Tips holding your hamster

[Jamieking86]

It's probably been asked so many times but we've had our hamster for nearly 3 month now, and we haven't been able to pick him up at all.

We've youtubed the recommended ways and searched for tips etc but he just won't come in the palm of our hands and i don't want to grab him from above. We've tried luring him into our hand with treats etc, as soon as he reaches our finger tips he turns away and runs off lol. He takes treats from between our fingers when we offer them to him, and he let's us stroke him so i don't think he's scared of us, but when we put treats in the palm of our hand leading up our wrist etc he just doesn't want to know. Any tips that will help? We just want to snuggle up to him and make him feel loved by us but he won't let us lol

[Hope]

How get Syrian used to being held?

This thread has some great advice about taming that you may find useful. There are lots more too if you have a browsein the behaviour section. Personally I like to do taming away from the cage so scoop up the hamster in a box or carrier then take them to the bath where I get in with them. I know then if i drop them they cant escape the tub or have too far to fall. I also find a cupping/scooping action with your hands works best for syrians rather than just a grab fron above. It takes them a little while to get used to the feeling of hands around them but little and often is key.

[Shannonmcn]

I also find that just getting your hands in the way of them when they're exploring is a good way to get the used to it. Bathtub or playpen is a good way to do this, especially if they're so focused on running around (or trying to climb out) that they forget your hand is even under them or beside them. I made great progress with my jumpy girl when she discovered she loves climbing up the pillows on my bed, but I have to catch her at the top before she tumbles down the back. She didn't care a bit about being scooped up if it meant she got to climb and now she just doesn't mind at all.

Keep trying treats tho, you may just not have discovered the thing that he can't resist!

Bear in mind that he may never be a snuggly ham. Some of them just like to be doing their own thing. Show love by doing what makes him happiest, if that's exploring-time rather then snuggle times then so be it

[Jamieking86]

]Thanks for the replies, i've read the thread and i'll try a few of them methods, but i have read not to pick them up from above, but Souffle on the thread says otherwise?

I've tried the cupping and scooping method maninly when he's been busy eating, but as soon as i try pick him up he just scurries off. It is quite annoying, because we've seen videos of hamsters just nibbling away in palm of people's hands and cuddling upto them. We just want to do that lol. He does let us stroke him without any fuss and he does take treats from us often so we must be doing something right.

I mean....who wouldn't want to snuggle upto this cutie