Which hamster is easiest to tame and handle for a child's first pet?

I would watch your hamster to determine when to start trying to tame him. If he is starting to come out and explore the cage/environment for longer periods of time then he is starting to settle into his new home and be more comfortable.

If your hamster is already an adult then the timing for teaching socializing has passed. However, with time and patience, daily handling, and positive reinforcement with yummy treats he may come around. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi, I assume you're asking if we think Pippy and Piper are indeed Syrian variety of Hamster- yes they are!! I had a hamster just like the darker colored one and he lived for 2 years which is the normal lifespan. They are cute and I'm glad they get along well!

Congratulations on your new hamster. I am linking an article here which gives an in depth discussion on methods to try to tame your hamster: http://www.yourpethamster.com/care/taming The key is having patience and persistence. Working at this several times a day and taking it slow to build up your hamster's trust in you. Best of luck to you and Charlie!

It sounds like you are doing a great job with Bear so far. Continue interacting with her like you are as often as possible because this will help you gain her trust. If you want to try and hold her, try placing your hand open in her enclosure (palm up) with a small treat inside. Allow her to slowly come to you and walk into the palm of your hand. After she does this a few times then you can gently close your hand and lift her out of the enclosure. The first few times you hold her only do it for a short period of time so she doesn’t become to stressed. I hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am sorry to hear about your frustration with your hamster! I Am sure you want to be able to tame him. Many hamsters can be tamed but it can require time and patience. The older a hamster is, the more difficult it may be to train them as they are already used to not having humans handle them. Try to only interact with your hamster when he is already awake. This may mean the night time since usually they are sleeping during the day time. If you wake him he is going to be upset already! Don't bother him if he is eating or drinking. Start off by just placing some treats into his cage and then setting your hand inside the cage, a little ways from the treats, so the hamster can get to the treats but doesn't have to touch you to do so. Leave your hand there for several minutes without moving it. Repeat this daily, until the hamster is coming and eating the treats. Once he is comfortable enough to eat the treats with your hand in the cage, start placing the treats on the tips of your fingers as you lay your hand flat in the cage, palm side up. Continue this daily, and hopefully with time he will take the treat from your hand, and if he does this consistently you can move the treat to the center of your palm. Once he will sit on your hand and take the treat, you can try gently picking him up. This may take quite some time, especially if he is older and not used to people. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for reaching out about Knight. Training can start at any time. The key is to keep movement slow and deliberate, the environment quiet and calming. You might want to start with a soft towel to lift out of cage as they are often defensive to their territory. Good luck.