I just bought a hamster for the first time and I was wondering if there is anything I should know. ?

Question

It is a male Panda Bear hamster and I have had him for 2 days. I have already gotten him a cage, food, chew sticks, and bedding. I even bought him an excercise ball to play in. Now that I have him all settled in, I've tried to pick him up to pet him, but he's still really leineant. Is there anything I can do to make him not so scared.?

Answer 1

I have had 2 hamsters so far and own one right now. My hamster was very very skittish for about a month after I got her. During that month, she wouldn't let me hold her or touch her, but I fed her small little treats called Yogurt Drops, which they like a ton. You can get them at Petco. This helped her get used to me.

You can try to take the hamster out, but be prepared of jumping. My friend attempted to hold mine and she fell 4 feet onto a hardwood floor. Luckily, she was okay. It helps if you and someone else sit on the floor and form a circle on carpet and maybe let it run arond a little; be careful, mine jumped like a kangaroo.

Another tip, every time you take him out and then put him back, check that every door is closed and there are no holes. That is how they escape, even if the hole is on the top of the cage.

Hamsters are great pets, cute and loveable but they can be a pain in the beginning. By the way, good idea on the exercise ball, mine loves hers, but she is always bumping into walls and the like, check that the lid doesn't come off and you let him run in an enclosed space. No open doors outside or stairs he can roll down. Hope you enjoy having a hamster as a pet as much as I do!

P.S. I know someone earlier answered that you shouldn't put a lot of bedding in, but mine takes it from all over the cage and puts it a huge pile. Imagine every single piece of bedding in the cage piled in this huge mound with your hamster in the middle of it. That's what mine does, I don't know about other hamsters. Unless your hamster's weird, I don't think they can choke on bedding, they stuff it in their cheek pouches, and they look absolutely adorable when they do.

As a special treat, I give mine peanuts, they're her favorite food!

Answer 2

Presently we have 21 total. Cup him in both your hands in his cage and hold him this way for a minute or little longer. Do it as often as you can each day until he begins to calm down. I adopted a black bear hamster, female and she would growl and scream and bite something awful. My son did this everyday for a month and a half. We've only had her little then 3 months and she still if squirmy, but my son is not one to give up on a hamster. She is our 19th hamster, we've had up to 28 at one time. Presently we have 21 total. I know pet stores have most people buy pine litter, but pine can cause respiratory problems, using aspen or a hypo-allergic one is much better for them. Pet stores sell these litters. That hamster earned the name of Psycho due to her behavior. Just be patient, it will take some time. Try hand feeding her to gain her trust. With some of the hamsters my son trained them to climb into a tube, then into his hand. These were very territorial ones. Almost forgot, make sure the care has about 2" of litter and the cage is not near a window or heat vent.

Answer 3

Congrats on your new babies.
first off have you gotten him a hideout? Hamsters will feel alot more safe if they have somewhere they can hide out at. If your not looking to spend much money a toilet paper roll will work. What kind of bedding did you get him. As an extra bedding you should get him some (bed fluff) and put it in a corner of a cage the like to burrow in this. You said you got him a ball but did you get him a wheel . That is the most inportaint when it comes to play they will come out alot more when they have something to do. And also it will help keep them healthy. If you do get him a wheel make sure not to get him a metal one. a plasic one that is closed in will protect his little feet. You also might want to give him some cardboard. "the toilet paper roll will work". Make sure you get him pleanty of tunnels for his cage so he has pleanty of room to roam around in. You said hes leineant... just let him have some time to his self for the next few days to get used to his surroundings. Every now and then you should just sit beside the cage and talk to him this will help him regonize your voice and become more comfortable when you go to pick him up. When picking him up you should also come at him slowley and talk to him in a slow almost baby talk voice. Limit how many times he is picked up and taken out of his cage per day they dont like the confusion "in, out, in , out" it causes stress on your little guy and causes him to be scared.
I hope i could help good luck with your new babie.
thank you.

PS. anytime you handle your little guy make sure you wash your hands before and after you wouldnt want to risk him or you getting a sickness. :]

Answer 4

You have to let him get accustomed to your hand.
First just put your hand in the cage. Try grabbing a few sunflower seeds from his food mix (not from his dish) and put them in your hand. These will be seen as a friendly gesture. Then put your hand in the cage. Don't try to touch him or pick him up. Just let him learn what you smell like. Let him come investigate you.

After a while he'll become comfortable enough to walk around on your hand. Once he's in your hand carefully cup him with the other and lift him up. If he jumps down quickly, that's ok, just try later. Be sure to keep him close to the cage though. If he does happen to fall you don't want him to fall a long distance.

The basic key here is patience and make him feel safe.

But be sure to wait a few more days before you try this. He needs to become accustomed to his surroundings first.

Answer 5

It looks like you have already gotten alot of great advice. Your hamster sounds like a sweetie. I have been told that Panda Bears are bred for their good temperment :) You will really enjoy him!

Just give him time to adjust and work with him and he will love you. Hand feeding him and grooming him will build a close bond.

Answer 6

I had a panda bear hamster ,mine was scared the first cople of weeks then he got to know me .And he let me pet him all the time.In the 2 years I had him he only bite me two times all in the first day i got him

Answer 7

just approach him slowly and let him get use to you, u can try feeding by putting the food in your hand each night and letting him eat off it, keeping your hand very still but this takes time and patience but then he shoudl feel more comfortable around you. try holding him and stuff if u can so he will get use to people handling him. you shoud also get him a wheel for his cage for proper exercise and as for bedding, alot of bedding can be dangerous to hamsters adn most people recommend stayign away from it, you can buy regular wood shavings for hamsters from a petstore that are cheap and safe, thats what i use for my hamster... hope this helps!:)

Answer 8

Awe! Give him a couple more days to get adjusted to his new home. Talk to him and let him smell you and your hands. You might want to set up a secure area where he can run away or hide to give him some freedom and play. Try to be calm otherwise he will get more jumpy and frightened. If he is a baby, you can train it. I was able to train 2 of my hamsters. When they were older, it was harder to train and keep them calmer. Most of all have patience and enjoy them!

Answer 9

you need to give him a few day to adjust to his new surroundings i feed my hamster small milk bones for dogs as treats( it sounds weird i know but he LOVES them), apples and grapes. My hamster loves his house and trying to climb up his water bottle to get out. if you have a cage with a wire top put a book on it so your hamster can't get on the top of the cage and climb out!

GOOD LUCK and have fun with your new pet!!!

Answer 10

Hamsters are pretty smart and sneaky! Make sure his cage is very secure! Give him time to get used to you.