How to decontaminate a peanut fed hamster

[Hopingtobeahamstersgran]

I've name changed for this because it is a very specific issue.
DS would love a hamster. The big problem is he is allergic to peanuts
We've visited the vet and the pet shop and worked out a peanut free diet that will keep the hamster well and healthy so once its here it'll be great. However, when we went to the pet shop to pick one we realised they were fed with peanut containing food. As we watched the lovely hamsters wandering about we also realised they will be completely covered in peanut and it'll be in their poo.

I don't want to wash the poor thing as I think that will be too stressful for it.
I then thought we could board it out with someone else's family for a couple of weeks until the peanut had been poo'd/groomed out but again I think moving house twice might be a bit stressful.

DS loses out on so much due to his damn allergies but we absolutely can't do this if the hamster's wellbeing is going to suffer. Does any one have any ideas on how we can get round this?

Gerbils are much better pets than hamsters. Much more friendly.

You probably won’t be able to handle it for a few days anyway, it needs time to settle in.

Thanks for the advice, I'm very grateful. You're all lovely.

Yes to gerbils (not nocturnal) or rats (we've had all 3).
Rats are just the best pets. If only they lived for longer.

Can I just say that hamsters are absolutely NOT crap pets? My hamster is ace - he waits for us in the morning at breakfast time and comes to sit on the table and eat his breakfast off his special spoon. He’s also particularly attuned to the sound of the blender - if there’s a smoothie going then he needs to have a tiny teaspoon of it. He watched telly in the evening from my shoulder and is friends with my big stupid cat. A bored hamster is a boring hamster - you will get out what you put in.

Guinea pigs are so much cuter, friendlier, live slightly longer and absolutely don’t eat nuts (whereas some of the other pets like rats do - so you can never be sure if they’ve had some!)

I agree that Hamsters are great pets. My DDs had them, they ran around the house a lot, had lots of handling, never bit anyone, scared the cat, who was not sure what they were! Easy to keep. Both had them in their bedrooms without issue.

Guineas were also great, but as they were outside didn't get as much attention, although still super friendly, were smellier and a pain to keep clean. They ate all my veggie offcuts, so very useful recyclers 😁

Hamsters are brilliant, one of mine lived to be over 3, he was a Houdini hamster, let himself out of the cage & wandered upstairs. As long as you get them used to handling, they are fine. Don't buy from Pets at Home, they only care about the money, not the animals.

I agree breeders are the way to go. If you are near I know a great one in Bath. They are handled so much they are really friendly. And she is always available for questions

how do they survive in the wild?

They burrow to stay out of harsh weather, and the Syrian ones live in dry regions anyway.

I'm guessing you've got the hamster now, from your earlier post :-) There is a lot of guidance for new owners on here. Also advice if you need to make your own hamster mix, or where you can get one tailored to your needs.

https://www.thehamsterforum.com/