Taming my first Hamster!

[beebee]

Hello friends!
I’ve had my lovely Syrian hamster Lola for a little over one month now and have been working on slowly taming her. She has been very nice but she gets very bitey on my fingertips which I don’t enjoy. Because of this I have some definite hesitation letting her smell me, but I often give her the back of my hand and let her smell my palm. I let her run in the ball almost every day, and she has been very good about taking treats from my hand and letting me pet her. However I am a little confused how to approach further taming. I have given her my flat hand but she will never walk on it, just occasionally lick it and the second she sniffs a fingertip she nips. I’m afraid to try and hold her if she isn’t ready to move forward, and I am also unsure of what to do about the biting and what it might mean. Also just in the last week, she seems to be more jumpy and nervous, nothing has changed about our routine or anything else so I’m not sure what this could mean but I hope she isn’t sick. From any info I have on an unwell hamster she doesn’t seem to have any noticeable symptoms yet. I followed some tips on making sure my hands are washed and also rubbing my fingers in some bedding. Please help, I’m at a loss and would love to one day hold my hamster! Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!!

[Ria P]

Have a look at the thread ' how to get a Syrian used to being held' and you will find souffle's taming methods.
My hamster never goes onto my hand, some hamsters are like that. You can wear gardening gloves at first to pick your hamster up so you won't feel nervous. Hamsters can be quite different when out of the cage which can affect taming progress. My hamster is sometimes reluctant to leave his cage when i pick him up but is usually fine when out and happy to explore. He'll let me know when he wants to go back.

[Grace6446]

I’ve had my hamster for about the same time as you, and she will never come onto my hand from her enclosure either.

What I’ve found the most success with is scooping her up into a 2 liter soda bottle (washed and with the top cut off for a big walk-through space), and then she will venture out onto my hand. She still gets uncomfortable quickly, at which point I lower her back down into her home, but it’s progress and I’m so happy to get to hold my girl.