Rookie needs an expert!

[sn0wball]

I'm not a complete rookie, I have a Teddy already and I just adopted a new hamster, it's completely white but has black eyes. The pet store person told me it was about 8 weeks old, but she didn't seem like she really knew anything. I have a couple of questions, but the most important is:

-does anyone have taming advice? I know the standard "leave it alone, patience, etc." But this is different than my other hamster. This one willingly takes food from my hand. It was really jumpy the first day, and sometimes he will come out of the cage and then I can run him from hand to hand with no problems, but when i stickmy hand in there to put food in or even get near he FREAKS out. Is it going to be like this forever? My older Teddy was adopted at an old age and he's very sweet. He's happy to come out and willingly climbs up into my hand to play. I don't want the hamster to merely tolerate my presence and touch, which I'm afraid all the taming techniques I've read in this forum will do. I want him to be like my other one and be happy & playful. I had a dwarf back in grade school and his whole life he was cranky and mean, but once I scooped him up he didn't mind. I don't want that again. What am I doing wrong?

then I have some basic short questions:
-Snowball (the white one) is really young and small, but he's so thin! I can see his shoulder blades when he walks, and he looks more like a mouse than a hamster. Is this normal, or is something wrong?
-Can I use Rupert's (my first hamster) ball for snowball or should I buy a new one?
-what is his color variation called?
-Is 2 hamsters 2 much? I love rupert and don't want to neglect him.

Thanks for any help you might be able to give

[evenescence]

you must be approching him to quikly teddies do not have very good eye site so he thinks your something whose going to eat him so trie to approach him slowly

[evenescence]

P.S do you have any breeding advice

[TiaMaria]

Okay! Your first hamster teddy is really known as a syrian hamster first of all just incase u do not know as to your questions...here it goes...

Q-Snowball (the white one) is really young and small, but he's so thin! I can see his shoulder blades when he walks, and he looks more like a mouse than a hamster. Is this normal, or is something wrong?

A-No, it is not good for any animal to be thats skinny, pet stores have so many neglected animals that arent always fed right. To get your hammies attention it takes alot of time and patience...have you ever tried yogurt drops? They love those.
Handling is the KEY! You must give your hammie time to settle in but the more you handle your hammie the tamer it will be.

Q-Can I use Rupert's (my first hamster) ball for snowball or should I buy a new one?

A-No, i would not recommend you using the hammie ball on your new hammie, i would buy another one, just for safety purposes. If your syrians (oldest one) gets wet tail by chance, it will easily be transfered to your new hammie..

Q-what is his color variation called?

A-Your hammie is an Albino Syrian Hamster, at least that would be my guess, until i see a picture of course.

Q-Is 2 hamsters 2 much? I love rupert and don't want to neglect him.

A-I dont believe 2 hams is too much, i think you'll do fine, just relax and spend time with both equally.

Hope this helps:)

[Misty1964]

I'm not a complete rookie, I have a Teddy already and I just adopted a new hamster, it's completely white but has black eyes. The pet store person told me it was about 8 weeks old, but she didn't seem like she really knew anything. I have a couple of questions, but the most important is:

-does anyone have taming advice? I know the standard "leave it alone, patience, etc." But this is different than my other hamster. This one willingly takes food from my hand. It was really jumpy the first day, and sometimes he will come out of the cage and then I can run him from hand to hand with no problems, but when i stickmy hand in there to put food in or even get near he FREAKS out. Is it going to be like this forever? My older Teddy was adopted at an old age and he's very sweet. He's happy to come out and willingly climbs up into my hand to play. I don't want the hamster to merely tolerate my presence and touch, which I'm afraid all the taming techniques I've read in this forum will do. I want him to be like my other one and be happy & playful. I had a dwarf back in grade school and his whole life he was cranky and mean, but once I scooped him up he didn't mind. I don't want that again. What am I doing wrong?

then I have some basic short questions:
-Snowball (the white one) is really young and small, but he's so thin! I can see his shoulder blades when he walks, and he looks more like a mouse than a hamster. Is this normal, or is something wrong?
-Can I use Rupert's (my first hamster) ball for snowball or should I buy a new one?
-what is his color variation called?
-Is 2 hamsters 2 much? I love rupert and don't want to neglect him.

Thanks for any help you might be able to give

As for the hammie freaking out when you put ur hand in its cages. Some hammies are very territorial about their houses...I have one like that ,,,if i put my hand in his cage i get bit or he runs away....but when he is out of his cage he is ok :)