How do we socialise an older hamster?

[Miette]

Hi. My husband and children went to pick up our new Syrian hamster and came back with a 16 week old one. I was just wondering what is the best way to get him used to being handled.

As he is a little older, I'm slightly concerned that if he does bite, it could be a lot more painful than it would be if he was a baby. I've heard of people having to have stitches after being bitten by an older hamster!

Would wearing white cotton gloves to handle him be a good idea in case of biting? I have read up as much as i can about looking after hamsters. Is the following a good plan to get him used to being handled?

1. Put our hand in the cage and wait for him to sniff it. (With gloves on?)
   
2. When he is used to this gently stroke him.
   
3. When he is used to this pick him up and put one hand in front of another so he can run from hand to hand.
   

Is it right that if you feed them by hand they might accidentally bite your finger as they are short sighted and mistake your hand for food?

We talk to our hamster and he has started to show an interest in us by putting his face up to the cage bars and sniffing around. He seems to like his cage as it is big and i have put a lot of interesting things in it.

[brighthair]

Move slowly
Offer closed fist never finger
Make sure hands don't smell of food
Let him run over your hands in cage

[Miette]

Thanks for your reply brighthair. Once he is running over our hand in the cage, do we move on to stroking him and then picking him up?

[brighthair]

I usually find they accept being stroked earlier. Once they are happy with running over your hand then start picking up. You might find they just climb on you and you can do it straight away!
Took me 4 weeks with a 10 week old one who was so scared and suddenly he was running out the cage on to my hand to be picked up

[Miette]

Thanks again! :-)