Can i hold my hamster yet??

Question

Ive had my panda hamster for almost two weeks now and he knows my voice and my smell and doesnt run away when i walk in like he used to...i feed him treats with my hand and feel relaxed around him but when i open teh cage door to set my hand in there for him...i start flipping out and my hearts beats fast and he turns around and starts coming to me and then i see his teeth and get so0o0o scared!i tihnk i am just reeally scared of being bitten..can i have some advice or stories of your first interactions?

Answer 1

You need to hold your hamster to keep it from biting. It's the only way to train it.

The ebst advice I can give you is to have someone else get it out of the cage and let him walk on to your hand from theirs. This way you aren't picking him up.

Also you could keep your hand in the cage and let him walk across it so you get used to the feel.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Get one of those plastic exercise balls, put it in front of cage opening so it can crawl in. Let it run around a half hour or so, let it out on your bed, let it get used to you and scoop it up, or let it crawl on you. I have two hamsters, the teddy bear hamster seems to be the calmest and easier to handle. Ihave a black short hair that dosn't care to be handled, but you need to start ioffering treats and trying to pet them as soon as the second and third day, let them alone the first 24 hours, just talk to them.

Answer 3

if your hamster knows you well, i think its pretty safe to stick your hand in. just place a treat on your wrist, and stay very still. eventually, he will come over and want to chill on your hand. he probably won't bite you! chances are very slim that he will bite you! just keep remembering this. soon you be laughing at your old fear. think of it like this - I'm 5 foot 6, and hes 6 inches long. im 11 times his size! how bad could one bite really hurt?

Answer 4

Sounds like to me, you shouldn't be owning a pet if you are afraid of teeth. They may nip, and bite but thats a part of owning a hampster. You need to just pick him up. If you are afraid, get on some gloves.

Answer 5

We had two European Black Bear hampsters and they don't bite as much as the other hampsters. (Well that's what the pet store clerks told me..) You need to get to know your hampster and it needs to get to know you. As he or she feels welcome/comfortable with you holding them they are less likely to bite. Animals can tell when you are scared and this maked them more tense. Just relax and try holding it now and again and you two will get used to each other.

Answer 6

do not hold your hamster until hez about 2 and a half - 3 weeks old

Answer 7

i had dwarf hampsters and they were mean when i first got them. mainly the male cause he was protective of the female... but i would always try to hold them and try to bond with them but they just wanted to eat me!! lol but one day i just grabed one and i put it in my shirt till it calmed down and then i stroked it with my fingers then started to hold it.. it bit me once but when that happend i put it in my shirt again and waited till it calmed down again then after holding it for like a hour they got used to it!! the less you try to hold them the more theyll be mean!!
a pointer= if it bits you dont panic too much cause itll be freaked out so just kinda put it down (not back in the cage) and just hold it with a shirt or something over your hands!!
hope that helps!!

Answer 8

here's an article with your similar situation.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Gerbils-Hamsters-2005/Hamster-7.htm

Answer 9

just get an exercise ball let him go in and out that way til you get more comfortable with it, let it run on your bed.

Answer 10

ive never had a hamster like that :o) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥