Problems with my new syrian hamster

Question
Three days ago I bought a female Syrian hamster from a Pets at Home store and I have called her Marie. I have owned a Syrian hamster before and didn't have any settling problems with him.

However when I got Marie home I set up her cage and put her in it. I left her to her own devices for a couple of hours. Then when I saw she was awake, I took the lid off the cage and tried to stroke her. She let me for a bit, so then I tried to scoop her up and she got super scared and jumped out of the cage and on to the floor. I managed to catch her and put her in to a cardboard box. Me and my boyfriend stroked her a bit, but she was running around in this box and started making this really awful growling noise at us, so we put her back in her cage and left her alone.

The next day I opened her cage up again and tried to stroke her, she lay low to the ground, however was sniffing my hand and seemed a little more interested in me and it was definitely a bit improvement on the day before. Then when I stopped stroking her she started making the growling noise again, so I figured she was getting angry at me again, so I closed her cage up and left her alone.

Today (being the third day of owning her) I tried to feed her some food from my hand and she sniffed it but wouldn't take it from me, which I found odd because my old hamster used to always do that. She hid under her wheel, then she went in to her house and hasn't come out again since.
I know I've only owned Marie for 3 days, so she won't have settled properly yet. But I'm worried that I won't be able to tame her or she will never like me, because her personality is completely different to my last hamster (who was really friendly and enjoyed being handled). Any tips on what I should do to help improve our relationship? And also have you heard of many hamsters who started out disliking human contact and grew to like it, or do they usually dislike it for life? Many thanks xx

Answer
Hi Bethan

Thanks for your question - I'm sorry to hear you are having problems taming Marie.

It is very early days - so please don't give up on her yet.  Syrians generally tame well, but sometimes it takes longer with some than others.

The thing to remember is that she may well have come from a breeding farm, which means she may never have been handled. Also, you appear as a giant to her, so she is in new surroundings, sounds and smells, and is nervous.  Hamsters have dreadful eyesight and rely heavily on their other senses so she may see you as a threat at the moment.  The key thing is winning her confidence.

I would suggest that you don't try to handle her for a couple of days - instead, talk to her a lot.  Let her feel comfortable in her cage and not threatened there.  If you can, feed some treats through the bars for her, but speak her name and talk to her all the time.  This way she will begin to recognise you.

In 2 or 3 days time, dismantle the cage if you can, rub some of her bedding in your hands and place a hand each side of her.  Quickly 'scoop' her up and immediately put her on your clothing.  A lot of hamsters don't like walking on skin and they are much more confident on clothing. I suggest you sit on the floor or sofa to do this so that if she jumps off you she won't hurt herself.  Let her walk over your legs - if she starts wandering off gently slide a hand under her and bring her back.  Don't squeeze her and it is important to talk to her all the time.  After a few minutes of this, put her back in her cage.  It is a good idea to put a treat in her cage.  This way she will start to associate you with nice things.  Hamsters are generally very nosey creatures and chances are once she has been in her cage for a few seconds she will want to come out again.  If she does, then get her out and go through the routine again.

If you try this for a few days she should start to calm down.  I never let a hamster sniff my fingers as this can result in accidental bites.  Also, try not to startle her - if you are going near the cage either talk to her so she knows you are around, or gently tap the side of the cage.

I've had many who cry when being handled initially.  I try to ignore them and carry on handling them so that they know that they are not in any danger. Most times they snap out of this behaviour quickly.

What type of cage is she in?  Does it have a side door?  If so, after a few days of handling her you should be able to train her to come out of this door.  If you have an exercise ball for her, I suggest you tape over all the joins as these balls do have a habit of opening up in they are banged into furniture - also some hamsters manage to open the doors.  I find these balls quite good for nervous hamsters.  If you put her in this and let her explore for about 5 - 10 minutes.  Keep an eye on her so that she doesn't get stuck behind any furniture.  After than time if you open up the door and see if she will either walk out onto your lap, or into her cage. Don't put your hand in the ball as she will be scared and is likely to bite and freek out.  Generally I find that if I put a nervous hamster in one of these balls, after a few evenings of coming out for about 10 - 20 minutes in this they calm right down and are easier to handle.

It really is a case of persevering.  It is a very big and scary world for a hamster and it is up to you to let Marie know that she is safe. You might find that she settles quickly in the space of a week, or you might find it takes you a month to calm her but it will definitely be worth it in the end as your friendship will be so much better if she is tame.

Good luck with this - I hope you get on OK.

Regards
Sheila