I don't understand...

[Robodwarfs18]

Okay this is similar to one of my recent posts but my problem hasn't been solved or I haven't found an answer yet. So it's about my hamster and how I have some trust issues with him. It's not like I don't trust him 100% because I do lift him up sometimes to move him into his playpen and I'm not afraid that he'll bite me. Anyways it's just that I see loads of people posting pictures online of their hamsters sitting on top of the cage. It just makes me feel like a bad owner :( it makes me think that I'm not taming my hamster right cause I don't let him do stuff like the hamsters in the pictures cause I'm worried he will jump down and I won't get him back. It's the same with holding him in general, I'm scared I'll drop him or he will jump and I'll lose him. I just don't know what it is! I'm trying my hardest with taming, he eats food out of my hand and he eats food that I hand him and he's also comfortable with me having my hand in the cage and being around him. But he doesn't feel very confident when I go to pick him up, he gets quite scared sometimes too which is why I worry that if he falls on the floor or something, I won't be able to catch him as he's not that comfortable with me picking him up. I do the bath bonding thing some days of the week but I would like to know if anyone has any other bonding techniques or tips on how I can get him to not feel nervous when I go to pick him up or if someone could tell me why I maybe feel like I can't put my hamster on top of the cage. All answers are very much appreciated, thank you!

[Miss kiwi]

Some hamsters are just more docile than other are so they can become super tame super fast. Others, like the little ne I just got, are super skittish and will take a longer amount of time to become tame. You've got to remember that they can sense your emotions. If he senses that you are nervous around him he will become nervous also. I know its hard to trust yourself when you aren't 100% comfortable but it just takes a lot of time and practice! Keep at it and don't give up because I'm sure that one day, even if it isn't tomorrow, he will become an amazing little buddy! Don't let yourself think that, oh if I put him somewhere he is going to jump and fall or get loose. Because he will sense that you are nervous and he will want to get away to somewhere that he feels safe. Just try to remember to stay calm and confidant when you are around him :)

[Scarlett Empress]

I don't think it's a bad thing to worry about him jumping off if you put him on top of the cage! My girl likes to climb out of her cage, the door is in the top, and she sits there for a few minutes but I am always hovering right next to her - she doesn't move very fast once she's up there, but if she did race around, it would worry me. I pick her up off there after a couple of minutes - she doesn't actually like walking on the bars but she just likes to climb out of the cage herself for playtime.

Better to be over cautious than risk your hamster having a fall, I do worry about mine because I know I can be clumsy so I am very careful picking her up and carrying her. She jumps like a flea sometimes and it does make me nervous, so you're not alone there!

[Robodwarfs18]

Some hamsters are just more docile than other are so they can become super tame super fast. Others, like the little ne I just got, are super skittish and will take a longer amount of time to become tame. You've got to remember that they can sense your emotions. If he senses that you are nervous around him he will become nervous also. I know its hard to trust yourself when you aren't 100% comfortable but it just takes a lot of time and practice! Keep at it and don't give up because I'm sure that one day, even if it isn't tomorrow, he will become an amazing little buddy! Don't let yourself think that, oh if I put him somewhere he is going to jump and fall or get loose. Because he will sense that you are nervous and he will want to get away to somewhere that he feels safe. Just try to remember to stay calm and confidant when you are around him :)

It's amazing how animals can sense your emotions :D but thank you for the advice!

[Miss kiwi]

No problem and good luck!

[Robodwarfs18]

I don't think it's a bad thing to worry about him jumping off if you put him on top of the cage! My girl likes to climb out of her cage, the door is in the top, and she sits there for a few minutes but I am always hovering right next to her - she doesn't move very fast once she's up there, but if she did race around, it would worry me. I pick her up off there after a couple of minutes - she doesn't actually like walking on the bars but she just likes to climb out of the cage herself for playtime.

Better to be over cautious than risk your hamster having a fall, I do worry about mine because I know I can be clumsy so I am very careful picking her up and carrying her. She jumps like a flea sometimes and it does make me nervous, so you're not alone there!

Thank you! :)

[Robodwarfs18]

No problem and good luck!

Thank you (again) :)

[Leila0420]

Robodwarfs I think you're a really good owner, your own nervousness around him just shows how much you care :) And it's natural to be nervous around a new pet, especially if you haven't always had good experiences and it sounds like having your new little Syrian boy in your life might be a really good learning curve for both of you. Like Emilywhite said he can probably sense your nervousness and that will make him more skittish too.
If you're scared of losing him them make sure the room you're planning on handling him in is 100% hamster proof. If that means shoving blankets under doors and tidying things off the floor and building barriers with cardboard boxes then so be it! I've even shoved cardboard tubes and books up behind my radiators due to my own irrational fears before :) If you're scared of him not coming back to you then keep a spare cardboard box with you and some treats just in case, it's always easier to tempt a small scared fluff into a safe looking enclosed box space than into your hands.

Sometimes things take time. Cut yourself some slack and just keep slowly interacting with him. The two of you will get used to each other, I'm sure of it!