Anti-social hamster

[kirby0202]

after reading some threads, I guess my hamster is antisocial too lol. Whenever I put my hand in his cage, he tries to bite me, I have to lift him out with one of his toys. Everytime I try and play with him, (usually once or twice a day,) he shivers like he's afraid. I'm worried is something wrong with him? He doesn't play with any of the toys I put in his cage, such as a straw house, or a plastic slide, but he does run on his wheel often. I put a glass jar in the cage, with a few tissues and he enjoys tearing up the tissues, putting them in his glass jar, and sleeping there, but he just doesn't play very much. Is there anything I can do?

[Left Paw]

How long have you had him? He seems pretty normal to me- there was a post rodentboy made (or answered in one) a while back that gave good advice on handtaming. It was called hemp!my hamster's being mean to me. I think that's the right one. :) That might give you some advice on how the both of you can become more comfortable with each other.
As far as exercise- I guarantee you he runs that wheel practiacally all night! LOL! Maybe in a couple months he'll get a little bored with the wheel and play with the other toys. Maybe he won't. But as long as he's eating and drinking and you see him up some, there's nothing wrong with him.

[kirby0202]

ok thanks, I was just worried because I bought all these toys for him and he wasn't using them, and I'll look for that post thanks!

[kirby0202]

Oh lol I've had him for a little over a year, I bought him at petco january 27th 2002, so Ive had him for about a year and a half, but I have no idea how old he is.

[Left Paw]

Okay, nevermind. Sorry, I sent you on a wild goose chase. That post was more about biting hamsters, not much about handtaming.

My advice, is to offer treats in your hand, tempt him to come to you. Let him get used to the scent of you. Eventually, try petting him a bit as he nibbles on a treat you're holding. Maybe place the treat more on your wrist so he has to climb into your hand to get it. Proceed slowly, offer him new and interesting things. Be confident and soothing to him. Maybe eventually he'll come to the cage door to greet you, crawl right into your hand.

Cream Soda will come to the cage door, but she still tries to get by me and escape nine times out of ten, so don't feel bad if he never comes trotting up wagging his little worm of a tail. But funny enough, as much as she wants out, she's just as eager to get right back in her cage after being out a little while!

[Left Paw]

Has his behavior changed? Or has he always been timid? Also, it being summer and a lot of people running the ac- if hamsters get too cold they'll go into a semi-hybernation state to maintain body temp. Be sure he's not too near a vent or drafts.

[kirby0202]

I've tried that with the treats before, he doesn't like any of the treats I give him, maybe I'll try a fruit of some sort, a grape maybe, or peanut butter. He's not near the ac vent in my room, so I dont think thats a problem, and hes not right next to the window. But his behavior seems to have changed a little since i got him. He never used to bite, then he bit really often and now he's to the stage where he doesn't bite very often, but he still will sometimes. Hmmmmm

[SqueekyMouse415]

hey! that was my post! *feels all special*

anywho, my Babydoll was almost the same way, she bit and jumped when i first tried handling her.

this is what i did to tame Babydoll, perhaps it could help:

1.) rub a tissue thru your hair and put it in their house
(this method is used to tame mice that are timid, it helps, it lets it get used to your smell)

2.) let the hamster smell u before you pick it up

3.) DO NOT wake them up during the day, they hate it.

4.) put treats or food in your hand and lay your hand at the bottom of the cage, and wait till she gets the nerve to come up and take it.

5.) talk to the hamham (let it get used to your voice)

6.) try to handle her as often as u can




this is what i did, and it worked!

i hope it helps you a little....
:angel2:

[kirby0202]

I'll try it thanks! are you sure about that rubbing the tissue through my hair thing? Like sometimes your hair has a scent in it after takin a shower from the shampoo, I've heard that scents bug hamsters, like when u wash ur hands ur not sposed to use soap because it bugs them, but if you say so I'll try it!

[SqueekyMouse415]

lmao, i thought about that when i first heard about it too.

ok, this is really gonna sound gross, lol, but i was told to wait like a day or so then rub the tissue in your hair. so it smells like u and not the shampoo.

i know it sounds really farfetched, but it really worked for my mice and my hamster.

[kirby0202]

haha well if you say so, this will be tough tryin to keep clean for two days lol

[SqueekyMouse415]

*blushes * oh my, im all telling you NOT to take a bath.....lol.
well, how about a day? instead of 2?

[kirby0202]

ok lol i never liked taking showers any way! lol jp jp

[Mitchandozzie]

lol! well i know with ozzie he always used to bite, maybe for a month and a half. i wasnt sure if i wanted him anymore by week 4 so i sent him to my neibours house to get him used to be handeled. 3 days later he was back and i could hold him. teh only reason he was biting was because i was afriad of him. he bit me teh first day i go him and he kept screaming at me so like i said, i was afriad. once i got over that, he turned into teh sweetest thing. he curls up on me and sleeps while im reading. one day i even fell asleep but when i woke up, ozzie was still there(i was only alseep for like 14 minutes but its still good.)

[kirby0202]

wow really? I wish my hamster loved me that much lol, what did you mean about sending him to your neighbours house? Where you tryin to give him to them and they gave him back cause they didn't want him then he liked you? lol I'm lost

[Mitchandozzie]

well my neighbour has had alot of hamsters and rats and she knew how to handle them, and wasnt afriad. ozzie is my first hamtser, corkey my second/

[kirby0202]

o well i feel stupid now lol

[Mitchandozzie]

lol no i should have been more specific. lol they were gonna keep him if i dint want him any more but i took him back.