truth about Black bear hamsters

[mokey]

I have had quite a few hamsters over the years, syrian mainly. short haired, long haired (teddy bear) i personaly think that the accual breed or couler of the hamster dosnt reflect on its personality just like other animals, or human for that matter, how it is treated reflects on how it will treat others and act! i had a short haired syrian that no matter how hard i tried he just couldnt be tamed mind you i got him when he was about a year and a half old and the previous owners ignored him and neglected him! Also I have had teddy bear hampsters that were quite aggresive till they got a little older than were just dolls and loved to be held! now about the whole black bear thing I had a black bear hamster a couple years back that was so tame and sweet from the day i got it! Just recently i got another young black bear and hes very skitty and dosnt like to be handled at all. I found out that the first pet store i got the first black bear from are required to handle the hamsters as part of there daily care routine where as the one i just bought recently they dont handle them at all! just goes to show its not about the breed ! just imagine you where a tiny little thing and something 200X your size is coming at you to pick you up how would you react!! hehe so just be pataint it takes a little time to tame them but its worth it in the end sorry about the long post !! hope it helps some!!

[tennisbabe95]

I have a black bear hamster she is my first hamster I have ever had. We wanted to get a long-haired hamster but when we went to the pet store they wouldn't let us pet them and they tried to bite.
We then when to petsmart were I saw another long-haired hamster she was sleeping and had no desire to interact with us. Then I saw black bear hamster they were jumping up and down and the cage glass trying to get out to see us. They let us hold them and the store clerk put the hamster back in the cage and she wouldn't go back in she kept jumping out and landing in the house the clerk was cathing her in.

Bottom line to this story black bear hamsters are more intertested in playing with you then sleeping or biting. I have been bitten once but I had forgotten to wash my hands after handling food. I love her she is so sweet and cute.

Black bear hamsters are known for bneing the sweetest species.

Perfect species for first time hamster owners and for experience owners too.

[Zouave]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nan Thanks. Come on guys. I need some encouragement here. I'm trying to convince myself that I NEED another hamster or that my kids will benefit from having one in the classroom. . .

I have always been opposed to animals in schools.

Black Bears were initially bred to be extra tame, but by now there is no difference. All Syrians are very tame, once tamed.

[Roxy]

Quote: Originally posted by Zouave: All Syrians are very tame, once tamed.

some people say that if someone let a dwarf hamster back into the wild, you would have to re-tame it all over again.
(In other words, Syrians, you only have to tame them once, but dwarves, can become untame if they are not handled enough)

[scotter201]

I wish i Had known about how nice black bears were earlier i almos got one but then i got a calico who bites alot

[jennawing]

It was stupidity that began the black bear thing- All european hamsters are nicer, larger, and more docile- and the mills that imported them initially thought they were a different breed. Personally, I find it offensive to have to call a hamster a bear to make it appealling- very offensive and insulting to hamsters. I have now a cream roan hamster- my Rabbit- and he is the most laid-back hamster you will ever meet. I bred him- and I breed all my hamsters- for temperament. I do not sell or place any hamster until it is past tame- docile, even. When a hamster lets you kiss it on the belly without flinching- it is properly tamed.

I don't really see how a hamster makes a good classroom pet, though- they are active when the kids are at home and their noise, poking, and fumbling is just going to stress the hamster. What about a rabbit? A nice lop or new zealand- a breed known to be very tolerable to noise and handling.

[scotter201]

I think its gonna be a long time bfore my hamster lets me kiss her on her belly

[VanillaRat]

This is an OLD thread!!

I am hoping to get a black syrian tho soon!Thats the kind I became most interested in.

[JulieV]

i think the problem is that people often confuse the "black bear" hamsters with the European hamster, often referred to as the "black-bellied" hamster, and is a different breed that is usually the size of guinea pigs and live 8 years in captivity.

[LuvMeBre]

There isn't a difference between Syrians and Black bears. Black bear is just a color in a Syrian. Syrian..Black Bear.. same thing.

[LuvMeBre]

Quote: Originally Posted by Roxy some people say that if someone let a dwarf hamster back into the wild, you would have to re-tame it all over again. (In other words, Syrians, you only have to tame them once, but dwarves, can become untame if they are not handled enough)

Dwarfs never get tame! lol

[JulieV]

Quote: Originally Posted by LuvMeBre Dwarfs never get tame! lol

all six of my dwarfs have been tame.

[VanillaRat]

I know ppl who had/have tame dwarf hams as well.

[nik8806]

My dwarf was very tame, until he got old, and sick. THEN he was Very nippy! But its understandable, if I was old and sick I wouldnt want someone picking me up out of my bed either! =)
It seems some take longer to tame.... but if you take the time.. they will love being handled!

[LuvMeBre]

None of the dwarves I've known have EVER been tame or been able to be trusted...but that doesnt go for ALL dwarves I know.