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Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Small pets

New hamster won't be picked up

21 replies

Katisha · 26/04/2015 22:44

We've had a Syrian for about three weeks. He's about three or four months old, not sure. Our last hamster was ok about being picked up but this one leaps out of the hand, makes weird squeaking noises and generally won't have it.
Been trying to put nice fresh food on our hands which he will take but that's as far as it goes.
Really don't want to be trying that thing always recommended on the internet where you sit in the bath with them. Apart from anything else I don't see how we'd get him that far.
How long does this take, or are we stuck with a hamster we can only look at?

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LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 26/04/2015 22:51

Where did you get him from? If he's not been picked up in the early stages then it's going to be tricky.

villainousbroodmare · 26/04/2015 22:53

Tricky. I think I would bring him back to the pet shop and exchange him for one that you can hold. And check that before you leave the premises.

Katisha · 26/04/2015 23:10

From a local pet shop where he hadn't been handled much I imagine. We can't take him back - what would happen to him?

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PinkGinny · 26/04/2015 23:13

Just persevere. It will take time if he wasn't handled much before. Let him run about on a bed. Up your arms. But you just need to man up and grab him to start with. Be gentle but firm. Stroke the back of his head, or behind his ears. Just for a minute or so; often. Feed tiny amounts of food each time you get him out so there will be an association between a wee cuddle and food. But really you need to not be scared and spend time on it.

PinkGinny · 26/04/2015 23:15

Oh and if he nips or bites try not to scream, drop him or immediately put down. If he is super nippy you a face clothe or a hand towel to pick up to start with until he relaxes a bit.

PinkGinny · 26/04/2015 23:15

use a face cloth even...

Katisha · 26/04/2015 23:19

He seems quite distressed by it so far- desperate to escape. I don't think we could get him to a bed to be honest and I'd be worried he'd leg it off and be impossible to catch. We'll keep trying with the food

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villainousbroodmare · 26/04/2015 23:25

Well, presumably he will go back in the cage from whence he came. In an ideal world the petshop staff will handle him in the interest of re-selling him, or he will remain unsold (and unstressed).
By all means keep trying if you think you can tough out the terror reactions and possible bites.
But I think that petshops should not get away with selling unhandled and petrified critters. If they do so, they are no better than puppy mills.

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 26/04/2015 23:30

We bought ds's from a small independent pet shop and he was adorable. Some are very good, I've heard tales of horror about a large chain though.

Katisha · 26/04/2015 23:32

Well our first hamster was from the large chain and fine. This one is from independent shop and not keen on handling. We won't take him back - he'll have a good home here but hope we can socialise him a bit...

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Katisha · 26/04/2015 23:34

I don't blame the shop either. He seemed fine with being lifted out and given to us.

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goodasitgets · 26/04/2015 23:35

Three weeks is v v early
Wear gardening type gloves if you need to. Sit with hand in cage and let him run over your hand to get food. It takes time. Use a loo roll tube for him to run out of and into your hand and let him run from one hand to the other, keeping your hands moving (hard to describe!) sort of like a circle in front of you
Little and often. Mine have all been unhandled, and some have taken longer than others but they all get used to being picked up
I also used to sit with a dressing gown or big t shirt to make a sort of hammock on my lap for them to run on

goodasitgets · 26/04/2015 23:38

This is pretty useful
www.hamstercentral.com/wiki/Taming_tips

villainousbroodmare · 26/04/2015 23:39

Please do anyway speak to the shop. Nobody should be selling terrified pets.

Katisha · 26/04/2015 23:47

He's not terrified when taking food - just on being picked up. And he will let us stroke him. Anyway good to know three weeks is still early days

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goodasitgets · 27/04/2015 00:34

Keep going
Little and often is better rather than risking pushing it and scaring them
My last one was totally unhandled and scared. At 7 months old he let himself out the cage to come and find me

Katisha · 27/04/2015 07:39

Thanks. Am reassured we'll get there.

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goodasitgets · 27/04/2015 08:34

You'll be cursing us when you end up with the worlds clingiest hamster. Mine would squeak in outrage and hang on to you if you tried to put him down

Katisha · 27/04/2015 08:54

That would actually be brilliant!

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goodasitgets · 27/04/2015 08:55

Send him to me for a week. I'll run a hamster bootcamp

Katisha · 27/04/2015 08:58

You're on!

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