Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster Help!

Question
Dear Dawn
I have kept 4 dwarf hamsters, and 3 syrian hamsters, and 2 gerbils before, but I have never had this problem with any of them until now.

I brought myself a winter white russian dwarf hamster 2 days ago, and when i brought her home i noticed that she was making a screeching, almost hissing noise. I ignored it and figured she was just stressed about her new environment, so i left her for a couple of days to let her settle in. But I tried to handle her this morning and she just kept making the same noise. I managed to pick her up out of her cage, but she kept jumping from my hand and tring to run. And now, all I have to do is walk into the same room and she will make the screeching noise again.

I'm normally really confident with animals, but this has made me nervous to try and handle her again. Will she always be like this? Will she start biting if I keep trying to handle her? I've never had this problem with any of my other hamsters or gerbils before, and I don't really know what to do.

Some advice on this would be much appreciated.

Many thanks
Devon


Answer
This is normal and means she is afraid at the time. It may take alot of time and work with her. You will need to be patient and not be scared of her.  Remember to scoop her up with one hand under her and one on top this makes her feel more secure and prevents her from running away of even falling. Here are some tips on tamming:

  Well you've started in the right track of making sure your hands dont smell of food. hamsters usually are not tame or even touched alot in pet stores so your hamster is probably not use to people. He will need alot of time more than just a week.

Here are some tips:
1)Train at night when they are more alert and on the go. Since hamsters are nocturnal then this is perfect for getting an alert and ready to go hamster.

2)Rub his bedding on your hand to give him a familiar smell and prior to that wash them.

3)You want to first get him to come near you. This can be done with a treat or food. It may take time but you want him to come to you and not be nervous but dont try to immediately pick him up just let him feel comfortable around you.

4)Once he is comfortable around you and with even taking food from your hand then you can try to have him crawl onto your palm when you place food there. Once he will do all these things then you can close your hand and hold him or even allow him to sit in your lap. He has to feel that you are not going to threaten him. He needs time to go step by step to the holding stage.


Things not to do:
1)Pick him up asleep
2)Handle him with food on you
3)Grab the hamster from above instead of scooping him from underneith
4)have him on high ground like counters ect where he can run and fall


Here are some websites that give more information for you:
This one was just too funny :)_
http://www.whenhamstersattack.com/avoid.php


http://www.tiscali.co.uk/lifestyle/pets/petplanet/2005/05/10/smanimalhealth/tami...

http://www.geocities.com/taffy3001/handling.html

http://www.myhammie.com/hamster-taming.php