New hamster

rjhammond91 · 11 August 2017 at 1:16PM

Hey!

I just need some advice about my new Syrian hamster.

I bought him on Monday (I know, not long ago!) but he appears to be terrified of me! If he's awake and I'm around he just stands, stares and appears to be vibrating when he looks at me. Me and my partner have tried to make him feel comfortable offering him treats etc but he's having none of it.

We took the top off the cage to try and get him used to our hands to try and start picking him up etc but he tried to jump out, I had to quickly grab him to stop him escaping and he squealed (obviously out of fright) but he doesn't seem to be getting over it.

How do I make him realise I'm not there to hurt him but to love him? I feel like he's never going to love me back!

Thanks x

sheramber · 12 August 2017 at 5:37PM

Do you rub your hands in the sawdust on the bottom of the cage to get the smell on them and cover your own smell before putting your hand near him.

Put some tasty food on your hand and let him approach it.

UKTigerlily · 12 August 2017 at 7:00PM

He won't love you back, he's a hamster, but as above, tasty food goes a long way, along with time & patience x

rjhammond91 · 13 August 2017 at 8:18AM

I have rubbed my hand in the sawdust and tried putting treats in my hand but he just jumps around like I'm trying to murder him

Fosterdog · 13 August 2017 at 9:29AM

It's just going to take time and patience. Really you would have been better going to a good breeder instead of a pet shop because they would be well handled and used to people.

When I used to get in nervous rescues (all sorts of rodents) I'd spend plenty of time every day with them. Starting with just sitting next to the cage and talking to them, then opening the door and slowly putting my hand in but not trying to touch them. When they were comfortable with my hand in their space I'd start tossing treats and tasty food towards them and building up to them coming closer to me and eventually eating out of my hand. Then progress to little touches, eventually stroking and then finally picking them up.

Once they are ok with being picked up I'd wear a hoodie and pop them in the front pouch and hand feed them.

The whole process has to be done slowly and sometimes if you go too fast you have to go back a stage or two. Some have taken as little as a week and others a few months before they are happy to be handled but it has worked every time.

Trina90 · 13 August 2017 at 10:10AM

Daily handling. I used to work with Syrian hamsters and they were much like you described (but also a bit aggressive) so we had to handle them daily. They were fine with picking up once they were used to regular handling.:)

New hamster

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