how to pick up a nibbly hamster?

[Coderedfield47]

Todays his 3rd day with me. He's out and about, seemingly curious. Earlier as I rummaged through the cage I heard bruxing? but he's very nibbly and I'm not sure how to pick him up.

Please don't hurt me mr hamster :[

 

[Maz]

He may still be a little scared. How long have you had him now? It's usually good to give them a few days to settle in. Then you could try letting him walk into a "taxi" - eg a tube or hide you can put your hand over when lifting him out - and give him some time in a secure playpen area. Generally it's better to start handling out of the cage rather than in it - he can walk onto your hand or run over it while he's in a playpen area.

Generally also, many hamsters don't like a hand in their cage as that is their territory. If his cage is a bit small also, he may be more territorial or get a bit aggressive.

 

[Maz]

That should improve once you upgrade his cage

 

[elusive]

Three days is way too soon to be picking him up, they generally need a week or even two to settle in & get confident in their new home, I always begin by just talking to them quietly for some time before interacting any more than that.
Try to keep any interference in the cage to a minimum for now, just quietly change water & add food, it’s too early to really need to worry about spot cleaning even.
Just give him some time to gain confidence.
A lot of hams don’t like to be picked up but will walk onto your hand once they’ve got more confident.

 

[Coderedfield47]

That should improve once you upgrade his cage

I get a month to month SSI check. I also donate plasma twice a week, so before the 1st of december I should have $75 to work with. I want to get a 40 gallon breeder rather than 40 gallon long.

Ugh I just want him to be happy

 

[RainbowBrite]

It is worth checking offer up and craigist for second hand tanks. Some people will even offer them for free if they leak.

 

[Coderedfield47]

Three days is way too soon to be picking him up, they generally need a week or even two to settle in & get confident in their new home, I always begin by just talking to them quietly for some time before interacting any more than that.
Try to keep any interference in the cage to a minimum for now, just quietly change water & add food, it’s too early to really need to worry about spot cleaning even.
Just give him some time to gain confidence.
A lot of hams don’t like to be picked up but will walk onto your hand once they’ve got more confident.

I ordered him a sand bath container (one with the guard, to keep sand in), and a play pen and handling gloves. But yeah, I'll give him time and occasionally play calming hamster music for him (I'm usually going to be here present and I'm not sure if thats a bad thing). Also my friend is spending the night again with me so I don't know if regularly seeing 2 people in the room is counterproductive to getting him used to people. But they are the 2nd person I intend to allow bonding with

 

[Maz]

Aw he'll like the sand bath. I'm sure he'll be fine with a second person there

 

[Maz]

Have you seen the cardboard creations thread? There are quite a few things you can make from cardboard for free as well And a few more things on the diy thread generally.

Cardboard creations

This is a thread to show how many things you can make for your hamster or enclosure, out of cardboard :-) Cardboard is your friend.

www.thehamsterforum.com

DIY thread - show us your creations

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Coderedfield47]

Have you seen the cardboard creations thread? There are quite a few things you can make from cardboard for free as well And a few more things on the diy thread generally.

Cardboard creations

This is a thread to show how many things you can make for your hamster or enclosure, out of cardboard :-) Cardboard is your friend.

www.thehamsterforum.com

DIY thread - show us your creations

www.thehamsterforum.com

I really like the stairs.

Are there any themed hamster cages someone took time and care? Vaporwave hamham paradise maybe?

 

[Maz]

You could make a themed cage

 

[Coderedfield47]

You could make a themed cage

He seems to be getting cozy, I better chill first. The camera shyness seems to have subsided also. (wheel was in last night to give him excersize, I'm getting a smaller one today that fits in better, and in the next week and a half I should have a 40 gal breeder for him.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Just ensure the wheel is no smaller then 8 inches or he will be uncomfortable using it. He is sooo cute!

Is there a blanket in his cage?

 

[Coderedfield47]

Just ensure the wheel is no smaller then 8 inches or he will be uncomfortable using it. He is sooo cute!

Is there a blanket in his cage?

The normal wheel he has is 8 inches, its just really big and hard to arrange between the cardboard house, the waterbottle/food dish and wheel. but when he's awake I'll take the house out, and present him a smaller burrow starter to see if he's happy with it. Right now I have one side set up shallow, so those objects are stable, and on the other side is a mountain/hill of paper bedding that he nestled deep in last night. His substrate is 5 inches deep at the mound.

He's gonna need another bag or two of bedding come the new cage for sure.

 

[RainbowBrite]

The normal wheel he has is 8 inches, its just really big and hard to arrange between the cardboard house, the waterbottle/food dish and wheel. but when he's awake I'll take the house out, and present him a smaller burrow starter to see if he's happy with it. Right now I have one side set up shallow, so those objects are stable, and on the other side is a mountain/hill of paper bedding that he nestled deep in last night. His substrate is 5 inches deep at the mound.

He's gonna need another bag or two of bedding come the new cage for sure.

You can scatter his food so you will not need to use the bowl. I would leave his wheel in all the time and a cardboard house. That way he has somewhere to hide and the wheel.

Yes, I find that a bigger cage means more bedding but luckily you will only need to spot clean so the bedding will last.

 

[elusive]

Lovely to see him, he’s a lovely colour & looks adorable.

Anything smaller 8 inches even for a young hamster could be very uncomfortable for him and also damage his back as it would have to curve to run so I would try to find a way to keep that larger wheel in.
Taking out his house will be quite stressful for him, I know it’s hard for you at the moment with the smaller cage but it’s best not to touch the house at all except when you might need to spot clean, having a safe secure house will be the main thing to help him gain confidence & avoid stress.

 

[Coderedfield47]

Lovely to see him, he’s a lovely colour & looks adorable.

Anything smaller 8 inches even for a young hamster could be very uncomfortable for him and also damage his back as it would have to curve to run so I would try to find a way to keep that larger wheel in.
Taking out his house will be quite stressful for him, I know it’s hard for you at the moment with the smaller cage but it’s best not to touch the house at all except when you might need to spot clean, having a safe secure house will be the main thing to help him gain confidence & avoid stress.

I could see fiddling with the house as a source of his discontent right now. So the best thing is to just let him be. Tonight I do need to fit the wheel in there though, I couldn't even deal with leaving it out one night. Its just I gotta prop the water bottle in a stable place because it feels like the heaviest thing, even though the base is a hollow hideout for him.

For treats I have papaya chunks I got for my () rat, but sugar is basically off the menu for hamsters (unless terminally ill). Should I get him some unsalted sunflower seeds or perhaps peanuts in the shell?

 

[Maz]

Yes both those would be fine If the smaller wheel is at least 6.5", it should be ok temporarily but anything smaller than that would be too small.

He's gorgeous - he's a lovely colour. He looks like he enjoys the box with all the bedding

 

[Coderedfield47]

I put hamster music on for him and twice I've noticed it seems to draw his attention. So he's also exhibiting this balled up behavior. Seems kind of cozy?

 

[RainbowBrite]

I put hamster music on for him and twice I've noticed it seems to draw his attention. So he's also exhibiting this balled up behavior. Seems kind of cozy?

Aww, his little legs!