No luck

[xenya88]

So I've had my 3 Syrians for about 3 weeks now and they are still not used to me! They somewhat tolerate me, but are no where near excited to be held or taken out of the cage. I try to have contact with them everyday. I stick my hand in the cages and leave it there for a while- I basically do everything everyone suggests. What am I doing wrong? :dodgy: Has anyone had this sort of experience? How long does taming usually take? I got them as babies by the way. Any info would be helpful! Thanks :o

[SapphireWolf]

You just have to be persistant, they will eventually come around. And, I have a question for you, you don't keep all of the syrians in the same cage do you? Syrian hamsters are solitary creatures who must live alone.

[xenya88]

No, I know. I've been told over and over that they can't live alone. Not by the petstore unfortunately, but I'm so ad I got them anyway. I got them 3 separate habitats. There is no way I would ever forgive myself if I left them together and they hurt one another. *sigh* I just wish I didn't feel like I was bothering them everytime I take them out...But thanks for the advice

[SapphireWolf]

:) no problem. Have you tried offering them food from you hand?
PS, it's good to wash your hands before handling them so you don't have any strange or scary smells on your hands. Goodluck

[xenya88]

"No, I know. I've been told over and over that they can't live alone"- I meant can't live together, but you got that. :flippy: Yes I know to wash my hands. I've tried offering them apples and carrot pieces which they love, but all they do is nip quickly and then retreat. I've had one of them take the food only once. I'm just afraid they'll never come around. Thanks again.

[pumkin11999]

I'm a bit new myself. I've only had hamsters for a little over two months, but each one of them are different. Yeah the pet store told me I should get two so they wouldn't be lonely. They didn't bother to tell me that they would kill each other. Oh! And one of them was pregnant so it was only a few days for me to see she wasn't going to live with the other. I have one baby (spunky) that doesn't really care what's going on. None of them have ever bit me (one of the babies did give it to my husband...hee hee) but they don't really like it when I take them out. Most of the time if I leave the door open and let them come out own their own, then I play with them. It does take a while sometimes but I am still a little scared of losing a finger...hee hee! For some reason as soon as they are out I can pick them up every time with no problem, and play with them then. I don't know if I've helped much but that's all I got.

[andreaS15]

Patients is the key.
I like to keep my hand still in the tank for a few minutes each day, rub my hands in the bedding, and feed them sunflower seeds from my hands. Do everything slowly, not to scare or spook them. Eventually they will even sit on your hand and eat the sunflower seeds. Nothing happens overnight. Just be patient, and sooner than you know it you will have their trust.

[xenya88]

I was starting to think it was just me. I guess everything takes time. But I figure even if they never get too friendly with me, I'll love them anyway. They are characters. Sometimes I just sit and watch, it's amazing how they act! Thanks again! :bouncy:

[xenya88]

I'm a bit new myself. I've only had hamsters for a little over two months, but each one of them are different. Yeah the pet store told me I should get two so they wouldn't be lonely. They didn't bother to tell me that they would kill each other. Oh! And one of them was pregnant so it was only a few days for me to see she wasn't going to live with the other. I have one baby (spunky) that doesn't really care what's going on. None of them have ever bit me (one of the babies did give it to my husband...hee hee) but they don't really like it when I take them out. Most of the time if I leave the door open and let them come out own their own, then I play with them. It does take a while sometimes but I am still a little scared of losing a finger...hee hee! For some reason as soon as they are out I can pick them up every time with no problem, and play with them then. I don't know if I've helped much but that's all I got.-
That sthe same thing that happened to me! They encouraged me to buy more than one. Then when I found out the hammies get violent I returned to buy 2 extra cages ( I have 3 syrians), the manager was like, I've never heard of hamsters fighting. I couldn't believe it! Oh well, live and learn, right?

[LeggoMyEggo]

:hamster3: :hamster3: :hamster3: :hamster3:

I got Eggo about 2 weeks ago and and I too feel nervous about handling her. That maybe cause I'm jumpy and make her nervous too. She Now is taking carrots from me and I keep her cage open to come out on her own and she is super hyper for about the first two hours shes up so I let her run her ball or wheel for a bit once shes run off some energy I pet her and this morning she was walking on my hand so it does take time. I too read posts where people have the sweetest ham on earth from the minute they got it but I think Eggo and I will get there in our own time. Just keep doing what your doing and don't lose hope. I think of my relationship with Eggo as: "You get back what you put into it." The more time and care I spend with her she will grow to like me lol. Wow you have 3! How do you sleep with all the wheels going? LOL

[xenya88]

You're right LeggoMyEggo,
I keep seeing posts about how wonderfully friendly the hammies are. Even that they come running when they hear their owners voices. I really hope that my 3 will come around. Congratulations on making progress with Eggo! As far as having 3 hammies- I got lucky that I have a free and uncluttered computer room. They live there in their 3 habitats. Its a funny sight, really, to see their cages lined up next to eachother. And the wheels do get pretty loud, but all I have to do is shut my bedroom door, and they don't bother me one bit! :clown:

[animalcrazed1]

Well, hamsters are one of those creatures that have the natural urge to be defensive against us. The pet store I co-manage gets about three new hamsters every week, and to spite who or where they came from, they all flinch and do the thing where they rear back, open their mouths and put their front feet way out with their eyes closed. And when you go to pick them up they either nip you or jump out of your hand. I try to allot time in the day to handle the babies so they'll at least find good homes. Its important to buy BABY hamsters. When you purchase adults from a pet store and they havnt had the love and handeling, its MUCH harder to make the comfort of being handled "stick". They forget in a day or two. I had hamsters growing up, but they were either all nippers or they would have babies and kill them, so eventually I ended my hamster ownership and moved on to other tiny critters. Dwarf hamsters are especially nippy, but teddy bears do the "Im scared shitless" stance I was talking about. What can I say, work with them A LOT, and dont be scared to get nipped once or twice, it happens.

[xenya88]

LOL animalcrazed1! That "stance" description was to a T! I certainly am not scared to get nipped. That's only happened like twice since I've gotten the hammies (as babies, actually)- they don't seem to be big biters. I'll of course continue to try and tame them. I just wonder- being so nervous about me touching them, and doing the "scared Shitless" stance, does that affect their health? I mean I keep thinking how much it would suck if I was constantly scared out of my mind. :p

[Hamster Maughn]

I didn't read all the replys to your
thread, but I have an Idea. If you
haven't gotten this tip yet.

Get a little peanut butter and put it
in the palm of your hand. "DON'T
PUT IT ON THE END OF YOUR FINGER",
the little bugger will think its a nut and
bite you. Just a thin layer, and not
alot, they will crawl out onto your hand
and lick your palm, hence get more used
to you.

Give it a try. Let me know what happens.

I found these "Peanut-Butter" bars.
http://img20.photobucket.com/albums/v60/Hamster9546/PC120020.jpg

L8r.

[xenya88]

Thanks, Hamster Maughn! That sounds like a pretty great idea. I'll try it tonight and report back tomorrow. BTW- Ive gotten those bars before. They have fruit and vegetable bars and vanilla coconut bars too. My Hammies aren't crazy about them, but my friends Dwarfs ADORE them. Thanks again :p

[xenya88]

So I tried the Peanut Butter trick:
Only one of the 3 was interested enough in the smell to climb on to the hand. A few quick licks and off he went! But that was the first time any of them sat in my hand willingly! Maybe a few more repetitions and they'll come around? I hope so. Thanks for the advice! :musicman: