First hamster

[A2BviaCandD]

We bought a Syrian hamster on Tuesday. Any ideas on how to handle it. Put my hand in flat today on the base and she stepped on with 2 paws then bit my finger drawing blood. The pet shop said to put it in the bathtub but I cant get it out of the cage because I cant pick it up. Any ideas appreciated

Why did they say to put it in the bath tub? Have never heard that before ever get hammy used to your voice and stroke it in its cage (where you can retract your hand if it gets nippy) before you attempt to get it out. I've used the ball to transfer from cage to lap when I'm not convinced my hammy would be happy to be handled. Once they're on lap it's easier to stroke them, the picking them up part is what risks most bites in my experience

They said to sit in bathtub with hamster so it can walk over you. Thought that was odd at the time. I have left her alone since she nipped me as I don't want to stress her out. She comes over to the bars and makes noises. Shall I leave her a week then try again. I wasnt trying to pick her up. The pet shop said let her walk onto my hand and gradually build up to picking her up.

Hello!

We're about 2 months in having a Syrian hamster.

We bought a pen thing off Amazon and placed her cage in it and lifted up the top and let her climb out when she was ready. It did help that she was bribed with grapes and carrots. When she was in her pen we stroked her as well as keeping our fingers out the way !!!!

She started climbing up the pen which gave my 9yo confidence to pick her up and put her back in.

Now, when the 9yo opens the cage door she climbs up and is very happy romping around the sofa/over us/ nibbling my string necklace.

She's adorable - has killer abs as last night we caught her hanging from her cage ceiling....

Hope this helps!!!!

* lifted up the top of her cage!!!

Thank you. That is useful. Our hamster is backwards. She has been awake all day and just gone to sleep. She is on one of the platforms and hasn't hidden herself away so she must be comfortable.

Never heard of this with the bath tub.
Our Syrian drew blood when he bit DS and DS quickly learned to not grab him esp when he's asleep. He soon became used to us and will even be picked up and stroked so that he falls asleep.
Atm there's something wrong with him and he's turned savage! He seems disoriented and agitated and squeals at us when we try and stroke him.
We don't know what's wrong with him other than a change in diet when he had a few peas one day.

They suggest the bath tub so they can wander and you’re not tempted to grab them if you think they’re escaping. They are prey animals so don’t like being grabbed.

Let it get used to the cage and noise etc and associate you with treats. Dd found it easier to let her hamster get in and out a cup to get her in and out the cage at first which she did happily. Now she’s out and up on dd’s should in seconds and loves a cuddle.

We put a empty toilet roll tub in the cage and when the hamster climbed in picked up the tube and moved it into the bath.

The bath (with plug in!) is useful if your unsure how to handle the hamster as they can’t climb out but can get used to your voice and you can practise picking him up, but he can’t run off if he jumps out your hand.

We're on our second hamster, he'll get used to you if you just sit by the cage chatting and giving him little treats of fruit or veg he'll stop the nipping and should hopefully enjoy being handled. Our first one was terrible for nipping my daughter wouldn't go near him but after a week or so it stopped and he was fine. Our second one has never nipped but was absolutely terrified of us and everytime we went near the cage he'd hide. He's fantastic with us now though.

I was told about the bath tub when I got mine back in October.
Make sure you're cleaning your hands before handling the hamster because their eyesight isn't the most amazing so if they smell any food on them they can bite assuming it's food they're about to eat.
Buying a clear ball for them to run around the house could help as they will feel safe while exploring their surroundings and then be more used to you when you attempt to handle.
I bought a pen but hamster knows how to escape that so not used often.
Using your hands either side of the hamster to scoop works better as like someone else mentioned they are prey animals so with a hand reaching over to cover will frighten them even if they're voluntarily stepped on your other hand.
Offering fresh fruit and veg through the cage that hamster can take from you helps build a bond.
Also with the awake all day, I assume by now she has got into a comfortable routine. If not, she will soon. Just high alert with new surroundings.

When we first got our Syrian she didn’t like being touched, we spent the first week just watching her and talking to her, in the second week we started hand feeding her so she got used to our smell and having our hands in the cage. It was probably another 2-3 weeks before she let us pick her up but before long she started loving being picked up for cuddles. She’s 2 years old now, and getting slower and calmer and will happily sit with us being cuddled for ages. You will get there in the end, just be patient.

Thank you.

Tonight, she climbed onto my hand without biting and sat happily then went from one hand to the other then took food from me when I offered her some. Think we have turned a corner. Thank you for your comments

@A2BviaCandD... hey that sounds encouraging Our Syrian was exactly like this at first and now he's happy to be handled and will even happily sleep on your lap and chest!

We bought a second hamster, a male in a separate cage and he is very timid. He stays in his nest a lot of the time and makes hurried movements if he hears us. We are just going to take it at his pace and keep talking to him.

@A2BviaCandD.. we nearly got another one too cos DS was fed up of me taking over his! (But then I do clean his house every day) I had to tell him no, we don't have the room for another.
Good luck with your new hammie.

Thank you. I was always scared of hamsters from when I was at senior school and an ex friend threw her hamster across the room at me. She wasn't a friend after that. Our children have been asking for ages but because of my fear, i always said no. This year, i decided to face my fear head on and buy them a hamster each. The girl one is very sweet now. She always comes up to the bars to say hello when we walk in the room and is getting more tame. She is being handled more now. She hasn't bit me since that one time. The boy one is still very nervous. He freezes when he hears anything and then hurries back to hide. He has just taken some food from me so he is making slow progress. Just going to go this pace and not stress him out. I have got over my fear now too. They are quite cute. I would never treat any animal the way my ex friend did and have told our children they are to treat the animals properly too.

@A2BviaCandD.. that ex friend sounds awful. How could anyone do that to a small defenseless creature?
Hope your hammies are settling in well

Just to add on to a previous comment. I don’t mean this in a troll/nasty/condescending way whatsoever just trying to spread some awareness: you should not use hamster balls ever. They are very, very stressful for hamsters as their eyesight is so poor and they get thrown around, confused and scared. I don’t know why they are still sold in pet shops.

@BooseysMom

Never heard of this with the bath tub. Our Syrian drew blood when he bit DS and DS quickly learned to not grab him esp when he's asleep. He soon became used to us and will even be picked up and stroked so that he falls asleep. Atm there's something wrong with him and he's turned savage! He seems disoriented and agitated and squeals at us when we try and stroke him. We don't know what's wrong with him other than a change in diet when he had a few peas one day.

@BooseysMom if he's suddenly turned savage, he may be ill or in pain, he needs to see a vet.

We had a hamster years ago, he became a bit quiet and we thought it was just old age. DH took him to the vet for a checkup because I was at work. I fully expected him to just come home with some antibiotics but he came home minus the hamster, who had a tumour that we hadn't noticed. We handled him a lot but the tumour was internal and easy to miss.

We won't be buying a ball. Don't like the hamster being trapped.

@BooseysMom I know I was shocked when she did it. I had to try and catch it. Luckily it landed on the sofa, so had a soft landing. I had a go at her at the time while she was laughing her head off. I told her mum what she did and left. Never bothered with her again after that.

@fluffedup.. this was ages ago when we first had him and he must have thought DS's finger was food. We had him checked by a vet and he was fine. He since had a fall and hurt his leg. The vet saw him and only charged us £6 for an injection! They were brilliant.

Re. Balls, completely agree..why are pet shops, etc still selling these things? They are so cruel. We bought one when we got our hamster and he started peeing in it which we took as a sign he was completely stressed. We ditched it and now let him free roam in a safe space. He loves scratching the corners of the carpet. He's done it in three places but we don't care as long as we make sure he doesn't find his way through the floorboards!

Taming hamsters can be a long process.
We have four a the moment, along with five mice and two multimammates.
Of the 11, only four can be handled easily. And we have had them all at least a year.

You can either use the tub, a ball-pit style playpen or a eugad style playpen (search Amazon for eugad playpen). Alternatively, you can let him free roam.

Most important when it comes to taming is to ensure that his environment is not stressing him out.

He will need
An enclosure minimum 8050cm (preferably 10050cm) of uninterrupted floorspace, minimal levels as hamsters aren't really climbers.
a 28cm wheel
preferably 30cm deep (or as close to as possible) appropriate substrate (clean and cosy, teabag bedding, carefresh, megazorb, aspen, hemp, allspan, chipsi classic are all safe)
A sand bath
Alternative substrates for scent and texture (Coco husk, Coco coir, a couple of the ones above)
Lots of hidey places - cork logs, birch logs, platforms hat he can burrow under, etc.

This should make him feel confident and reduce the risk he is stressed.

Placing an unscented tissue down your sleeve/top/bra for the day, and then place this in his enclosure in the evening. This will help him get used to your scent.

Use a mug, container or snuggle pouch to get him out and then let him climb over you.

Try not to offer treats through the bars, only ever directly from your hand in/out the enclosure. Find natural treats like flax seeds and meal worms (not too many mealies as they are high calorie), rather than store bought.

I'm very glad you said you're not getting a wheel. They are very dangerous and stressful for hamsters. They cannot see where they are going, are unable to get out and their little paws can get stuck in the holes.

Most of all, enjoy your little one even if they remain look a don't touch hammie (but I think with patience they will be tame).