How do I tame my hamster?

Question

I got my hamster 3 weeks ago and all he does is stay in his house day and night. When he does rarely walk round his cage he looks healthy but if I appraoch him with treats etc he runs off scared. What do I do???

Answer 1

He sounds lonely , get another one maybe that will cheer him up.

Answer 2

Do NOT get another hamster. Hamsters are not generally social animals, unless they are mating, and even then for only a short time. If two hamsters are kept together, they will fight and pick on each other.T

As for taming your hamster, be sure to take him out and hold him everyday, feed him treats while doing so, so that he will associate being held as a positive thing. Hamsters are nocturnal so try not to disturb him during the daytime so he can get his sleep.

Keep your hamster in the family room or someplace where there is a lot of interaction with the family. This will allow him to become familiar with the noises of the house. Do not keep him in a bedroom where it is quiet and he will be forgotten. Good Luck!

Answer 3

It took my hamster about 2-3weeks to get use to us. Make sure he has an active cage. We brought a Critter Trail cage which is great with all the tubes and has several levels, and really colourful.

You should start interacting with him now its been 3weeks, making sure your hands are clean, put some nuts on your hand and try and coax him out. You should keep this up on a daily basis.

You can also get the hamster balls, so he can run around for a hour or so.

Hamsters are pretty much dead to the world during the day, keeping you up on the wheel all night (8-12 miles a night apparently!!!)

Answer 4

ok the first problem to do will sound weird and wonderful regardless of the indisputable fact that it facilitates.placed on an previous pair of socks you do not opt for anymore for an afternoon and then take them off and placed a million in her cage and throw away the different.this may get her used to questioning that your fragrance would not pose a chance.that's major because hamster eyesight isn't that giant. Then wait 2 days (leaving her with the sock)then at the same time as she is unsleeping and under no circumstances eating or grooming placed some sunflower seeds on your palm and placed your hand interior the cage.She would nibble your palms yet received't chew complicated-nibbling is her way of seeing what you're.enable her take the seeds yet do not attempt to lift her out or puppy her. Repeat that when or two times an afternoon for 2 or 3 days,then attempt to gently stroke her with a finger at the same time as she is close for your hand.try this for a pair of days then assuming she would not run,gently placed both palms aspect through aspect which includes her interior the middle and slowly raise her out,sit and stroke her with a million hand for a minute then placed her decrease back,repeat this over various days or a week slowly increasing how lengthy you've her out for. ultimately she will be completely comfortable with you.the secret's staying power.

Answer 5

Time is your answer take everything slowly when you try to pick up your hamster try to go from the side and not over the top of him. Could you imagine a giant hand coming to grab you. I am sure in a very short space of time with a little bit of tlc will start a good bond will grow between you both

Good Luck

LOZ

Answer 6

He could be scared, but after 3 weeks I would think he would be used to you by now. I would say maybe try and pick him up when he's out. Don't invade his home to get him, though. I don't know if they are smart enough to not 'trust' if you didd so, but why take the chance? He may try and bite you, but pet him and talk soothinng to him, and he should calm right down. Males are way more mellow than females, too. I had a male that was very tame, and very friendly. He would sit in my lap and in my pocket. lol

Answer 7

Food is the answer, put a little bit of something hamsters love on your hand and hold your hand really still, eventually he will come out to get it. The more you do it the more used he will become to your presence and smell, also you can try putting food next to your hand so that you can gently touch him when he comes to get it. You will make friends soon. He may be naturally shy...

I have a dog who is quite shy with new people, he doesn't like them petting him, but if they have food he will come up to them, although he still takes time to get acquainted, he's not a rescue and have never been treated badly, just a shy dog : )

Answer 8

You have to build up trust with it slowly.
Also hamsters a very timid so dont just reach for it, it'll run of or be liable to nip.

try sitting your hand in the cage, with a treat near by and sit for a while letting it get to know your scent.

Then once he is used to getting a treat with you hand near, put treat in hand and repeat the process. eventually he will let you lightly stroke him as he approaches and wont mind being lifted.

it just takes a little time. A point to remember is that hamsters are very short sighted, and can be startled by fast moving objects (hands) coming at them. They are nocturnal, so expect it to be mopre acive in the early AM more than in the day, also its winter they tend to be less active.
The best treat to entice it with is fresh fruit / veg. but very small portions. make sure it eats them or make a point of removing it from cage before it goes off if the hamster 'hides' it.

Answer 9

Get him used to being handled. You have to be very gentle with them at first and they will wriggle and struggle. It took about 5 or 6 weeks for our kids hamster to get used to it but once he did he would actually come out of his den when the cage door was opened.
Try not to wake him up to handle him though.

Answer 10

i have a hamster and i tried to pick it up but it bit be so someone else started picking him up and then we kept getting him out every now and then and there you have it he was tame so maybe if you handle him more then he might become tame

Answer 11

get him out of the cage and handle him.. the more you do the more friendly he will become.. if you dont he will just start biting and being anti social.... if he bites at first wear gloves but dont give up!. persevere .... keep getting him out.. but remember he may be grumpy in the day as they are nocturnal creatures so evening is best...unless he is out in the day.... you gotta break these little fur balls in!!!