New hamster tips

Alizarin

Me and OH bought a hamster at the weekend :j
He's really fluffy and funny to watch, and we've both fallen in love with him already!

We're going to get him out of his cage for the first time tonight and I'm kinda nervous about being bitten! Does anyone have any good 'avoid getting bitten by hamster' tips? I know about picking them up from the front so they can see you, and not having food-smelling hands, but is there anything else I can do?

I'm also interested in hearing any other hamster tips that any of you knowledgeable people may have. Thanks!

lolseh

Aw he's cute. Let him have a sniff at you first then gently pick him up. If that doesn't work then try a trail of food for him to come out the cage himself. All my hammies have been really tame so I've never had a problem.

There_Goes_Trouble

Try rubbing your hands in his bedding to get his scent on your hands. That might help him to relax a bit.

jessicamb

It might be a bit soon to get him out, maybe just try and get him to have a bit of food from your hands first, then move onto them running over your hands over a few days. Another tip to get them used to the smell of you is to have a tissue down your bra/armpit etc and then let them have it for bedding. Its gross but works at getting them used to the smell of you.

Some hints:
they are escape artists and once they find an exit point they keep using it.
have enough stuff around for a bucket trap when they do get out
have a good sized wheel - most are too small for Syrian Hamsters.
use paper bedding rather than the cotton wool type - its apparently indigestible and can clog up their intestines. I'm too tight to buy little bags of shredded paper so use value toilet rolls, much better value for money

thesim

I second getting a good wheel- I recommend the silent spinner for syrian hamsters. Not only is it bigger than standard cage wheels, its so much quieter compared to the cage wheels.

Dont swoop down and grab the hamster. Wait until he is awake, and done his business before picking him up. Generally to pick a hamster up you should cup your hands and either let them climb in or scoop them up. Try just stroking him in the cage first.

You might want to cover your hand with either gloves or your sleeve.

Dont dangle your finger in front of their face.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Whatever you do - DO NOT leave the hamster in a ball for 10 seconds with a 3 year old whilst you put a cup in the kitchen - Took me an HOUR to catch the bloody thing after my DD let it out!!!!

10 seconds!!!!

Can you imagine what she would of done if I'd left her for a minute!!

Sally_A

Hamsters have a habit of "tasting" your hands without actually biting. If you are wary, at the first handling be at floor level in case you do jump and drop it. Gradually you will get to know your hamster, and vice versa.

We used to have a couple of Russian Hamsters, the female was always at the edge of her cage for a pick up and cuddle, and used to sleep in my top shirt pocket. aaah...Mrs B...she was my favourite.

jessicamb

if you have to wake them up they get really grumpy - best give them a good five minutes before you handle them then!

Mama_Cat

He's a real sweetie! I used to have russian hamsters that were always really tame when I held them, but for some reason whenever we went to the vet and I reasurred them he wasn't a 'biter' invariably they would get bitten!

I agree with getting a good quality wheel, preferably one that is enclosed between the runners rather than with individual metal steps, as I have heard hamsters can get their legs trapped and accidentally broken. Also if the wheel (and hopefully not the hamster!) starts to squeek, put a tiny drop of vegetable oil on to make it spin more smoothly.

faded_flowers

I wouldn't actually pick it up tonight - I'd take the cage apart on the floor, and let the ham get used to your hands in the cage, offer it treats, see if it's happy to walk over your hand. If you're very worried, wear gloves - but a bite only hurts a bit

If the hamster gets stressed, flips over etc. back off and let it relax. And find more treats Bribery is always the way forward.

Build this up for a few days and then move on to gently scooping it up on to your knee.

Alizarin

Thanks for all the tips We didn't try to pick him up last night in the end as he kept being asleep whenever I decided it was time to have a go, and I didn't want to wake him up - cheeky blighter!

I will have a go tonight at putting his cage inside his cardboard hamster fort and letting him make his own way out, then we can stroke him without needing to pick him up for a bit. I never thought of giving him a tissue with my smell on - that sounds like a good plan so I'll do that a few hours before letting him out.

I heard that it's a good idea to talk to the hamster so that it recognises your voice, so I had a good old chinwag with him yesterday as he was cleaning himself. He stopped a few times and seemed to be listening so hopefully that's a good sign! :j