Can you touch hamsters when you first get them?

It’ll take discipline, but the first thing you should do is avoid the urge to handle your new hamster for 12 to 24 hours after you first get it. Larger Syrian hamsters are more amenable to holding than dwarf hamsters, on the whole, but all will live longer, happier lives if you create a nurturing environment for them.

When should I start handling my hamster?

Begin taming your hamster when it is still young. At 3-4 weeks of age is an ideal time to start interacting with your hamster. If you get to them while they are young you will have an easier time taming them. That’s not to say an older hamster can not be tamed, it’s just that young hamsters are more impressionable.

Can you pick up your hamster on the first day?

When you bring home a new hamster, give it a week or so to adjust to its new home and surroundings before you try to do much handling. Don’t disturb or try to handle your hamster during the day when it is sleeping.

Can I play with my hamster the day I get it?

Wait 3 to 7 days before interacting with your hamster. S/he will be scared and confused for the first few days after being moved to a new home. Let him or her get used to their new surroundings before playing with them. You’d should let it settle for a day in it’s cage.

Can you kiss your hamster?

The common cold or an upper respiratory infection can be passed to hamsters from humans. Because these infections are usually spread through respiratory droplets, kissing your hamster is a big no-no. In other words, the common cold is fatal to a hamster when left untreated.

Does a hamster bite hurt?

It’s rare for a hamster to actually be aggressive, though, and they typically only bite when they get scared. Those tiny teeth may not do as much damage as those of other animals, but a bite will hurt and should be discouraged. Fortunately, you can gradually train your hamster to accept being handled and stop biting.

How do you grab a hamster?

Place your hand, palm facing down, on the floor of the cage for about four or five seconds before moving it towards your pet. Turn your palm up and wait for your hamster to approach and investigate. He’ll happily crawl onto your hand as part of his exploration – eventually!

Which is the friendliest hamster?

The Syrian hamster is the friendliest hamster species towards humans. But if you’re looking for a hamster species that is friendly towards their owners and other hamsters the best choice is the Russian dwarf hamster.

How do I get my hamster to like being held?

Offer Treats: Once your hamster has gotten used to your smell, you can try offering a small bit of a treat. This will entice the hamster to come closer to your hand. Put the treat in your palm, and hold out your hand palm up. The hamster will have to climb onto your hand to get the treat.

Is it bad to grab my hamster?

Introduce your hand to the cage before touching your pet. Don’t make a grab for him – that’s what predators do, and you don’t want your hamster to see you as a threat, or you’ll struggle to win back his trust.

Should you give your hamster a bath?

“I don’t really see the need to ever give a hamster a bath,” said Dr. Francine Rattner, DVM, owner and medical director of South Arundel Veterinary Hospital in Edgewater, Maryland, which treats small pets including hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits. Or at least, not a traditional bath with water.

Do hamsters get attached to their babies?

Unlike humans, hamsters don’t really get attached to their children beyond the initial care when they’re very small. It might be tempting to let the father hamster, if you have him, into the cage to meet the children. Don’t do this. The hamster mother can be moody—she might not always want the father around even at the best of times.

Can you let other hamsters into the cage with you?

Don’t Let Other Hamsters Into the Cage. Unlike humans, hamsters don’t really get attached to their children beyond the initial care when they’re very small. It might be tempting to let the father hamster, if you have him, into the cage to meet the children.

How to introduce a hamster to a new pet?

Place a tissue with your scent into the cage. This is a great way for that initial introduction because hamsters rely heavily on their sense of smell (their eyesight definitely isn’t 20/20). When your scent fills their cage, likely, they’re going to associate it with safety. Talk to them.