When can I start petting my Black Bear Syrian Hamster?

Question

I really want to pet him but I'm not sure if i should yet. I got him yesterday and he started smelling me so i think he trust me, but i disnt want to risk him so any excellant answer=10pt best answer

Answer 1

Go slow.

When I first got my winter white hamsters, they bit pretty hard. Not hard enough to draw blood, but hard enough that it hurt.

So start by just putting your hand in the cage. Not close to them. Let them get used to it. Present your hand as a closed fist, knuckle first. That way they can smell you, but they wont be able to bite you easily (they cant get their mouth around that par of the hand). The object is to get them used to your scent, so they dont recognize you as "foreign" anymore.

When it seems like they are used to it, move your hand closer. When they are used to that, gently stroke them.

Once they seem used to that, if they are not attempting to bite you anymore, try picking one up briefly.

It may not seem possible at first, but even aggressive hamsters can be tamed over time. A lot of it is just getting used to you. Hamsters "see" more with their nose than their eyes. You need to get them used to their smell.

Be patient. The process can take weeks, but they will come around My winter whites are now extremely tame and don't try to bite me anymore at all.  

Answer 2

pet the dam thing, it wont hurt you. the hamsters and gerbils and ginea pigs get along really well with new owners.