I have a new orange and white syrian hamster called Cookie and she is 8 weeks old. I brought her home yesterday and has learnt where everything is but i was wondering when i can start taming it and how.
PLZ HELP ME!!!!!
2007-02-27 04:13:18 · 8 answers · asked by xchocolate-rainbowsx 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
This is what someone told me. Before you try to pick your hamster up, wash yours hands each time so you don't smell like food. And here's the secret, after washing your hands, rub your hands thoroughly in her bedding. It actually works! She WANTS to play with you! And guaranteed not to bite. Well unless you squeeze her then of coarse she might bite.
Another tip, take out the sunflower seeds in her food. Only give them to her as a treat or to lead her in the right direction like if she went under the bed. Sunflower seeds are fattening if given too many.
Remember be gentle. Cookie will learn to love you in time. Have fun and good luck.
2007-02-27 04:59:40 · answer #1 · answered by stargirl 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would give her another day or so to get used to things before you try handling and taming her. You can talk to her though. It doesn't matter what you say as long as you use a soothing voice. She needs to associate you with being safe and caring.
When it comes time to start taming, if she's never been held before, you should pick her up in a dishtowel. This will ease her mind a little, and if she does get scared and bite (or pee), it'll protect your fingers. Set her down somewhere on the towel and just let her walk around while you talk to her kindly and see if she will let you pet her. Generally speaking, syrians are easier to tame and come with a mellower personality than robos or the smaller breeds of hammies, so she will probably let you pet her and maybe even pick her up the first day. It reall depends on how much she was handled in the pet store. In any case, just keep her out for about ten minutes, and then put her away for the day. Do this for a couple days, until she gets used to you. You can try to pick her up without the towel if you think she'll let you. Eventually she'll understand that you're not trying to hurt her. But be careful because they are quick little buggers, so they will try to run :)
And one last thing, hammie are nocturnal, so the best times to hang out with them is in the early morning and evening. Don't wake a sleeping hammy in the beginning because it'll scare them, and you might get a nice nip.
Good luck
2007-02-27 12:25:35 · answer #2 · answered by hmx_mail 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You can start taming her immediately. The sooner the better. She is at a nice young age and should tame easier than an adult hamster that hasn't been handled.
To tame your new friend you need to start holding it a couple times each day. If you can't get it out of the cage with your hands, then get it into a toilet paper roll and then dump it (carefully) into your hand. Begin walking it from hand to hand, one in front of the other. You can also make it an unending "staircase". If you keep it moving you probably won't get bit. Do this over your bed so that if it manages to jump off your hand you can catch it more easily and it won't get hurt. Once you're comfortable handling your hamster in this fashion, begin to closing your fingers as it's walking from hand to hand so that it's now moving through an unending "tunnel". This is a very important step and will get the hamster accustomed to being held and touched on its back. These sessions only need to last five minutes but you need to do them at least twice a day, preferably more. If you're scared of doing this at first, then wear a pair of thick leather gloves to get it (and you) accustomed to the "exercise".
If you have a ball that you want it to roll around on the floor in, work with the hamster before putting it in the ball. You may think that it will be more tired and easier to work with after having some exercise but it will be more excited and actually harder to work with.
If you don't think you're ready for the above method, then there's another method you can try. Sit in an empty bathtub with the drain blocked so there's no escape and let your new friend climb all over you. This is an easy way for your new friend to get used to your scent and presence. Bring the cage into the bathroom before you start trying to get him out. To get it out of the cage use a toilet paper roll and get him to go inside (as described above). As soon as he's in the roll all the way, bring it into the tub and set it on the floor of the tub and wait for him to come out. Do this until he seems more comfortable with you and then begin the methods of hand-walking described above.
I've never liked the recommendations to use treats to tame a hamster. Even if you wash your hands before holding the treat, as soon as you touch the treat with your fingers, they will smell like food again. A hamster that confuses your fingers for food will not bite hard but nibble. Nibbling doesn't break the skin, but I still don't like it.
-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com
2007-02-27 14:53:47 · answer #3 · answered by radiocricket 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hamsters sleep when it is light out and are awake in the dark.. so cover her cage with a blanket during the day and she should stay awake... maybe put a light near her cage at night to keep her sleeping
y the thumbs down?
2007-02-27 12:45:33 · answer #4 · answered by nothing 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
this take's time, be pacent, don't yell, or be mean to it.
this could take up to a week, be glentle and feed it some treat's when it does somthing right.
best of luck with your hamster!
2007-02-27 12:20:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
start taking her out of the cage and holding her... eventually she will get used to it
2007-02-27 12:44:45 · answer #6 · answered by purpleflare79 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kiss her on the nose alot while petting her.
2007-02-27 12:20:59 · answer #7 · answered by ocean 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hold her a lot.
2007-02-27 12:18:57 · answer #8 · answered by mj 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋