Jack- I do not know whether you are serious or not. Holding a hamster by the tail is like holding it at the end of its spine–WORSE than scruffing because it should NOT be held by the tail. Let’s make YOU helpless and frantic and dip you in soapy water and then laugh, aye? Your comment just makes me more than ANGRY. I’m wanting to snap SOMEONE’S neck right now.

Alicia- You’ve made a good point. Hamsters aren’t as fragile as we may think, but I think it best not to risk it. Just because we CAN doesn’t mean we SHOULD right?

I have had to scruff hamsters many times. It is ok, as long as you dont carry them around like that for a long time. I used to work at a pet store and had to scruff them to give them medicine several times. Once they are scruffed, they calm down real quick. Just like how a cat does.

anyway, everyone just chill ya… hamsters are not as fragile as they seem to be. i’ve seen alot of people mis-handling their little friends, yet their hamsters can still live to a ripe old age..

and it’s not deadly to bathe hamsters. they sometimes get kinda stinky, and so i just washed them in a small bowl, but the water level is shallow enough for them to walk around in the bowl. however, you just need to have to dry them thoroughly, if not they will have skin problems in the long run, either that all fall sick. sick hamsters are painfully difficult to take care of.

hamsters shouldn’t be held this way… just like how you wouldn’t want others to hold you by your neck, would you?

Jill – you ask if we have seen any credible sources saying that bathing can kill a hamster.

Well, the bookstore I work for carries four books on keeping hamsters, and all of them say that bathing a hamster can be deadly. So did the top websites that Google pointed me to. The issue seems to be the chill that they can get from being wet.

The instructions I have read above may help to minimize the risk, but why risk it at all?

Also, I find it interesting that you claim to know what people’s real intentions are when posting.

Rachel,
I think that’s a specious argument. You’re effectively lumping everyone who voices concern into one group, when the reality is that only a small minority of “nuff” comments could be construed as overtly rude or condescending. This stream is a good example of that. So the knee-jerk reaction isn’t justified.

I agree with Marianne. And it applies to everyone.

Yeah.

Even for enemy combatant hamsters.

XD

(BTW…adding on again! XD)
Hamster mothers do hold their babies by the scruff of teh neck. HOWEVER, take note of teh BABIES part. Do you think they’ve grown teeth yet? Do they know how to fill their cheeks? NO! So, it’s still not natural to hold a ham by the scruff