He is new from the pet store and is pretty good at going into our hands. He just seems very edgy though. Does this go away (if so how long?) or are they always like that?
Also what household snacks are safe to treat them to - I read somewhere peanuts and fruit (what kind?)
2007-03-22 16:26:03 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
It can take a week to a month for a hamster to get used to you depending on how much attention it's given. We have a couple of Russian dwarfs that have never liked being held even with daily attention since 2 weeks old (born to our house). They are over 15 months now. My son can only hold them for a quick minute or 2 with gloves on then they bite through the gloves.
Here is a site for the foods acceptable for hamsters. Also I can be emailed for a more thorough food list for dwarfs, there's certain foods they can't have at all. Don't give any fruits, corn, peas, or carrots. I've written a paper on feeding both dwarfs and Syrians that I can email to you. Just email me at wolfinator25840@yahoo.com and put hamster food list in the subject.
2007-03-22 17:07:54 · answer #1 · answered by wolfinator25840 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hamsters in general take a little while to get used to new homes. It really depends on the hamster himself if the edgyness goes away, just like people. If you continue to handle him regularly (probably not more than an hour or two total a day) he should warm up to you. Try to keep when you handle him at a regular time, hamsters like regularity and repitition. Also, it is important to let him run around free in an enclosed, hamster-friendly area every day. Give him tube to play in and things for chewing (NOT toilet paper tubes, the glue can be harmful.) Almost any fruit, vegetable or nut is safe for hamsters. It's more of a prefrence of your hamster's as to what treats you should feed him. Try different foods and see what he likes. I used to feed my hamster a little piece of scrambled egg every now and then too, for extra protein. Some classic hamster favorites are; carrots, lettuce, spinach, apple, grapes, sunflower seeds, peanuts, peas, dried sweetcorns, cucumber, walnuts, brazils, almonds and hazelnuts. When they are in the shells the hamster can chew at them to wear down his teeth, but you will normally need to crack them so that the hamster can eat the nut. My dwarf hamster loved walnuts in particular.
They do not normally do not like salt or very strong flavours like onion or garlic. They are not keen on citrus fruits or tomatoes. The unhealthy things like salt, sugar or fats are not good for them. (The hamster salt lick blocks sold in pet shop are made from minerals and not table salt.)
You should avoid giving them food which will melt, as they may stuff it into their pouches which are warm. If food has melted in a pouch it will be hard for the hamster to remove. They can clean the pouches by pushing then inside out through their months and cleaning the inner skin, which does look a bit strange. But if melted food becomes stuck I have heard that this can cause infections.
2007-03-22 23:47:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe that dwarf hamsters have adjustment problems. Too much of anything is bad for any human or animal. The hamsters that I had were partial to lettuce, sun flower seeds (unsalted), and cucumber. All in small quantities.
2007-03-22 23:40:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter had one and we had to scoop him up in a bowl or something and then let him climb onto our hands. We were told that they can't see very well and sometimes when you go in to get them out they can't tell what is getting after them and they go into defense mode. That is what worked for us. Sadly....They only live about a year too. Anyway, immediately.
2007-03-22 23:54:40 · answer #4 · answered by Melissa M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your hamster should calm down soon,he just has to get comfortable with you as well as you get comfortable with him!his edginess should disapear ,he just doesnt know what to expect yet!the people at the stores dont handle them as much as the owners.so he just needs to learn what is going on!have patience with him,he will come around.here is a link to click on so you know what is ok to feed him!good luck!
http://www.hamster-heaven.com/feeding.html
2007-03-22 23:39:52 · answer #5 · answered by cyndi b 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
about 1 to 2 days, after it has explored & left its scent everyway. =D
2007-03-23 01:04:57 · answer #6 · answered by flipper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two days or so
2007-03-22 23:43:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋