Chestnut's Story + Taming Diary

[cypher]

Those ears! Just too cute for words

[velma]

Oh my goodness! Those ears! Too cute for words He looks like Batfink - one of my favourite cartoons growing up

[Thin Lizzy]

Oh my goodness! What a little cutie, I love his ears!
I've been saying that about another hammie on the forum recently.
That pic is fantastic!
Velma - Oh, Batfink was one of my favourite cartoons growing up also!

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Vodka_B

Day 4 (11 days post joining our family)

Thanks for your kind comments everyone

I'm very sleepy so I only took Chestnut into the tub for 10 minutes or so. Caught him running in his wheel and scooped him up with the bowl. He still isn't happy being picked up/scooped into my hands, and tends to jump out right away.

Today in the bathtub I let him run all over me. He didn't poop, seemed fairly relaxed and even stretched as he walked down my legs. He's still very jumpy and twitchy though, especially when I attempt to scoop him up. He was nibbling on my (metal) buttons, and once tried to nip at the tip of my finger. Each time, I tapped him lightly above his tail and said 'No', in a deeper/lower voice. He stopped Maybe this is something we can work on, or maybe I didn't wash my hands thoroughly enough!

Question of the day...if I wash my hands before playing with my hamster, does he still recognise my smell? Or is the smell of the soap too overpowering? Would that cause him to attempt to nibble/bite? I've yet to find any unscented soap!

I put him back in the tank and he seemed relaxed. I stroked him while he ate his (teeny tiny) yogurt drop piece. I don't want to spoil him too much, but it's early days yet and I hope he's enjoying the bonding process as much as I am.

There was a little bit of 'buzzing' and 'vibrating' but it was quite staccato, almost as he was inhaling and buzzing, exhaling and buzzing quite rapidly. Maybe he was just curious and checking out his surroundings.

He also sat quite close to my face (I was lying down and just talking/singing at him) and then proceeded to groom himself and eat a bit of an almond that he'd retrieved from his pouch. I'm happy that he feels comfortable enough to do all of this on me!

Overall, a great day. We're slowly bonding well. I just need to get him used to me picking him up, and putting him down.

If you have a plastic bin, and add a thick amount of substrate- you can let him do hand over hand, run.. when he jumps off your hands, put him back on your hands, and let him run/walk one hand in front of the other.. You should have your hands, close to the substrate, in case he jumps off your hands. This exercise will help him get use to, being touched by your hands.