Needed info about Teddy Bear Hamsters?

Question

I want a Teddy Bear Hamster for my b-day.......I only know one person with a teddy bear hamster and it is the sweetest thing........the people who own it have 7 young children and they all handle and it hasn't even bit one of them!!!

I'm wondering if teddy bear hamsters bite often......and the general information i need to know......

PLEASE DON'T COPY AND PASTE FROM OTHER SITES!!!!

Answer 1

no. teddies are gentle. as long as you get them young, he'll never bite you.

Answer 2

Syrian hamsters (generic name for teddy bear hamsters) are considered as the most friendliest and tame among hamsters. Also families with children prefer to have syrian hamsters since the size is more convenient for children to handle compared to dwarf hamsters.

However do not go with any preconceived notions when you buy a syrian, you might get disappointed. Just like each person has a character, each hamster also has a character. So your syrian might or might not be like your friend's. Normally hamsters when new to the house, bite out of fear and it takes a few days to a month to train them and tame them. There are very few hamsters who can be friendly right from day one without biting and if you get one like that, you are very lucky indeed.

Certain pointers to be followed when you buy hamsters -

1.Visit the pet shop only in the evenings when the hamsters are active, then it is easier for you to watch their general behavior and estimate their friendliness. If you go in the morning, you will only get to see a sleepy and cranky hamster.

2. Put your hand on the cage (not inside, you will get a bite). Normal hamsters would come and sniff at your hand in a friendly manner. However if a hamster is of an angry disposition, it would try to snarl or squeak. Though this is not a foolproof method, it has worked in most cases.

The main thing about syrian hamsters is that they are solitary creatures and very territorial. Two syrians in the same cage means vicious fighting and killing.

For general information, google syrian hamsters, you will get a hoard of sites to read from. Some of my favourite sites are -

http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/syria...

http://www.hamster-heaven.com/syrians.ht...

http://www.hamsterhideout.com/breedssyri...

Answer 3

I'm a long time hamster lover.  I got my first hamster when I was 7 years old ... almost 51 years ago.  I had hamsters, my kids had hamsters, and now my granddaughters have hamsters (one each).  I have raised hamsters professionally for sale to pet stores.  To me, there are not any 'different breeds/types' of hamsters, despite their labeling in stores.  There is some small differentiation but not enough to call them separarte breeds at this time.  The information I give you on hamsters is about ANY hamster:

Pet hamsters should live ALONE if you want them to be good, loving pets.  Pet hamsters need to be handled gently and frequently if you want a good, loving pet.  Hamsters are nocturnal animals that need a lot of exercise, but they don't necessarily need a 'wheel' in their cage if you are going to have it in your bedroom, because even the 'noiseless wheels' do make noise and many people can't sleep.  Hamsters like toys ... they like cardboard tubes to run through and hide in, they like blocks of wood to chew on (buy from pet stores only, because wood must be 'pure' and not 'treated' for a healthy hamster.  Hamsters are great chewers ... use flat newspaper on the bottoms of their cages, and newspaper torn into 1/2" strips the long way for bedding and your hamster should 'chew it up' to make comfortable bedding and places to hide food.  Be sure your hamster has fresh hamster food and water put into the cage EVERY DAY.  Clean your hamster cage once a week, and throw EVERYTHING out but toys and dishes.  Hamsters are hoarders and will try to hide food, but this can cause deterioration of the food and encourage disease and infection in your pet.

To become friends with your hamster, start in the evening when it is first waking up.  Put your hand into the cage, open, palm up and just let the hamster get used to your odor (ALWAYS wash your hands, or you will get bitten because they do love to eat and if they smell food, they will 'bite' if they can't find it).  Treat your hamster gently.  To pick it up in a hurry, pick it up by the 'nape' of the neck, skin only, then place it on your open other hand, let go, and 'cup' it between your hands.  Hamsters are very nearsighted and can get frightened if they are in places they 'don't know' so they need to learn your particular 'scent' and that you are as 'safe' for them as their cages are.  You may give hamsters just about any human food for treats, but don't give them too much fresh fruit and vegetables, and if you give them meat, give them only a tiny bit.  Feed them any good 'Hamster Food' or rat food and CHANGE IT daily but do NOT try to clean out the 'hidey-spot' except when the hamster is out and you are cleaning the cage.  Hamsters have very little 'memory' ... the only way your hamster can get to know you is by your scent, so don't wear perfume when you are handling him, don't use any 'odor reducers' in your room, and don't let him out to play where they are used.  If you are a good hamster owner, your hamster will be quite happy to climb up your arm, find your chest pocket, climb in to turn around and peek out, and will simply go to sleep there when he gets tired.  Hamsters DO bite, and you may get bitten when you are first learning how to handle your new friend.  Clean the bite with hot water and soap, dry it off and put a bandage over it, and go right back to loving your new friend.  I have NEVER known any hamster to bite anyone more than twice ... once they learn what you smell like, they won't bite you any more.  Give him a treat and he'll put it into his cheek for later.  Let him stuff his cheeks with treats from your hand as you are getting his cage ready for him to move in, so he can hide them for later when he's there, and you should have a 'friend for life.'  Hamsters do occasionally pee or p**p when you are holding them.  It is not a 'big deal' and you should just dry your hand (smelling like a hamster is a good thing for you as far as he's concerned) and throw the p**p pellets away.  When I had Booboo (my first hamster) he went EVERYWHERE with me, in my pocket or in a small 'hamster pouch' I sewed for him.  He NEVER caused a bad odor (although a dirty cage can stink), he never ruined my clothes by chewing them (unless he got into a pile of dirty clothes to hide ... put your clothes away and you'll be fine), and peed and pooped on me maybe a total of ten times in the almost four years he lived.  He was a VERY HAPPY hamster (he lived in my largest desk drawer, not in a wire cage or plastic cage) and he lived almost twice as long as a 'wild hamster' would live.  Good luck ... I hope you get the hamster you want ... they are the PERFECT first pet for a young person, in my consideration.