All my hamster does is jump on the glass and try to escape and is not interested in me. Why?
I got a baby hamster 3 days ago, I think it’s about 3 inches in length. I’ve been told everything about how to handle them, but I don’t understand this one’s behavior becuase I’ve never had a hamster. He is in a 10 gallon tank, with a wheel, cardboard toiletpaper rolles, a house, toys, and food and a thick layer of bedding. All he does is either run and run and run on the wheel or jump on the glass trying to escape. If I even slowly lower my hand into the tank he scurries the other direction or buries himself. Someone told me to hold my hand out with a treat and wait for him to walk onto it- I waited 30 minutes, and nothing happened and I had to stop because it was cutting off the circulation in my hand!! If I try to pet him myself, he rolls on his back, freezes, and bares his teeth. I did not handle him the first 24 hours, I have no idea what I am doing wrong. He is a male and by himself in the cage
LighteningBolt
on November 30th, -0001
Please buy a wire cage for your new hamster with a plastic bottom. It breaks my heart when I see them in glass cages, its so restricting for them. Hamsters need as much space as possible to feel free, to get exercise and to feel at home. The bigger the cage the better. This could well be your problem here, he does not sound a happy hamster.
I have had my syrian hamster a year. When I first got him he was very small. I brought him the basic starter home, plastic bottom, and plastic walls and lid. He hated it. It restricted him, and he would try to scamble and scratch his way up the sides of the plastic to escape and it broke my heart. He grew so fast as well, he doubled his size within weeks.
In the end me and my husband got him a wired, 3 storey cage. So in theory 3 times the size of his original cage, but because it was wired he felt less enclosed. It truly is his palace now. He has a seperate nesting area on each level, secret hidden treats on each level, ceral chew bars, and of course tubes for him to get to each level. Yes, its a chore to clean and disinfect everyweek but he adores it, and he is the happiest, healthiest hamster I know of.
He clearly needs alot of attention too, He sounds scared of you. But dont panic. Please keep doing what you are doing, but get him a better cage first and leave hima week or so to settle in before attempting to handle him again. Its a mixture of pot luck and loving, caring handeling to whether or not your hamster is tame. It will happen though. We were blesses to have such a laid back, cuddley hamster like Harry, but not everyone has this experiance with hamsters. People assume because they are so small, they dont need alot of care and attention, but as your finding out first hand, it could not be further from the truth. Once he has settled in and starts to trust you he will demand an awful lot of attention to come out and play at all sorts of random hours. Harry will want to come out and play, but instead he often just curls up on the sofa next to me for a doze!! Be patient, invest in a proper cage for your hamster and with luck all will be fine.
Dex
on November 30th, -0001
Because he’s a hamster. Get a hound. Give the poor guy a break and give him to my cat already.
CatNap
on November 30th, -0001
because he is a roadent not a dog he is not looking for effection he is looking to eat and reproduce
Highway
on November 30th, -0001
I know a lot of people who have hamsters in tanks, but I personally hate it. The wire cages are good, because not only can they breathe, but you can see him better and it’s cooler. Tanks = not good (my opinion). Once I brought my first hamster, she ran away from me all the time.But, once you start petting her and like comforting her, then, I THINK that it’ll get close to you. But, depends because some hamsters just don’t like to be touched and played with. If u get the dwarf hamster, those are hard to take care of because they’re small and like mini…so also wire cages can be an issue with the dwarf hamsters..but, like golden hamsters, they are ok. it’s probably because the hamster miss it’s home. Try to touch him, but be careful, because he might bite. Some just don’t want to be touched. Funny moment- one time, i was sleeping and all i could hear was the wheel moving in the cage, i got really pissed and it was like 4 in the morning, I taped wheel in the wire and 5 minutes later, she ripped the tape and started running again on the wheel. It was annoying, but I understood. Yeah. Well, good luck taking care of your hamster!!
Highway
on November 30th, -0001
Just give him time and keep trying! He has to get use to you! He probably was not handled at the store you got him from, he is just scared! Keep trying the treats, and maybe some company would help, if you do buy another hamster ask the sales person to handle them 1st to see how it behaves, if it lets him pick it up and doesn’t bite or try to run and hide then buy it! It all ways help to see how an animal reacts 1st. Good luck!
FuzzyFerret
on November 30th, -0001
ALL BABY HAMSTERS DO THIS. OFFER HIM LITTLE TREARS FORM YOUR HAND AN DHE WILL GET USED TO YOU.
ToxicSkull
on November 30th, -0001
He doesn’t sound happy with his enviorment. A 10 gallon tank is very small. There is cage toppers out there (usually metal) that go on top of 10 galls at they basically can use the bottom tank half for digging or whatnot (put soil in there). Then the top you can put a wheel in/food/water/bed.
I had hamsters growing up. They take alot of time to socialize. Don’t give up. You could try taking him out, go in the bathroom or sit in the bath & let him run around, he will walk on you this way- smell you & come near you will getting excersize. Just remember, he’s a baby & just got taken away from mom- so be patient! Good luck!
Style
on November 30th, -0001
my hamster used to not pay attention to me at all. but when i showed her that if she goes on my hand, and i let her run around the room, she knows my hand will let her free. so everytime i put my hand in there, she runs on to my hand. hamsters are generally not interested in ppl, just cuz they’re mice and they don’t understand things like dogs and cats. if your hamster doesn’t come to you, try picking him up and putting him on your hand. but make sure that you don’t have any food smell on you or else he’ll bite, and don’t do it if he’s sleeping.
WyleCoyote
on November 30th, -0001
About how old is your hamster and what breed is it? The young ones (under 10 weeks) aren’t social mature enough to know not to bare the teeth at you. This is a defense posture and he thinks you are an intruder there to harm him. Try offering a piece of food first to give him a different scent and to say you’re friendly. Careful of the fingers, try a piece of wheat bread or something with finger safety distance. Try getting him to go into one of the toilet paper rolls first then get him to come out into your hand, we did this with many of them and it worked quite well. Remember to always talk to him the whole time with a gentle voice. If there’s any nervousness on you’re part they will pick it up and act that way too. You’ve only had him a few days and we’ve had some hamsters that took 2 months to stop this behavior (they were rescues and mistreated). Most were friendlier in less then a month. I was working with one we got in last week and in just a few days, my 11 yr old daughter could hold him in his cage (in case he jumped for his safely), sadly he passed tonight unexplained.
Personally I only use tanks for my mice since they’re too small for most all wire cages, but we use mesh tops for maximum ventilation. All my other small animals (rescues and private pets) are all housed in wire top cages and they love them. Just be cautious of the chewing and make them stop (easier said then done sometimes). Bar chewing can lead to broken teeth, misaligned teeth and teeth pulled out at the root if caught where 2 pieces of metal are close together. Plus it’s very nerve racking to hear them chew on them.
May I ask you what bedding you use? Using cedar or pine should not be done due to the chemicals in them that when mixed with the urine create toxic fumes thet will build up in a cage and even more easily in a tank. This can cause respiratory infections or death to small animals. Also pine and other wood litters like aspen cause allergies in them that cause watery eyes, sneezing and in some cases respiratory infections. (I know this from past prior experience and getting small animals from those who housed them in the wood litters that became sick within a few days of having them or that were sick and the vet diagnosed these problems.) I only became aware of these problems with wood litters within the last 3 years as a now former breeder. I started small animal rescues this year. We have been using only paper litters such as Care Fresh and the allergies have not been seen. Even our allergies have lessened over the last few years since finding out about what wood litters cause in small animals. I even this my one cat was allergic to the woods because his hair has grown back and stayed, but before he lost his had and itched all the time. I had used a pine cat litter for the last few years and stopped last year.
SkateRForeveR
on November 30th, -0001
It’s a new home so he is going to be aggitated and rushed for a while. He is just thinking “what the?! where did this cage come from?!” and he is probably used to being with a lot of other hammies just like at the pet shop. Don’t worry. He will soon get used to his new home and his new ways of living and he will be calmed down enough for you to start getting friendly with him and he will trust everything more. He is just a little bit startled. Good luck!
Fractalfallout
on November 30th, -0001
He might just be scared so try to soothe him by talking to him softly or just being
near him. I doesn’t sound like he is bored so that isn’t the problem. maybe he wants some company maybe another hamster. it also might be that he is just not used to his new environment. give him some time. if it continues take him to the vet.
Hope that helps:)
ontheplains
on November 30th, -0001
he is just afraid… all you have to do is get him use to being held.. it will take time but soon he will love to sit in ur lap….
Grapes
on November 30th, -0001
sometimes males are meaner than the females, offer him snacks, like sunflower seeds, yogurt drops, etc, yes your bedding is good, you can also get super shavin’s at petsmart or petco, its good too. about the cage, I prefer the crittertrail type at petsmart, and petco, they have open air flow which is good, also some have 2 and 3 levels, and get an exercise ball, about $4-5 same store, they love to run in them. if it dosn’t get better in a few weeks, get rid of it and get a syrian at petsmart, they sell only females. he’s scared because if you put anything over them ie your hand, they assume its an attacker swooping down on them, so go get a crittertrail cage, it has a front door, and also sky towers to get in and out.
StarGirl
on November 30th, -0001
put a snake in there, that”ll spice up the show
SteffyB88
on July 19th, 2011
What is with all the stupid comments guys? Why bother waisitng your time on here if your not going to act like an adult, move on.
Anyway,
I deffinatly agree what people are saying about the cage. I find it very cruel as its bad enough they are trapped in a age full stop never mind it being glass and no proper air getting in. Dont worry though, you may have been told or thought this was a good idea, nothing you cant change though.
I have just had a terrible audele with my baby hamster. He is now 2 months old, i was struggling to get mine out of the cage. Took me about half an hour to get him out, i have to use the ladder, when he walks down his ladder i quickly unclip the ladder and magic, he walk straight on to my lap. He will not freeley walk on to my hand, even with food on it, he backs away when i go in for the move.
He has just escaped his cage and managed to get in to my walls in my apartement. Even worse as if it was a house i would have freely bashed each and every wall down to get him. He got out of his wired cage and after 24 hours i couldnt find him anywhere, couldnt even here him on a night. i live on the 3rd (top) floor of a block of apartements and my neighbour reported rats in her walls. Obvs this was no rat it was my bruce! he had some how managed to find a whole in the wall in my flat (although i cant see any!) and go 3 floors down in the walls and trapped himself.
This was absalout horror. Felt so sick!
Yesterday my neighbour kindly knocked his wall down in the aring cubourd and got him out. Nightmare!
My point is, now he is even more reluctant to let me go near him, i couldnt even look to see if he was ok, wanted to check for cuts as today there is drops of blood in his beeding – not surprised really with the mission he had the last 2 days.
I am upset that its put a set back on me bonding with him but i am just going to try everythingi can, treats, time, patients and loving, if you do the same i am sure he will be fine with you.
Good luck
Stef
Hammy Lover
on August 5th, 2011
Ok people need to seriously stop spreading these myths about tanks being unsafe for a hamster. If you use good anti odor bedding and clean it weekly then you should not be having a problem with smell or bacteria building up!
Another thing I don’t understand is why people say that 10 gallon tanks are too small for a Syrian hamster or even a dwarf hamster. What the f*ck are you smoking? It’s bigger than most hamster cages out there! There’s plenty of space for a silent exercise wheel, chew toys, a hideaway, a feeder bowl, tubes/ledges, and other things. If lack of space and ledges is really an issue then buy one of those tank topper cages.
What you need to understand is that hamsters have their own personalities. Some are mellow and lazy and others are energetic and escape artists. Your hamster wont automatically trust you right off the bat. You must first give him time to get use to his new home and then start taming him. If you don’t know how to tame him then look up a youtube video, there are plenty good ones out there.
Also, if this is a dwarf hamster we’re talking about then yeah, those are a little harder to train than say a Syrian, Chinese dwarf, or Winter White dwarf. Robo dwarfs (the really energetic ones) are really only meant for watching. If it’s a Campbell dwarf then goodluck. My personal experience with those from petstores is horrible. There’s a rumor going on out there that the animals mills that popular petstores get their hamsters from don’t care about incestual breeding or inter-species breeding the dwarf hamsters. Because of this rumor, some people suggest that this may be why petstore hamsters seem more vicious (a weakened gene pool). Return him if you suspect that this might be the case with your hamster. If you’re really serious about owning one then try to find a reputable hamster breeder instead.
All “tame” really means anyway is that it’s going to associate your hand with giving it treats and not be scared of you because of it. 2nding the things some posters said up there, if you wanted affection, then you should get a dog or a cat.
elliee
on November 12th, 2011
I bought my syrian hamster last monday, he was only 14 weeks old, he’s very timid and does scratch and make a noise, he’s calmed down abit now but I still haven’t held him, I’m too scared incase he runs out of my hands, just get him used too your scent and talk too him, sounds silly but your voice will calm them, hope this helped 🙂
Cae
on December 6th, 2011
If you keep lowering your hand with treats, the hamster will eventually get used to it, it just takes time. Some are more skittish than others, it just depends on their personality. I have two dwarf hamsters and one although a lot less scared seeming at first is actually the more skittish one. The other one kept to itself a lot more/less active seeming at first, but turns out to love food enough that she eventually got used to coming onto my hand and she used to even come out of her house when I would say her name. I don’t mess with them much anymore other than to clean their cages, so she’s not as used to it anymore. She’ll still take food from my hand though if I give it to her.
Also I don’t necessarily think glass cages are bad. I have a plastic tube one and a glass one, the glass one is bigger than most wire cages/plastic ones. The more friendly one is in the glass cage and she seems to like it. She wasn’t too interested in everything the plastic tube house had to offer. When I first got them, in the glass aquarium they had a cardboard house, on top of paper rolls, so they had a little under spot to hide in and the house itself. plus tubes to go under in and out. They are separated now, so one has the tube .. it’s a habitrail ovo for dwarfs, and then the other one is in the glass aquarium.
Steven
on July 14th, 2012
I have two dwarf hamsters in a glass aquarium! They seem to like it, and they have a house to hide under, They eat treats from my hand, but I have to wait patiently for a few minutes. Luckily, I got two VERY sweet hamsters, but if yours are a bit moody, don’t worry, their instinct to get food is stronger than their instinct to dislike you.
elaine
on December 16th, 2013
when i firt got my syrian hamster i didint wait 24 hours to hold and play with her. i just grabed her and played with her right away it didint really make a diffrence.at first she did jump around her aquariom cage but she stoped at one point so thats normall and the treat in your hand thing i personally dont like it so i didint do it i just grabed her and gave her a treat but my problem is that she has escaped 2 times (i have found her before really losing her) the first time she jumped out i catched her under her wheel stuck trying to get out (lukily i woke up a saw her) the second time wich was tonight she was in the trash can trying to get out… i dont know how she gt in there but i dont know what to do she has also eaten the top of her cage (a fish tank cage!!) i found out case one day when i was cleaning out her cage i got a cut and i looked where i got it and i noticed that there was a huge pice riped out if the cage i looked around a noticed other tiny ones…what should i do!!!!
Ali
on October 3rd, 2014
Great question. I just recently got a hamster about a month ago and he’s become very friendly and jumps into my hand to come out and play. This is what I did.
You need to let your hamster agust to his new home and surroundings, give him at least a week of being left alone. Also trying to pet your hamster before he has even gotten the courage to sniff you is a VERY BAD idea. This will just frighten him and cause the process of handling him take even longer. Slowly lower your hand down towards your hamster not even to the bottom just to allow him to get interested and smell you. Remember you’re a big scary creature entering his space. As he gets more accustomed to your scent try feeding him a treat and then eventually picking him up and handling him.
This process is going to take time. They’re very smal skittish creatures and you are much bigger.
On the fact that he’s jumping on the glass. Hamsters are always looking for a way to escape and find shelter. Maybe add a box and some more bedding so he can borrow and feel safer.
Hope this helped!
Danny
on April 7th, 2015
Despite many people saying you should buy a new hamster, do NOT! Hamsters, specially syrians, which is the “ordinary” hamster, and probably the one you have, should NEVER be kept together. They are loners by nature and in most cases will fight to death if placed in the same cage(this will happen throughout months, and not suddenly after you put them in the same cage). Just talk to him daily, make him used to your voice, give him treats, and try to take him to an empty bathtub or playpen daily for 10-20 minutes, so he can get more used to you(you can use a mug to transport him to the bathtub, just place it inside the cage and he’ll go in).
sharon
on May 5th, 2016
please can I have advice on hamster behaviour. we got my daughter a Syrian hamster about 5 weeks ago{ first one} we have a cage which she is settled in and to help my daughter get used to the hamster and handle her we set up a very large plastic toy tub to place the hamster in with toys and tubes. The hamster will play, allow my daughter to stroke her and has just started letting her pick her up. She will clean herself and take treats. however she keeps jumping up against the sides of the plastic tub, play and then do it again.Is she distressed or just extra active. she does not bite us when we handle or stroke her .
Catherine. C
on August 7th, 2017
Hello i’ve been taking care of hamsters for years now..and from my 11 year experience I know a 10 g tank is wayy way too small. There is NOTHING wrong with using tanks. I would usually use atleast 40g or more. Width + Length is alot better than height though. I’ve heard stories from other people’s experience with 3 story “wired” cages and their hamsters would climb and injure themselves when they fall. With tanks, they wont even think about climbing if there is lots of room to run and play. I mean they can’t climb anyway with tanks, but a happy hamster won’t even try to. My hamsters never once tried to escape, they all came to the top of their hideaway house when i called their name. As for ventilation “to breathe better”..It all depends on your room temp..I have Air conditioning, so a tank is good for stopping drafts..I use a mesh lid for my tank..So they do have ventilation. I try not to keep my tank in warm/hot areas to prevent heat stroke…Provide lots of wooden chew toys, a wheel but not a mesh wheel (i heard some hamsters getting their feet injured from it).. Get a wodent wheel, a silent spinner, or a disc spinner, they are more safe.. The wheel must be 10-12 inch for a syrian..any other smaller hamsters can use 7-8inch wheels…4inch wheels is just way too small for anything..Maybe a roborovski…Use CAREFRESH bedding.. I’ve always used a small litterpan filled with critter litter so my hamsters were potty trained…Provide a sandbox with chinchilla sand so your hamster can take his her bath in it… NEVER give a hamster a bath with water. Also when you get a new hamster, you MUST wait 2-3 days to let them settle in their new home..I always gave them a week without bothering them, and i was able to hand tame them all. I had very very happy hamsters, and NONE of them bit me..I never had a hamster that tried to escape in all that 11 years. I got to keep each one for 2 years, except the ones i adopted who were already over a year old…Well over all, change your tank to 40g or more, have patience, give your hamster time to adjust..