Just bought my son a pet hamster and he is scared to pick it up. Will it bite?

Question

Just bought my son a pet hamster and he is scared to pick it up. Will it bite?

Answer 1

start with gloves and work your way so he can not bite or buy some chew toys to shave his teath

Answer 2

Yes Most likely it will bite a person the first few times it is picked up until it grows used to the felling. This is what usually happens. But the you can barely feel the bite. It is just a slight pinch. They do not have very strong or large teeth. Your son has nothing to worry about. There is almost no pain.

Answer 3

just like any other animal, a hampster may bite if hurt or startled. (or if he's just mean.)

Answer 4

too bad you didnt ask about hamsters BEFORE you got him one

yes they bite.. especialy if you got it from a pet store (as opposed to a hand raised one from breeder or SPCA)

http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Usual-Pets-...

this is a good link

honestly.. take the hamster back where you got it from

if he is scared now.. it will never be tamed and unless you want it for a pet  yourself.. return it..

go to the SPCA or shelter and get a rabbit...

Answer 5

Leave the hamster alone for a few days and only interact with it when you give it new food and water. After that take it slow. Let you son pet it while you hold it. Once he gets used petting it, ask if he would like to hold it.  Even if he holds it for a second it is better then nothing. Eventually he will hold it it just takes time.

Answer 6

if it is very new it is best not to hold it at all. after about a week try holding it. there is no telling if it will bite. it is according to the hamster.

Answer 7

your son is a weenie

Answer 8

You should leave the hamster alone for the first couple of days. It will be scared and you should give it some time to adjust to its new environment. Then you can start slowly trying to offer him treats from your hand. Then slowly you can try to hold your hamster. Never grab your hamster. This will likely result in a bite. Either scoop them up gently with two hands or see if the hamster will walk on your hands on its own. Just be careful, hamsters are jumpy little things and will easily jump right out of your hands if your not careful. Just let him walk from hand to hand or let him wander around your lap to get used to you. Again, never try and grab your hamster.

You can also sit in a bathtub(make sure the drain in closed and there's nothing the hamster can get into that can harm it) and just let the hamster wonder around you.  

Just be patient and go slow. Some hamsters come around pretty quickly, other hamsters might take a bit more time.

Also remember hamsters are nocturnal. Meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night. So its best to interact in the late evening. If you wake your hamster up, give it time to fully wake up and be aware of you before attempting to handle him/her. If you just go to grab your hamster while he or she is still sleeping, this can result in a bite.

Answer 9

Hamsters can bite, but it's usually not terribly painful.  The more the hamster gets familiar and comfortable with being handled though, the better he'll 'tolerate' it and be 'friendly.'  

If your son is extremely worried about being bitten, the hamster (like any animal) will sense fear, and yes, probably bite.  But if your son doesn't let go of him, but just holds him more firmly, the hamster should 'chill' - and they should be able to 'bond' a bit.

Answer 10

I would suggest holding it as many times as you can or else It WILL bite. If you hold it alot than it probably won't bite.

Answer 11

(lol maggie)

it depends on what type of hampster..

some do some don't.. alot of it depends on personality...

you should pick it up to be sure it doesn't bite. Then let you son pick it up nice and easy and don't play rough with it.