How long do you wait before you pick up a hamster?

Question

I got my hamster yesturaday at like noon. I heared it needs like 24 hours before you touch it . Well I tried holding it at like 3pm to today and if i put my hand in the cage it runs and goes inside one of the tubes. Does the hamster not like me ?Its my first hamster .A teddybear short hair.

Answer 1

open the cage and let the hamster come out when he is ready, dont try to pick him up at first let him sniff you and pet him until he gets use to you after a while he shouldnt be scared and will let you handle him.

Answer 2

I have never heard that you can't touch them for 24 hours before. . .that is new.
Hamsters like to hide. It's their thing. If you want to hold the hamster, just get some confidence and stick your hand in the cage. You can either be aggressive and just pick up the tube and get the hamster out, which might kind of scare it, or you can just leave your hand in there until it comes to check you out. Either way, they are rather quick and not naturally sociable, so you'll likely have to catch it to hold it. Consistent human touch will help. Hold it or touch it every day to get it used to it.

Answer 3

It doesn't necessarily not like you. It's just scared. What you need to do is wash your hands with the same kind of soap everytime before you get near the hamster. For maybe..two or three days just let the hamster get familiar with your smell and undestand you are not food. Hold your hand up to the cage, within smelling distance but not biting distance. Let it smell your hand.
The second day start trying to feed it with your hands.
The third is the hardest cause it's always scary knowing they might bite you. Try to lure the hamster in a little running ball and then I put them on my bed and if they are skittish and fast runners then I wouldn't suggest this.
But I try to pick them up and I just pet them and let them understand I won't hurt them

Answer 4

To spiderpig, my hamster died not so long ago.... she was a russian dwarf as well. i was really upset for a while. but i knew that these hamsters had a shorrt lifespan, so the day after, i cleaned the old cage thoroughly and bought another one! i don't know what it is but, dwarf russian hamsters are cuter in the way they behave, so personally i don't think syrians are anything special (no offense to people who have a syrian, this is only my view). xoxo

Answer 5

Slowly gain the hamsters trust. First open the cage and have a treat in your hand. Let him/her eat from your hand. Just let the hamster know that it can trust your. Make sure you give her/him time to adjust to his/her surroundings.

Answer 6

Hamsters are very shy creatures. Give it time, and show it that you mean no harm by feeding it veggies like carrots and such as well as fruits (make sure u give it NO SEEds cuz it could choke). She/he will get used to you sooner or later. Leave her/him alone to sleep during the day and play at night because they are nocturnal.

Answer 7

hi I got a short hair hamster on Friday now I pick him up today on his wheel and I let him sniff my finges and he bit my finger so should I wait longer or bring him back to the pet store.

Answer 8

Well you should give it 24 hours to get used to it's new environment and stuff. When you want to start getting your hamster ready to be picked up you might want to get it used to having your hand in the tank. give him treats, and give him time to get used to you.

Answer 9

I have a teddybear myself,it took about a week.Just let it come up to u.Like we u clean it ,fed itthen soon u can hold it.It is not that he dont like u,he has to get use to u.

Answer 10

You should wait 5 days. In those five days, talk to it and let it get used to you before you start to pick it up or it'll bite you.