How can i be sure my HAMSTERS are happy with the way DS3 plays with them?

[MUM23ASD]

....am i ok to think that if he is too rough they would bite him???

We got them in april, 1 yr old, from someone who had never handled them - ever.

For the past 6 weeks have felt they are tamed- no bites- and they wait by cage door to be taken out- and have in the last 2 weeks finally began accepting treats from us when in our hands.

One of them is so nosey- she gets up at least twice every hour all day long or more -if she hears me talking, the boys playing or the phone/doorbell ring...she's nosing around. She even sleeps with her head poking out of her house (afraid she'll miss out on something)

However...my ds3 who is 9 handles her constantly when ever possible...and i'm aware that some say that hamsters can only tolerate so much handling.

Or is she aware how much she is loved?

She's so cute...has huge pouches...which when empty- and we hold her squash up round her face (gently) she just looks like a teddy bear!!!
she looks like this hamster

As long as they are being handled gently, it doesn't matter how often. In my experience they will bite if frightened or unhappy and definitely not come to the door to be let out! I think you are very lucky to have been able to tame them if they had really never been handled before though. It sounds from your post as though they live together? Syrian hamsters are very solitary and usually fight badly with another one.

thanks for putting my mind at rest!

No, not syrian (i had those as a child)

The one i pictured is approx 4" long and has a black stripe down her back- looks like a chinese?
The other is smaller- gingery/cream with gorgeouse ruby red eyes....she's as light as a feather- whereas the grey one 'looks' fat....but is all loose skin...so cuddly!

The way they had been handled prev to us having them was via a tube to get them into a ball and back to cage!

Th prev owner came round recently and i couldn't resist showing her how i could wake them up and hold both at once- she was so amazed as they gave up trying to pick them up after sever very painful bites.

Also, when they arrived they did seem to squabble alot- not all out fight- but definitely argue alot. Now, i bought a bigger cage and they have 2 houses- 2 wheels...and they still choose to sleep together on the whole- but when they want a braek from each other- they separate!

And they hardly ever squeak now!!!

I've actually persuaded my son's to 'swap' ownership- so DS3 now owns the nosey onethat he keeps getting out the cage- and DS2 has the cream one that is less adventurous---that way i'm hoping ds3 will distturb them less...as he won't have to keep hunting to find the cream one who really is truly nocturnal. The grey one suits his own activity levels!!!!

They sound lovely! And probably very happy at getting extra exercise and attention. I might even get some Chinese ones next time, if they can be tamed as well as that!

The 'best' bit about having these darlings is my sons are Autistic- and have a particular problem relating to human empathy etc...however...they seem to have raelly 'tuned in' to the hamsters and it is a joy to watch!!!

What a lovely post!! The nosey one sounds fantastic

I think the bigger cage and 2 of everything was the issue - thank goodness you had the gumption to change it