we recently bought my daughter a new hamster (her last one died of old age) the wee thing is now 12 weeks old weve had it for 4 weeks now the problem is that it is so jumpy that we cant even pet him we have tried to lift him up but he jumps out our hands we have taken our time with him talking to him and letting him approach our hand in his cage but nothing seems to work dont know what to do next please help
2007-03-16 01:24:34 · 11 answers · asked by mum of 7 x 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
its a syrian hamster
2007-03-16 02:28:53 · update #1
I think you have the right approach, so far. Maybe putting some food in your hand and let him sit their and eat from it. You need to be slow and steady in your movements.
Since a lot of a hamsters world is made up of smell, avoid strong perfumes. It sounds a bit daft, but running your hand among the wood shavings to pick up some of his smell may help too. Don't forget to wash them afterwards though.
2007-03-16 01:34:12 · answer #1 · answered by 👑 Hypocrite 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You could try the new puppy/kitten trick of getting it to sleep with something that smells like you. If you get your daughter to put something she has worn over the cage at night or rather day (the hamster is likely to eat anything you put in the cage!) for several days then her smell should be associated by the Hamster with being safe 'at home'. The Hamster may need a really quiet place to be as well and when she tries re-handling it after a few days make sure she does it in a very quiet place with no TV blaring etc and see how she gets on. If this doesn't work you may just be unlucky and have a particularly nervous Hamster! Getting a second one that you know likes to be handled and putting it in the same cage as the first may also help.
Josephine
XXX
JXXXX
2007-03-16 08:38:17 · answer #2 · answered by sweetpsychosis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your hamster is very young now and he needs more time to get use to his surroundings, however, you should go up to the cage a few times a day when he is up and talk to him so he gets use to your voices, also you will want to try and feed him some snacks and even some of his food though the cage. also if you are able to pick him up put him in the ball for a few for about 10-15 min a day this will get him use to being some where else than his cage. I have a 25 week old hamster and it took me a 2 weeks to finally let me hold him but he is coming around and he is a joy in my life.
2007-03-16 10:02:18 · answer #3 · answered by alwaysmoody7 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is it one of those miniature hampsters? They are like that as opposed to the larger ones--just a little bit more high strung and faster moving.
Each animal does have its own personality. You can your daughter a series of hampsters and each will be different. Sometimes you get lucky and get one that is extremely friendly and sometimes you get one that is a biter and can never be handled as long as you own it.
More than likely, the older hampster was probably used to being handled and this one will get that way too after a while, even if it is one of the smaller kind. Tell your daughter to give it time to make friends and not to expect all the affection she recieved from the other hampster so quickly.
2007-03-16 09:10:14 · answer #4 · answered by Wicked Little Lady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if it is a dwarf hamster then thats why! dwarf hamsters are always jumpy and thats why i dont like them as pets! if you want a wonderful pet hamster that is calmer and handable then a Syrian Hamster is right for you! if the hamster you have is a syrian hamster and is jumpy than i dont know really, maybe he just needs more time to be tamed. give lots of love. hold him alot. show him that he doesn't need to be scared. use slow movements, quiet voices, be delicate (hamsters are tiny and fragile) good luck and please remember that LOVE is key
2007-03-16 09:02:09 · answer #5 · answered by H M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put him in an open space such as your living room floor,and let him have a roam around. Make sure there's not alot of fuss then slowley stroke him with one finger when youve done this give him a treat then progress to 2 fingers and so on. Soon he'll relise that you are not a threat as he's getting treats and this should sort him out.
2007-03-16 08:32:29 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have u tried putting him in the ball? If you can`t pick him up, put the ball opening to the cage opening, and my hamster will crawl in it, he may just need to release some energy. Also, he may also just need some tyme to get used to everything.
2007-03-16 08:29:16 · answer #7 · answered by I♥pix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put your han in the cage and only offer the hamster food from your hand
2007-03-19 07:23:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep talking to him and give him a lot of treats. He needs to know that you are not the enemy. If he bites you, DO NOT yell at him, simply offer him a treat again. When he's eating his treat, slowly pick him up.
2007-03-16 11:00:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can try to bring him out and give him some tasty treat... after some time, he will wish you to pet him, take him out for walk. coz he knows he'll get delicious snack when you pet him!!!
2007-03-16 10:25:46 · answer #10 · answered by june81 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋