-13-2016, 03:04 PM

Thank you so much for your response, she is currently housed in my bedroom and I only went near her cage this morning to change her water and that is when she screamed at me.
I cannot really help the noise as I live on a busy road so unfortunately the noise of traffic is heard all day, even late at night when she will be awake.
P.S her name is Peanut, and thank you for welcoming me aha

Abi5sos1d · 04-13-2016, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkneon

Hi, welcome to HC! Although a breeder may well have tamed her, a new cage, home, people, sights, smells, toys etc are very unfamiliar and also change is stressful for hamsters. She needs to settle in - it's best to completely leave her alone for a few days (sometimes even a week or two!) to completely settle in, before handling her. It is reccommended to only go to the cage to cahnge food and water but to otherwise leave her alone. Also, it may be worth putting her in a room that isn't too noisy - maybe a bedroom or something - especially if there are lots of people or children in the house. And keep other pets away from her

She'll settle down soon and then you can play with her. They are always so cute as babies and it's so tempting to get them out to play but they need time alone to settle

P.S. What's her name?

Thank you so much for your response, she is currently housed in my bedroom and I only went near her cage this morning to change her water and that is when she screamed at me.
I cannot really help the noise as I live on a busy road so unfortunately the noise of traffic is heard all day, even late at night when she will be awake.
P.S her name is Peanut, and thank you for welcoming me aha

pinkneon · 04-13-2016, 03:09 PM

She may have got a little scared when you went to the cage. Is she ok now? Make sure she has plenty o places to hide in too

Abi5sos1d · 04-13-2016, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKB_Hamsters

I would leave her a week to settle in to a new cage as this is a new environment for her and this can be quite stressful to hamsters. You could do the tissue trick this involves putting a piece of tissue (white, unscented) in your sleeve/down your top and then put this in your hamsters cage so she can get used to your scent.

She is probably tame but this change is environment makes them a little wary as there is new sound and smells to what she was used to. After a week I recommend giving her small amount fresh vegetable as she will realise that you bring good things. Playpen also work as good areas for taming to happen. Also don't rush through taming let your hamster go at her own pace.

Hi thank you for responding and for the tip I will most definately try it I will just have to put the tissue in when she's asleep as she will probably scream at me aha.

pinkneon · 04-13-2016, 03:15 PM

Have you tried putting on a lamp in your room? She may still hide until the light goes out and you are asleep until she feels a bit more secure but sometimes a lamp can help a bit rather than having a big light on?

Abi5sos1d · 04-13-2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkneon

She may have got a little scared when you went to the cage. Is she ok now? Make sure she has plenty o places to hide in too

Yeah she is fine. She is currently running in her wheel as we speak

and she has one of those wooden bridges and a house that she can hide in/under, however she has chosen to nest in her food bowl

Abi5sos1d · 04-13-2016, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkneon

Have you tried putting on a lamp in your room? She may still hide until the light goes out and you are asleep until she feels a bit more secure but sometimes a lamp can help a bit rather than having a big light on?

I only have a lamp in my room as my big light has stopped working, she has no problem coming out it's just when I go near her cage that she gets a bit wary and skitty