What should I do???

[myhobbyismyhamster]

Hi. I got a female Syrian hamster from a breeder on Monday May 4th. I was planning on leaving her alone for a week before hand feeding or giving her treats, but on Thursday May 7th, we had to take her to the vet because of a suspected respiratory infection ( the vet said she was fine though) but she would not let them touch her and would run to the other side of her carrier when they tried too. Then on Friday May 8th I sat by her cage and held a treat in my fingers which she took a few times, I only startled her once or twice in that bonding session. Now yesterday, Saturday May 9th, I sat by her cage to give her treats and she seemed way more timid! So I tried just leaving them in my palm or feeding from my fingers, and she would get close to taking them but would end up not. I would try moving my hand closer to wherever she was when she wasn’t looking so as not to startle her but she still never took the treats. She only ate ones that I stuffed into a toy she likes, but she didn’t take the ones I left by her sand bath. I did end up, rubbing some toilet paper between my hands, and I did see her take one of them into her little burrow. Did I do something wrong to make her more fearful of me? And does this mean she won’t bond with me??? Should I give her a few days with out interacting with her?
Help!

 

[Maz]

Hello. It's very early days. It can take them a couple of weeks to fully adjust to their new environment - the enclosure, the home and the person It's just time and patience really. What kind of cage or enclosure is she in? Start by just talking to her through the enclosure so she gets familiar with your voice and presence and scent. You can offer the odd treat through bars, but it can scare them having a hand in the cage at first.

Socialising and taming is best done out of the cage really - but you'll need to wait about 2 weeks while she makes herself at home in her cage, and until she's more confident in her own environment - eg once she has scent marked everything, decided where to sleep and got a bit of a routine. Unless she shows clear signs of wanting to come out before then (eg coming to the door and showing she wants out).

It's also best not to clean anything or move anything around in that first two weeks, and not adjusting things (unless essential for safety) as that can stress them and set them back in their settling in phase. You can spot clean any pee after a week (if you know where it is and can smell pee). If you can't smell anything, don't worry about it just yet! It's only their pee that is unhygienic.

 

[myhobbyismyhamster]

She’s in a bucatstate 2.0, how many days should I leave her alone from today, which is Sunday. After the vet visit and stuff will she ever bond with me?

 

[Socks' Mum]

Hi. I got a female Syrian hamster from a breeder on Monday May 4th. I was planning on leaving her alone for a week before hand feeding or giving her treats, but on Thursday May 7th, we had to take her to the vet because of a suspected respiratory infection ( the vet said she was fine though) but she would not let them touch her and would run to the other side of her carrier when they tried too. Then on Friday May 8th I sat by her cage and held a treat in my fingers which she took a few times, I only startled her once or twice in that bonding session. Now yesterday, Saturday May 9th, I sat by her cage to give her treats and she seemed way more timid! So I tried just leaving them in my palm or feeding from my fingers, and she would get close to taking them but would end up not. I would try moving my hand closer to wherever she was when she wasn’t looking so as not to startle her but she still never took the treats. She only ate ones that I stuffed into a toy she likes, but she didn’t take the ones I left by her sand bath. I did end up, rubbing some toilet paper between my hands, and I did see her take one of them into her little burrow. Did I do something wrong to make her more fearful of me? And does this mean she won’t bond with me??? Should I give her a few days with out interacting with her?
Help!

If she needs to see the vet, you can't avoid it so it's excellent that you took her in to be checked for an infection. I'm glad she seems to be fine
She might be a bit spooky for a while, but I think she will soon be back to how she was before. They are usually a bit more confident after 9pm again might, perhaps being most at home in the night hours when their eye adaptation allows them to see better. Its great that she is starting to associate you with getting food, that should help a great deal

 

[Maz]

She’s in a bucatstate 2.0, how many days should I leave her alone from today, which is Sunday. After the vet visit and stuff will she ever bond with me?

I would count about 10 days from the time of the vet visit ie start again. It can take 10 days to 2 weeks, but then you can sometimes see them visibly more confident in the cage and enjoying it. They need to feel confident before they can start socialising really.

 

[myhobbyismyhamster]

So may 17? Is it okay if I sit by the cage at night and talk to her? And leave toilet paper with my scent in her cage every night? And when I start interacting with her again, what should I do first? Should I hand her treat? Leave them in my palm? Also what is a good taming proccess? Like in what order should I do things to where she hopefully becomes comfortable enough to crawl onto my hand and be held? Thank you for helping me

 

[Maz]

Yes I'd start with talking to her After a few days you could try offering her a treat through the open front door, if you see her. Eg a pumpkin seed. Better to hold it between thumb and finger than on the palm of your hand so the treat is forefront.

After that, you need a hamster-safe area for getting her out - eg dry bathtub with a few hidey places in (cardboard tunnel, hide) etc. Or another hamster-safe area. And a "taxi" - I use a large rat tube. Put one end in the cage so the hamster walks in then put hands over both ends. If the hamster-safe area is nearby you can just carry her in the taxi. If it means walking any distance - eg the length of a room or to another room it would be better to have a high sided box next to the enclosure and carefully let her out of the taxi into that, then carry the box to the hamster-safe area to let her out.

Our taming guide has more info as well.

How to tame a hamster

Hand taming a hamster can make life with your hamster very rewarding. Suddenly they will sit on you to be stroked or even go to sleep on you, and will be very easy to handle. It can take a bit of time and patience initially.

www.thehamsterforum.com