Need help taming!

[luciillama]

I got my first Syrian hamster about two weeks ago (his name is Salem) and I've been having some difficulty taming him. He is fine with taking treats from me and he sometimes takes food from my palm. He has sat on my hand (on my fingers) while eating a few times, however a lot of the time he doesn't seem that interested. He is always on his wheel and when I offer food to him from my palm he usually stops running, looks out of his wheel and sniffs me, and then continues running. I recently started taking him into the bathtub to try moving forward with the taming but he spends most of the time trying to climb out. I'm scared to try holding him because I feel like he will bite me because he doesn't really seem to like me much.

Am I moving too fast? Am I doing everything right? When should I start trying to pick him up? I've read on here that people have managed to tame their hamsters in under two weeks, and it just leaves me feeling a little bit discouraged.

[Erin.R]

Don't feel discouraged, some hamsters take longer to tame than others. You are doing just fine, taking treats and sitting on or even near your hans is a huge accomplishment. I think it is in their nature to try to get out of new places such as the bath tub. I personally pick mine up after about a week. Try not to be scared that they are going to bite you because they can sense you are nervous and it makes them nervous. Just move slowly when you go to pick him up. I always let hamsters smell my hands, by offering them my knuckle area not the tips of my finger. I work with hamsters everyday and I have 12 Syrians including two eyeless whites and the only one that has ever bitten me was a very sick little boy who did not want to take his medicine. You will be able to gage his mood when you hold out your hand, if he jumps or moves away or goes into the angry bear position don't try picking him up and give him a few minutes to calm down. Good luck, you won't need it though, you are doing great

[Thin Lizzy]

Erin has said it all!
All hamsters are different when it comes to taming.
I did smile at Salem sniffing your treat and ignoring it to continue his wheel running. My youngest was like that.
Continue talking to Salem and praise him when he sniffs your hand or takes a treat.
You're doing really well, have more faith in yourself.

[luciillama]

Thank you for your replies! I took him into the bathtub again today and I managed to pick him up, he didn't bite, in fact he seemed to enjoy it! I think I was just a little bit too scared considering I've never owned a hamster before, but as it turns out Salem is so friendly! I'm so happy