Introducing myself and Luna!

Kirsty3 · 09-03-2011, 05:49 AM

Hi guys, 2 days ago I got my very first hamster, a pale grey Syrian who I named Luna! (after Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter and because of the 'lunar' moon (I like the night sky!)

)

Got her a 23" x 12" x 12" wire cage which sits on my desk in my room, and it's got two levels (with a bridge!)

I've had guinea pigs before so am kind of familiar with looking after small animals, but this will be an exciting trip!

I'm still new to her at the moment but can't wait until she becomes tame and we can play and I can teach her tricks etc

Nice to meet you all!

StarlightSerenity · 09-03-2011, 08:11 AM

Welcome to HC

I have a Syrian called Luna too

Kirsty3 · 09-03-2011, 08:13 AM

Ah cool! Any story behind the name? How long have you had her?

StarlightSerenity · 09-03-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirsty3

Ah cool! Any story behind the name? How long have you had her?

She has a little patch on her back that looks a bit like a cresent moon, or at least it did when she was a baby. People here helped me choose her name

I've had her since Jan this year, when she was 5 weeks old

Kirsty3 · 09-03-2011, 08:48 AM

Aw that's lovely!
Mine's 5 weeks too! Had her a couple of days

how long did it take for her to grow accustomed to you so you could pick her up etc?
Tried putting my hand in with a treat but she's not interested yet! Maybe too soon?

StarlightSerenity · 09-03-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirsty3

Aw that's lovely!
Mine's 5 weeks too! Had her a couple of days

how long did it take for her to grow accustomed to you so you could pick her up etc?
Tried putting my hand in with a treat but she's not interested yet! Maybe too soon?

It took a couple of weeks until she was completely tamed. I dont like the hand in the cage with a treat method personally as I dont like invading their territory.

I used the method from here (where I got Luna) - Taming handling hamsters which worked wonders, it was easy, I never got bitten and Luna took to being handled really quickly.

Kirsty3 · 09-03-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarlightSerenity

It took a couple of weeks until she was completely tamed. I dont like the hand in the cage with a treat method personally as I dont like invading their territory.

I used the method from here (where I got Luna) - Taming handling hamsters which worked wonders, it was easy, I never got bitten and Luna took to being handled really quickly.

Wow, out of all the articles I've read, they've all said the treat thing, but this one sounds good, especially if it's tried and tested!

She's gone into her house now as opposed to her nest so I'll leave her a little while, get her up and feed her and then try it this evening.

Can't believe I never found that article! Thanks for the help

So basically don't worry about 'scaring' her when trying to pick her up the first time, she'll realise it's ok?

fluffymunchkins · 09-03-2011, 12:05 PM

Welcome to you and Luna

Kirsty3 · 09-04-2011, 02:12 AM

Thank you!

StarlightSerenity · 09-04-2011, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirsty3

Wow, out of all the articles I've read, they've all said the treat thing, but this one sounds good, especially if it's tried and tested!

She's gone into her house now as opposed to her nest so I'll leave her a little while, get her up and feed her and then try it this evening.

Can't believe I never found that article! Thanks for the help

So basically don't worry about 'scaring' her when trying to pick her up the first time, she'll realise it's ok?

Yeah, most seem to use the treat method - I just dont understand the logic behind it because of hamsters being territorial. You want them to feel safe and content in their territory (their cage) and invading it almost straight away seems counter productive.

She probably will get a bit scared - I cant remember what the article says but one thing you shouldnt do is chase her around the cage because that will scare her. If she runs off, let her then wait for her to go back to the edge of the cage. You do have to be patient with it but it works really well

When I first started picking Luna up she would leap straight off my hand - after a couple of times of closing my hand around her she started staying on my hand longer and longer without leaping off. I kept putting her down after a little bit (increasing the time each time) just to ensure she knew I would put her back down.