Need help with taming

[Swirlyvibes]

Hi guys!
Genji is my first ever hamster. He is a Syrian with beautiful dark fur. I did my fair share of research before getting genji and i am aware that every hamster is different and have different taming periods.
We have had him for about a week and a half now and he hasn't really displayed any behaviour that I have read about in my research! He was very confident in exploring his cage and toys since day 1, he destroyed his waterbottle on day 2 and was responding to my voice and getting in to a routine by day 3. He will wake up when I come home from work, come say hello, have some food and go back to bed till about 8/9 pm. He loves his wheel and will spend ridiculous amounts of time on it!
Now he seems quite confident and settled in his cage and not too bothered by me being around. I've been feeding him treats through my fingers for about 5 days now and it seems like he can't make up his mind if he is scared of me or not. Either that or he is fussy with his treats Haha! He will take usually the first treat I offer him, sometimes the second but will then avoid my hand like the plague and seems scared by it's presents. Is this normal? Will it just take him time to get used to me and realise I'm not a threat?
I also was wondering what other taming techniques I can use and how long it has taken you guys to tame your hamsters? Also how often should I be practicing taming techniques and for how long? I have been usually been doing 3 sessions about 5 mins long in the evening and if he is up when I wake up I will offer him a treat.

[SKB_Hamsters]

Hello
Most new hamsters can become nervous or territorial of your hand being placed within or near their cage especially if they aren't to familiar with people before you brought him home. So it does take a while for them to realise that you are a friend and not a threat.

I like to do what I know as the "tissue trick" with my hamsters - this involves placed plain unscented tissues up your sleeves for a while so they get your natural scent on them - then tear these tissues up into strips and place in Genji cage. Most hamsters will take these tissues to use a nesting material and will begin to associate your scent with comfort and not something to fear as a threat.

When taming my hamsters I like to use a playpen - for a Syrian you have to make sure that the playpen is tall enough so he cant climb out of easily - then I like to have a panel which is lower or their is something behind so my hamster can reach the top of the side which is nearest to me. Whenever they are trying to climb out of this section offer your hand at the beginning they often wont brave climbing into your hand. But I find after a few days they brave my hands then as soon as they climb onto my hand I lower them back into the playpen - I repeat this step over and over again until they get confident and gradually extend the time I hold them for. I transport my hamster to the playpen either in a hamster ball or a cardboard box.
Some people also use a clean dry bath tub which they line with a towel and sit in the bath tub with them so they get used to climbing over you and then you can try offering your hand once he get familiar with you.

I personally don't keep taming sessions in a playpen longer than 30 mins to start of with (although depending upon the individual will determine what I felt was the best length of time to keep them out for - timid hamster I often kept taming shorter around 15mins)- I find they often enjoy exploring the playpen and playing with their toys that they enjoy this time out of their cage. I will do this every day usual at the same time so they get in a routine and often I found my girls eagerly waiting for they playpen taming sessions. I usually scatter treats around the playpen and then offer a treat once I have returned them back to their cage.