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Old 04-17-2022, 06:43 PM   #1
livvrheaa
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Gainesville,VA
Posts: 6
Post scared to handle my syrian female

Hi! this is my first hamster ever and before getting her i made sure to do my research and learn what she needs and not just the bare minimum. She's definitely happy and she loves her enclosure, but i have yet to handle her. I pet her sometimes and she doesn't flinch or go away she stays in place and sometimes seems to get more relaxed and sleepy. I have a fear of scaring her more than her biting me. I've watched a ton of videos and looked up everything having to do with safety when handling your hammy and i feel comfortable its just when i go to do it my anxiety gets the best of me and i dont want to scare her from me being scared. im not sure what to do. i kind of need reassurance about this topic and about the knowledge i have so any input or advice or questions are 100000% appreciated.
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Old 04-19-2022, 01:36 AM   #2
cloudy
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Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: World
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Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

Hello livvrheaa and welcome to the forum. You sound so caring towards your hamster. I was wondering if you would feel more comfortable having your hamster in a snuggle sack? I saw a youtuber called Victoria Rachael uses one sometimes. This is a little sack of a soft material were the hamster can go inside. I will put a link of one for you.
Reversible Snuggle Sack Pocket for Small Animals | Etsy UK
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Old 04-19-2022, 07:57 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

Do you pet her in the cage? I'm assuming if you're not handling her, you haven't had her out of the cage yet? The snuggle sack cloudy linked is nice - these are for out of cage use only as hamsters can chew fabric and get threads caught round their legs etc - but fine for her to climb into and lift her out.

I think at first the easiest thing is to find an easy way to get them out of the cage without picking them up. This is a good idea anyway because even a tame hamster can wriggle free and fall.

If you have a hamster ball that fits in the cage you could put that in for her, with a treat in = to walk into - then just pop the lid on, life the ball out and carry it to a playpen area and let her walk out of the ball again. You can do similar with a tube - put a treat at the far end and when she walks into the tube put your hand over both ends and lift the tube out (then put one end into a hamster ball near the cage so she walks in). Or have a box right next to the cage, put the tube down in the box and carry the box to the playpen area.

For taming a lot of people use the dry bath tub - she can run around with the odd hide or toy and get used to being petted in there. And you can put your hand flat on the base, palm up, and just let her walk over it. From there you just lift your hand slightly when she walks onto it but still let her walk off. After that you should be able to hold her to pet her. They often don't like to sit still long or be held for long so she may walk off but you can pick her up and bring her back again.

If you can set up a playpen area as well you can sit in it and she can run around and climb over your legs and get more familiar with you. Keep away from the edges (or they can run up your arm and jump out!).

They do behave differently out of the cage than in it. They can be less interested and more territorial in the cage and perk up a bit when out of it.
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Old 04-19-2022, 07:04 PM   #4
livvrheaa
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Gainesville,VA
Posts: 6
Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

I pet her and she loves it. when she smells me she will continuously come to smell me and when i got her after about 2 weeks i would put my hand in and she would step on it but thats it. I also really like the snuggie idea and ordered one for her! she has a play area that is ready for her and safe, i just havent felt ready to handle her yet. she falls asleep in the open and grooms while i pet her and she'll doze off even. I know shes probably ready to be handled i just needed to feel certain on how to go about it so i make her feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
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Old 04-19-2022, 07:07 PM   #5
livvrheaa
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Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Gainesville,VA
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Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

I love Victoria!! i ordered my hamster a snuggie so we will definitely work on using that to get her out to make her feel comfortable as well. I just want her to feel safe and to build trust with me so i'm willing to do whatever i need to for her.
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Old 04-20-2022, 01:11 AM   #6
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

Hello and welcome to HC!

The way i see it is that your hamster is ready and probably waiting for some out of cage time but you are nervous and don't feel confident enough yet.

I totally understand that because i rescue hamsters and there is this initial hesitation of not knowing how the hamster is going to react when taken out of the security of their habitat.

I also take a new hamster out via a "hamster taxi" and then sit in a safe area to place them on my lap so they get used to me. I stroke them and very gradually, over a few sessions move on to picking them up. You could sit in a dry bath tub with a blanket and some toys.

It's like with everything new, we are unsure at first and build up confidence as we go.

Last edited by Ria P; 04-20-2022 at 12:11 PM.
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Old 04-20-2022, 01:49 AM   #7
cloudy
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Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

Quote:
Originally Posted by livvrheaa View Post
I love Victoria!! i ordered my hamster a snuggie so we will definitely work on using that to get her out to make her feel comfortable as well. I just want her to feel safe and to build trust with me so i'm willing to do whatever i need to for her.
I love Victoria too. She has taught me such a lot. Your hamster sounds really comfortable with you. I think it is lovely how much you care for her. I hope the snuggle sack helps you to feel more comfortable in petting her.
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Old 04-20-2022, 11:42 AM   #8
livvrheaa
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Gainesville,VA
Posts: 6
Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

Quote:
Originally Posted by cloudy View Post
I love Victoria too. She has taught me such a lot. Your hamster sounds really comfortable with you. I think it is lovely how much you care for her. I hope the snuggle sack helps you to feel more comfortable in petting her.
thank you so much for being so kind and helping!! it means so much i feel a bit better now i just needed that boost of confidence with her.
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Old 04-20-2022, 11:43 AM   #9
cloudy
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Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: World
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Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

Quote:
Originally Posted by livvrheaa View Post
thank you so much for being so kind and helping!! it means so much i feel a bit better now i just needed that boost of confidence with her.
I am so happy to hear this. It would be nice to know your hamsters name. Maybe you would like to do a thread on her some time.
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Old 04-20-2022, 11:44 AM   #10
livvrheaa
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Gainesville,VA
Posts: 6
Default Re: scared to handle my syrian female

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
Hello and wrlcome to HC!

The way i see it is that your hamster is ready and probably waiting for some out of cage time but you are nervous and don't feel confident enough yet.

I totally understand that because i rescue hamsters and there is this initial hesitation of not knowing how the hamster is going to react when taken out of the security of their habitat.

I also take a new hamster out via a "hamster taxi" and then sit in a safe area to place them on my lap so they get used to me. I stroke them and very gradually, over a few sessions move on to picking them up. You could sit in a dry bath tub with a blanket and some toys.

It's like with everything new, we are unsure at first and build up confidence as we go.
thank you for your input and reassurance. her being comfortable is my main concern but i know we have to build up to that trust gradually over time. your advice is greatly appreciated
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