Help! New owner, don't know what I'm doing!

Gingeroo · 10-13-2012, 04:17 PM

I bought an 8 week old Syrian hamster last Saturday, we let him settle in before handling him, he lets us stroke him, but we haven't held him yet and he bit my 3 year old and drew blood on Thursday, so I have become a bit nervous of trying to handle him now. We have a ball but I've read to put it at the door of the cage and let him crawl in, but the opening to ours is at the top, and its too small to fit the ball through. What should I be doing? Is there any way I can decrease the risk of him biting me? I've never had a hamster before!

The Hamster's family · 10-13-2012, 04:52 PM

Hi !! You could use a cup of coffee to scoop him in... =) He will also feel more secure being out/taken out of his cage... =)

Good luck !!! Syrian are usually great ! We have 4 and they're all nice...after awhile and a bit of patience !!!

Annie xxx

gutterglitterxx · 10-13-2012, 05:06 PM

I was going to make the same suggestion as TheHamstersFamily. Use some other object that will fit through the door... A coffee mug, glass, bowl, tube, etc. 9 times out of 10 their curiosity gets the best of them and they will climb right in or on whatever you have.

My Cheeto and Jasmine (both syrians) are tame but still are more comfortable coming out of the cage on their own, rather than anything to do with my hands. And always make sure your's and your children's hands are clean. If a finger smells like something that might be delicious, you will get nibbled! Still happens to me sometimes when I don't realize my hands smell like food.

chulasweetchica · 10-13-2012, 11:56 PM

My teddy is so sweet it took some time for him to get use to me now he loves me he never bite he just played dead it was funny. Good luck he will be your lil buddy in no time

HorseyMandz · 10-14-2012, 12:27 AM

He will show 'warning signs' before biting hard. He might run in his wheel very fast, yawn, chatter his teeth, empty his pouches very quickly, 'freeze' and stare into space for ages, make a high pitched squeaking noise e.c.t
'Test' nips are to be expected. These don't normally draw blood, are more "Can I eat this?" or "Um... please leave me alone." and aren't aways a precursor to a harder bite ("AAAAGH GET AWAY FROM ME NOW BIG SCARY HUMAN MONSTER!"), but may happen even after he is tame (if your fingers smell like food e.c.t)

Gingeroo · 10-14-2012, 01:14 AM

Thanks, I will try all those tips. It shows how much I have to learn, I thought when he was running fast in his wheel that he was showing off, because he kept coming off it to look at me then back on again!

HollyHamster · 10-14-2012, 03:12 AM

I actually knew of a hamster that would nibble on your finger to tell you he was done with being out of his cage, and being handled. It was a gentle mouthing sort of thing, no blood drawn. If you ignored it, he'd bite harder and harder til you listened.

Anyways, the cup method is a good way to get him out of the cage. In the meantime, give him lots of treats (although not too many or he'll become fat or get sick) and soon he'll associate the "Great Sky Hand" as a good thing, then slowly work your way into having him take the treats from your hand, and then get onto your hand for the treat. eventually he'll be able to be taken out by hand.

sully · 10-14-2012, 03:22 AM

Also i would make sure your hands are clean and dont smell of food as their eyesight sometimes isnt too good.

Alisonj · 10-14-2012, 04:09 AM

To get my hamsters used to coming out and being handled, I put the plug in the bath and sit in there and let the hamster explore. It gets them used to you and they can't escape! It works. My hamsters are very tame now and they have never bitten.

Gingeroo · 10-14-2012, 01:06 PM

Thanks, I've cleaned his cage out today and managed to get him into his ball, which he seemed to love, going to try putting my hand in tonight when he's awake!