socializing a hamster

[rozierfam]

hi, we've never tried socializing our hamsters, always afraid of being bitten. have you all been successful in this? Will they let you hold them and play with them and groom them? I know they are social animals but we have been hesitant to do much with them because we're afraid it scares them and that they might bite.

[StarlightSerenity]

Most here have tame hamsters, there are a few that are 'look, don't touch' though (tends to be robos that are like that).

I've handled my Syrian since she was 5 weeks old and never been bitten. I don't groom her (she doesn't need it) and she's not a huge fan of being stroked, she'll turn around and look at you as if to say, "what the hell are you doing?!" but that's just part of her personality.

[LawaRawr]

all of my hamsters are tame except my robovoski who is scared of people because he was treated badly before he came to me. all of my other hamsters are handled and groomed daily, i have one hamster who bites but she is only a baby so she will grow out of it soon. i believe that all my hamsters enjoy being sociable with me as they always love running around all over me and like being handled and they are always asking to come out of their cages .

[Hammymad]

All my hammies past and present have been 100% tame and most have been from pets at home,I've been nipped a few times and bitten once,but that's when they've been scared ad not used to me,but within a few days I've managed to grt them hand tame,some hams are just more nervous than others.but with daily handling they should become used to you.
I've not had an experience as yet with a very very nervous hamster who's not been tameable xxx

[kyrilliondaemon]

We have 3/4 hybrids tame (the fourth is normally a bit nippy but can be handled), both syrians tame, and no tame robos yet. One is elderly and a bit fast, the other two are so shy we're struggling to get them to let us near them.

I've been nipped a few times but only bitten three times - and two were entirely my fault.

You should be fine - and at worst, bites heal eventually, its best to try not to be afraid of being bitten and its important to get hamsters ok with handling whenever possible as it makes vet visits and treatment of problems much easier.

[SnickersTheFirst]

You're pretty unlikely to get bitten, only one of my hamsters properly bites when I go near him so he's now a 'look but don't touch, hamster'. I've recieved quite a few nips but they really don't hurt at all. I'm not scared of getting bitten really, I'm more worried that my reaction will be to pull my hand away so I end up flinging the hamster luckily that's never happened.