Syrians...Do they ever stop moving?

[RhiannonJ]

Hey all,

Was wondering whether Syrian hamster owners like me experience this!
I've had Jinx for just over a year now, he has never bitten me once and seems pretty happy and healthy. However, whenever I take him out of his cage after a few minutes he is raring to escape my hands and explore. I take him out at all hours of the day, and nearly every day he has half an hour out of his cage exploring while I watch, but he is never happy to just let me hold him and be still for more than a few minutes. He never seems to be agitated, just desperate to explore. He likes to use my hands to get to new places, but he never really wants to chill in them. Is this because he is still young or because he is not happy/nervous and wants to escape for some reason? Or is he afraid of me? I don't think he is but I am a little worried he just tolerates being picked up and handled but doesn't get much enjoyment out of it.
Do your syrians like to sit still or are they like Jinx?

[Bbhami]

My male syrian would only cuddle if i pick him up half asleep. Otherwise he'd be like Jinx trying to ask for out time just to run around. Did Jinx manage to escape from his cage once? I feel like my syrian discovered there's more to the cage when he escaped the first time. I guess they're just curious about the place outside the cage, lol.

[itswendy]

Nope, honey would rather be off exploring. When I pick her up half asleep she'll fall asleep on me though, that's the only time she's cuddly.

[TraceyH]

Mine don't keep still either. That's why I mostly end up with blurred pics.

[Bbhami]

Mine don't keep still either. That's why I mostly end up with blurred pics.

My phone is full of blurred pics too! Offering treats don't work anymore too :(

[Pebbles82]

I was going to say yes - ours sleeps and hides a lot - until I read your post and agree out of the cage he just wants to be off! You can hold him for a few seconds then he wants to be off and as others say, he only curls up on you if he a) is sleepy and b) has a blanket over his head! I think syrians maybe don't like being held too much and are natural explorers although I do think that mostly they judt run off to find somethong to hide under - a dark place like under the sofa, or a tunnel somewhere.

[RhiannonJ]

Thank you for all the great replies! As I'm writing this Jinx is zooming around the living room, lol (Don't worry it's totally safe and I've hamster proofed it!). I agree, the few times jinx has been still was when I take him out when he's been sleeping and wrap him in my throw, but otherwise it's just the same as with your babies ^.^
He did escape out of his old cage once, but he only seems desperate to get out when I've had him out and then put him back in his cage! Crazy beggars ^.^ I wonder if dwarves are any different?

[Teddy001]

My Syrian and dwarf hams, will stay still while being carried around the house, however, both are a bit squirmy when I sit and hold them. Teddie my Syrian will stay still sometimes, and sit in my lap, with her ears perked up, listening to the TV. Lol.

[Thin Lizzy]

They're very nosey and want to explore all spaces. Mine do like being held but for a short time only.

[Hetty]

Ah, the magic of the eternally energetic Syrian hamster....if only we could harness that power!!!
Out of all three of my hammies, my two girls Lola ( who is at the bridge) and the utterly mad Daisy Moo (her new name, thanks to my little cousins), were/are non-stop blurs. Everything is to be sniffed, clambered on to....over, under, onto......waddle this way, waddle that way, rapid waddle/zip ( zaddle??) there, rapid waddle/zip here. For two hours straight..... I get tired before Daisy does!!!! Play time was energetic with Lola right up until she got too sick to play , which put her at about 2.
Play is pretty epic with Daisy....the only time she stays still is when she eats! If she stops, she is up to something...... After two and half ours I put her back in her home, and she will gallop in her wheel until 3 am, monkey about and dig like a mad mole, before bedding down. Where does she get the energy???

Basil on the other hand was energetic, but not as much as Daisy. He liked to investigate and waddle about, do a bit of climbing, sniffing,a bit of weeing.....some carpet ripping and then he'd clamber into my lap and flop down, ready for treaties and a brush. Then he'd be off again. After two hours he'd have enough....and snuggle himself down in my hood/back/lap, ready for bed.
Does any one else notice a difference in male and female activity levels or is this just me???

[MmeMaquet]

My hamster is just like Jinx, only in female form. She will willingly climb onto my hand, but only so that I can take her out of the cage and let her explore. She is definitely not a very cuddly hamster, but its just her personality. Some hamsters are simply more curious and energetic than others. It's all part of their charm.

[RhiannonJ]

So fun reading these accounts :-) I'm glad I'm not alone in owning a hyper hammy.

[DrKMcK]

My Ted E. Bear was a mush and would hang out with me on the couch. But cuddling in my hands was not a favorite activity. He would be very good while I was walking with him, just like Teddy's furries, but not Nutmeg. Nutmeggie wants to be down in her playpen or back in her cage. She isn't even best pleased with my bed. Almond, the little guy, has decided he likes sitting on my shoulder and running on the couch and going up and down my lap. My Patches was a cuddler and would stay still for a nice long time. :-D

[ham888]

Well in my experience of Syrians of both sexes, yes they do indeed stop moving. For example, they sleep, they drink, they sit in their food bowl, and sometimes freeze for no apparent reason and sit intently gazing into the distance. But in between all those times they're just hyper! Mind you, of those I've had that managed an old age, that slows them in that they may fall asleep on you or take longer to eat or drink. But otherwise no, they never stay still!