What's the best way to tame a new baby hamster?

[StrawberryMartini]

I've got a new hamster and he's so cute! He hasn't even got a name yet. The lady in the shop gave me lots of advice about how to tame him but I'm sure you ladies have some more!

(Ideas for names would be appreciated.. he's a peach colour all over).

How to tame.

Call him Leo. Or Elsa.

HTH

Awww, cute. Congratulations on your new arrival!

We got a hamster about six months ago. He was very nervous and skittish at first, and nipped quite hard whenever I went to touch him. And he weed on me too!

However, I put my fingers out to him every day, and let him take a special hamster milk drop (49p a packet, most supermarkets) from me, and gradually he became tamer. Now he waits at the bars me and 'asks' to be cuddled.

I think I read that they need to be left alone for about two weeks when they arrive home so they can settle into their new home. And always put your hands out in front of him, because they are programmed to think that approaches from above or behind are a predator (in the wild their main enemy are birds swooping down).

Good luck! I found a website once on hamsters suggesting loads of appropriate names. Our hamster is called 'Poco' which is a musical term for 'a little'. Except he's not so little now - he's a big fat ball of fur!

Er... thanks WT.

Lots of gentle handling.
also our son named his gerbil 'whiskers' all we could think of (with 2 cats in the family) was' 8 out of 10 cats prefer Whiskers'.

We always used a tube with ours - a jaffa cake tube is ideal, though you may want to cut it shorter (and it has the added advantage of allowing you to eat jaffa cakes )

You put it in the cage & the hamster will run in, because they like dark places. You can then lift him out without having to handle him, and sit with the tube on your lap with a bit of food & wait for him to come out in his own time. They are usually very curious & will come out & wander round your lap.

DD's first hamster was called Nora (because she did) & the second one Heidi (same reason)but they were both girls. The third one was a boy & called Spiller, because the sawdust went everywhere....

James? (as in '& the Giant Peach')