New Hamster! Called Tiffany!

[pixie373]

First, thank you to all those who gave advice on lizards when my son was obsessed with them. We took your advice and went to shop to speak to people there. While my OH and i were deciding lizards were a bit too "specialist" for us, my son fell in love with a hamster.
We have picked her up today. He's called her Tiffany (no idea where that came from).
We have a book for him to read, but any other advice welcome...

[divegirl]

Sadly, the worst pet I have ever owned. It bit my daughter twice and then she refused to go near it... ended up being rehomed after a week :0(

Lisa x

[Mamyalynne]

Mind the teeth, they are like needles and won't let go - hope she is a good girl.

[Octavius]

Hopefully its a nice friendly one full of character. Our two, Lotta and Lola were buggers for nipping and our little girls lost interest after that. Still, much better than a lizard in my view.

[pixie373]

Thanks for speaking to me, Lisa! You were one of the people i was thinking of. I've had rabbits, guinea pigs, but never a hamster. They did warn us in the shop that she might bite until she was used to being handled. Luckily(?) my son has Sensory Processing Disorder as well as autism, and doesn't really feel pain. I need to make sure he handles her in the cage first, apparently, so she doesn't get dropped. Thanks for your answer xx

[berniecuddles]

hi pixie we have had loads of hamsters main tip is they are very short sighted so dont be surprised if she bites at 1st try and let her come to your hand any sudden movement scares them

[excelsior-1]

hello pixie

you have a book for the hamster to read?? :-)

[pixie373]

Thanks mamya and octavius. I'll start her with gentle handling myself first. Son still reading hamster book, as has to get things right!

[berniecuddles]

my wifes friend gave us a hamster 3 months ago as her kids didnt like it, it kept biting them now with my wife's patience with her she is let out on the floor and loves it!

[pixie373]

Hi Bernie and excel. I am sure he will read the book to the hamster at some point. Or she'll eat it;-)
The shop people advised him to wake her up first and to let her wake before he picks her up. He follows instructions to the letter, so i hope that's right. We haven't been bitten. Yet.:-)

[pixie373]

I was most surprised by the name! He doesn't even know a "Tiffany", i think. A crush at school?

[josaphine32]

Pixie, get a baby brush the really soft ones and morning and evening, not during the day and gently stroke the hamster for a week, hamsters are not bad bighty little critters, they just need to get used to your touch, they mainly bite out of defence, I put a piece of used clothing over the cage but not that they could chew it but so they got used to your smel and wrap the brush on it or wrap it in the clothingl, I did this with all of mine, after a week, they were fine, and gave us loads of joy, lizzards are not only very expensive, but bloody hard work. X

[pixie373]

Thank you, Josaphine. I will do that. I'm hoping with lots of gentle handling and patience,she will get used to us. She's just a baby. I agree about the lizards, but it's taken about 5 years for him to change his mind!

[joggerjayne]

Tiff sounds very jolly.

[divegirl]

Sorry, didn't mean to sound so anti-hamster, I know with regular handling they can be lovely pets... Its just I've never had much luck with them lol

Hopefully you and your son can have more patience with Tiffany :0)

Good luck

Lisa x

[pixie373]

Thank you! We'll try x

[pixie373]

She's now called Toffee :-)

Son has had tiny nip from her, but is feeding her little bits of food from his fingers. We're not trying to pick her up yet, as she is a little nervous. Not sure quite how slowly to take it, but we'll see how she goes.

[eariyam]

I kept hamsters for many years and I have to say that Josaphines advice is the best way to go. I used to just gently stroke their backs for a few seconds at a time until they got used to my touch and realised I wasn't going to hurt them and then picking them up was a doddle. They are the sweetest little things when tame and make lovely pets.

[pixie373]

Thanks, eariyam. Are we right not to trying picking her up yet? Or should we do it asap? We only brought her home yesterday afternoon.

[viv38]

Sometimes they go into hibernation and people think they're dead, be wary of this pixie, some have been buried alive because of this !

[berniecuddles]

hi pixie do you know how old she is?