My new hamster any advise

MisterMinsc · 02-14-2015, 07:09 PM

Hi I'm a new owner and I'm just looking for tips and advice specific to my new hamster. He is a white and tan Syrian called Boo. (You'll either get the reference or you wont.) He seems happy enough, but I just want to make sure really, I bought him 2 days ago. From pets at home I bought a cage while I was there, and yes I know about pet shop cages being to small. However the cage I really want to put him in is on the way and I'd rather keep him where his is while he is young and still needs to be tamed, as the cage I have ordered is huge with loads of hide - holes, so ideally I would like to tame him before he goes in there. Plus it has to be delivered first.

His behavior seems normal, and he's never shown any obvious signs of distress. Bar-chewing, squeaking, hissing that sort of thing.The only sound he makes is a faint clicking noise in his house. But apparently that means he is happy with his food and bedding.For taming at this early stage I just talk to him really, I a gentle even tone. "Who's a good boy? Are you playing on your wheel?" That kinda thing. he seems to be getting used to me and his environment, (My bedroom.) Lights Sound from my computer and me moving around and stuff. Some times he stops and looks at me, if I wave and talk to him he just carries on with his hamster stuff as if to say,"Oh Its you." I'm a night owl at today Boo woke up about 5:30 pm and its nearly 3 am now. I would like to get Boo tamed quite quickly but I know it takes time. The only thing I need advise with right now is cleaning him out. I don't want to try lifting him out while he isn't tame and the only thing I can think of is just popping my hand in quietly while he is asleep. He seems to have picked the corner under his ladder as his toilet so thats the only place that obviously need cleaning now.

Thin Lizzy · 02-15-2015, 07:02 AM

Hi and welcome to the forum!
Firstly, don't go changing him out anytime soon.
He needs to settle in and like all hammies mark his territory.
Usually they'll pick a corner as their loo.
If he had then, I would do a daily spot check on that area only, take away the soiled substrate and put some fresh on top.
With a set place used as his toilet, you won't need to clean him out for 3 weeks.
When you do clean him out, keep back some of the substrate and bedding and mix this in with the fresh stuff, hamsters like to be able to smell their scent.
Cleaning any toys should be done on a different day.

cypher · 02-15-2015, 07:36 AM

Hi & welcome to HC
It sounds as though Boo is settling in really well, I know what you mean about wanting to tame quickly but do keep going slowly or at least at his pace & you'll actually get there a lot quicker!
You could try putting a litter tray of some sort (I use chinchilla sand in mine but you can buy hamster litter) under the ladder where he's been peeing, put some of the soiled substrate on top & he'll probably continue to use the same spot so you can easily clean it as needed. Putting your hand in to do it while he's sleeping will probably be fine, if he wakes just talk to him & reassure him.

RubyDG · 02-15-2015, 09:21 AM

You can also get him used to your scent by keeping a piece of tissue paper on your skin for a few hours (like up your sleeve) and then putting that in the cage. There is a good taming guide on the forum but I can't seem to find it again - if someone could please post the link here I think that would be helpful

MisterMinsc · 02-15-2015, 10:57 AM

Mmm well I may have made a mistake then.
I went back to pets at home today and picked up some small animal safe disinfectant and a travel cage... I did a full clean mostly to get Boo used to the routine. I simply lifted the top of the cage and moved his box into the travel cage, I then cleaned and disinfected everything by my step mums advice, She trained as a vetinary nurse some years ago and is training the new familly puppy right now. (I don't actually live with my parents.) He is back in his cage now as I type and I'll be sure to follow your advice in the future. I know I'm probably worrying about nothing Its just I have an anxeity disorder and I want to do right by the little guy. In fact I bought him as a therapy animal. I'm glad I joined this forum you have all been very kind and quick to respond. I'll let you all know how I get on

Thanks

herbi7 · 02-15-2015, 04:33 PM

Hello tone, I am conscientious too I worried so much when I first got my ham. Yours sounds pretty laid back if he is easygoing about doing his thing while u r about so don't worry too much about cleaning him out a bit quick! He sounds like he will settle nicely. U have come to the right place for advice, I am pretty inexperienced but the guys on here r great! Hope u enjoy ur new pet

cypher · 02-15-2015, 11:36 PM

Don't worry about cleaning him out too soon, it's not going to do him any harm & he'll quickly get over it, Just remember that hamsters are really clean little animals for the most part so you don't need to go overboard with disinfectant very often at all. They do leave scent trails to find their way around too so when we clean up we disturb those which is fine once in a while but not too often!
You'll soon get used to your ham & be able to figure out what needs cleaning when.
We all obsess a bit over getting things right for our hams so you're certainly not alone there!

Thin Lizzy · 02-15-2015, 11:45 PM

I totally agree with cypher.
I know when I got my very first hamster, I was a bit obsessed with cleaning but, I learned to be more laid back about it.

MisterMinsc · 02-16-2015, 11:52 AM

Update: Boo really wasn't bothered about being cleaned out, typical boobear

He is still using the same corner to go potty and he likes his new water bottle. I had to get a new one because the I noticed the other one, that came with the cage was cracked I don't think Boo did it. I put a pets at home honey stick in his cage and he loved it demolished the hole thing in about 3 hours some of the stuff fell of the sticks and is resting in the bottom of the bag. Might use the to lure him onto my hand for taming, (but not just yet) it's only day 4 and a laid back as he is I don't want to scare him. He's also using his house instead of dragging all his bedding to his box. I'm more chilled now and let him get on with it really. thanks everyone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsc

Thats where Boo's name and my handle came from

yes I'm a geek

RubyDG · 02-17-2015, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterMinsc

Update: Boo really wasn't bothered about being cleaned out, typical boobear

He is still using the same corner to go potty and he likes his new water bottle. I had to get a new one because the I noticed the other one, that came with the cage was cracked I don't think Boo did it. I put a pets at home honey stick in his cage and he loved it demolished the hole thing in about 3 hours some of the stuff fell of the sticks and is resting in the bottom of the bag. Might use the to lure him onto my hand for taming, (but not just yet) it's only day 4 and a laid back as he is I don't want to scare him. He's also using his house instead of dragging all his bedding to his box. I'm more chilled now and let him get on with it really. thanks everyone

Minsc - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thats where Boo's name and my handle came from

yes I'm a geek

That's fantastic

- Miniature Giant Space Hamster!! I personally think having a fire-breathing phase doppelganger giant space hamster would be awesome - although I probably wouldn't get the security deposit for my flat back