Hamsters are very cute and excellent pets. However, sometimes they take a while to adjust to their owners. If you want to tame your hamster, you will need to spend some time interacting with him and letting him get used to your presence and your smell. Provide him with a comfortable place to live and allow him to adjust to you at his own pace; In this way, you will help him feel safe.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Making Your Hamster Comfortable
Step 1. Give her a nice home
When you acquire your new hamster, you should offer him a comfortable place to live. This means that it is necessary to condition a suitable cage. Put him in an absorbent bed so that he feels comfortable. This will also allow him to relieve himself in his cage. You should clean the dirty parts of the bed daily and replace it with a clean one about once a week.
Also, be sure to put a container of water inside the cage for him to drink
Step 2. Feed your hamster regularly
Hamsters are omnivores, which means that the basis of their diet consists of foods of animal and plant origin. Normally, they eat balanced food for hamsters; however, it is recommended to supplement your diet with small pieces of raw fruits and vegetables as a treat two or three times a week.
- Generally, hamsters should eat around 10g of dry food twice a day.
- If you want to give her a treat, consider giving her small pieces of broccoli, peach, cauliflower, or banana. Do not give him any type of citrus (such as lemons or oranges) or bitter vegetables (such as onion), as they could cause an upset stomach.
- For the first few days after bringing your hamster home, you will need to be careful not to put too much pressure on him. This is especially important when feeding him. Simply put his food in the cage and leave him alone for him to eat in peace. In this way, you will help him feel safe around you.
Step 3. Wait a week before trying to touch it
You need to give your pet some time to get used to you and to feel safe and installed in his new home. For the first week or so avoid trying to force any contact with him.
Sometimes this process can take a little longer. At the beginning it is essential that you have patience
Part 2 of 4: Make Him Know You
Step 1. Help him recognize your voice
When you are near your hamster's cage, speak to him in a tone that conveys calm. You should try to get him to recognize your voice, as this will help him understand that he should not be afraid of you.
- Approach the cage and take a few minutes at a time (several times a day) just to speak softly to it.
- After a few days, you can even remove the cover from the cage so your hamster can hear you better. You just have to be careful and make sure it doesn't leak.
Step 2. Give her prizes
Start giving prizes in the middle of the bars or through a slot in the upper part depending on the type of cage you have. Associating you with the awards will help him overcome any fear that may have you.
You can also rub the treat in the palm of your hand so the hamster knows your scent. Keep doing this for a few days
Step 3. Wash your hands
Before trying to lift your hamster for the first time, you should wash your hands thoroughly. In this way, you will remove any food odor that may have remained on your hands. You don't want your pet to accidentally bite you.
At first, if you are afraid that it will bite you, you can even use gloves to carry it
Step 4. Begin to insert your hand into the cage carefully
When your hamster is awake, you should put your hand inside the cage slowly. Let him sniff it and don't force him to anything. If he seems scared and walks away from you, remove your hand and try again in a week or two.
- You can also put a couple of prizes in the palm of your hand to help him lose his fear a bit.
- If your hamster makes a sudden movement when you go to pet or carry it, do not move away; you will only manage to scare him, even if he scares you.
Step 5. Pick up your hamster
Once you've spent some time carefully approaching it, you should try to pick it up. Make sure to hold it in your hand firmly so it doesn't fall off and hurt itself. After a while, your hamster will approach your hand on its own.
- Never take your hamster without being careful, as he can take it as a threat. Instead, place your hands palms up in a concave position and let him approach by himself.
- If it squeaks, it means that it is restless and you will have to put it back in its cage. Take a little more time to let him get to know you better before trying to pick him up again.
Part 3 of 4: Strengthen the Bond
Step 1. Try to make him feel safe
At first, your hamster is likely to be nervous; however, once you start stroking and talking to him, he will be more serene. Make sure you interpret their body language; If he wanders away from you or squeaks, put him back in his cage. If he seems interested in you and approaches you freely, you can feel safe and continue with that attitude.
Avoid forcing him to do something that scares him. This can damage the bond you are trying to create with your pet. If you rush, their taming could take longer in the long run
Step 2. Continue interacting with your pet
Make sure you give it enough quality time. The more time they spend interacting with each other, the more confident they will feel interacting with you. This will mean having a domesticated hamster before you know it. In a few days, your hamster will be well trained and friendly.
Try to charge it for at least a few minutes each day. Otherwise, it will be more difficult for him to get used to you and it will take more effort to tame him
Step 3. Show him that you love him
Never forget about him. Remember that you have a furry little friend who wants to play and interact with you. Give her lots of love and affection (and don't forget the prizes!). It is something simple, but at the same time the most important part of taming a hamster.
The more you play with it, the easier it will be to tame it
Part 4 of 4: Addressing Specific Problems
Step 1. Manage the situation if your hamster bites
Generally, if your hamster bites you, it means that it is scared or nervous. For these animals, biting is a natural reaction to fear. If it does, give it more time before trying to charge it. Keep talking to him and from time to time let him smell your hand; however, don't force him to get close to her for another couple of weeks. Wait until he stops being nervous (biting, squeaking, or shaking) when you put your hand in the cage.
- Be careful not to wake him up if he is asleep. This could startle him and cause him to bite.
- Also, a hamster can bite if your hand smells like food. For this reason, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before charging.
Step 2. Be on the lookout for potential health problems
Since hamsters are such small animals, they should be closely watched for potential health problems that could be dangerous. Although most hamsters are generally healthy animals, any health problem could quickly escalate in such a tiny body.
- The most serious problem that hamsters present is diarrhea. This disorder requires urgent veterinary attention, as they can die from dehydration. The indication that your hamster has diarrhea is that the back of its body will appear wet and brownish in color.
- Another medical complication that occurs frequently in these animals is the ocular protrusion of the orbital cavity. This usually occurs as a result of an eye infection or other trauma. If your hamster's eyes look bulging, take him to the vet right away.
Step 3. Solve the difficulties between pets
Hamsters are territorial animals, which means that they may not like sharing their cage with other animals, including others of the same species. If your hamsters fight each other, they may need to be permanently separated into separate cages.
At the very least, make sure the cage doesn't have very narrow spots where one of them can corner another. Also, check that they have two containers of each thing so they don't fight over food or water
Advice
- Make sure he has a wheel to run on at all times.
- You can teach your hamster to do tricks (like stand up, paw, etc.) by offering him something to eat.
- To teach him to stand, hold a treat over his head until he stands up and take it from your hand.
- Change his water and food daily.
Warnings
- If the hamster bites you it is normal. Chances are you scared him or your hand smelled like food. Remember that you should always wash your hands before and after stroking it.
- Never disturb him while he eats, drinks water, or sleeps.
- Some hamsters are aggressive and fast; therefore, they tend to bite and escape. If yours bites, you'd better wear a glove while holding it.
- It is preferable not to put two hamsters in the same cage, unless they are roborovski or Russian. Adult Syrian hamsters fight each other and can often even kill each other if they are housed together in the same place.