When should you first hold your new hamster?

[Anthony Toft]

How long after bringing a hamster home from the pet store should you wait
til you hold your new furry friend? We had one about a week ago, and we
handled him from the get-go. He soon had "wet-tail" and died. We now have
a new hamster, and we have not touched her yet. It has been about 26 hours
since we brang her home. She seems to want to interact, but we are scard of
stressing her out. Can anyone clear this up for us? Thank you for your
responses!

[MiHoSwEeTi]

Post by Anthony Toft
How long after bringing a hamster home from the pet store should you wait
til you hold your new furry friend? We had one about a week ago, and we
handled him from the get-go. He soon had "wet-tail" and died. We now have
a new hamster, and we have not touched her yet. It has been about 26 hours
since we brang her home. She seems to want to interact, but we are scard of
stressing her out. Can anyone clear this up for us? Thank you for your
responses!

This would vary with each hamster. The general rule is to give them a few days
to get acclimated to their new surroundings. I doubt your hamster got wet-tail
from being handled too early. He probably already had it from the pet shop.
If this hamster came from the same pet shop, there is a chance that she could
come down with it, regardless of the fact that you do or don't handle her too
soon. She could also contract it if you are using the same cage and the
sterilization process wasn't complete, or the cage wasn't left to "air" for a
while.

But, back to the handling time frame. If your hamster is eager to be handled
and comes out then there shouldn't be a problem with handling her after a
couple of days. However, some hamsters take longer to get comfortable in their
surroundings. Let them get used to their new home before insisting on holding
them. Let them get used to one thing at a time.

Hope that helps.


christine miho
http://community.webshots.com/user/miho176
http://community.webshots.com/user/hamsterhaven

[Jodylogic]

Sorry that this is the reality.
Perhaps there is some way I
can share the luck I have...
ship these huggable hamsters to new people on this board.
First I must be certain that they are responsible & not mixing sex after 3 wks.
I have a great profession in mind for when I win the lottery: I will hand
deliver these huggable hamsters, along with cage & tunnels, anywhere in the
world.
Ah what a life!