Scared of hands

[Tette]

I´ve been taming my syrian Alladin almost every day exept from late nights at work. He has made some progress, can take food from my fingers but not if it´s laying on my palm. I can also pet him while he´s eating a snack but he can´t be held at all, he just panick.

During playtime he has even climbed up my legs and up to my neck. So he´s quite used to me now. The problem is that he is really afraid of hands! When he climbed up my neck he didn´t realise how to get down. I took my hand close to him to let him see an option. He quickly jumped down from my shoulder instead. Once he climbed up my stomach and when I put my hand next to him, but not touching him, he just freaked out, panicked and went as far from my hand as possible. He will rather jump far and from height than use my hand as a middlestep making the distant smaller.

Does anyone has any advice how to make him more comfortable with my hands, other than keep giving him treats?


Oh, also - when in his cage he at times is very nervous. Usually after he wakes up. He is stiff, is sniffing everything with caution, reacting to every sound. It´s like it´s the first time ever in his cage. It always pass and he seem fine and adjusted at most times. It just confuses and worries me that he doesn´t seem to recognize his surroundings at times . Is the cage to big for him to be comfortable in (ZZ2) even though he acts "normal" most of the time?

Please, any advice?

[Hamster Hermit]

Mine has a similar problem too though he isnt scared of my hands just is very jumpy when i try to pick him up

[Debbie]

My syrian Fred is very similar, he will take treats from my fingers but runs away if he sniffs them, he is very nervous in his cage if I try to touch him and jumps then runs away. When out of his cage he is much better and will climb all over me and let us touch him and pick him up without being too nervous but he isn't too keen on being held and hates to be picked up. he moves around his cage slowly and cautiously and does a lot of sniffing! I have come to the conclusion that he is probably blind and therefore the sudden appearance of me touching him in the cage freaks him out as he doesn't see me coming. I'm trying to get Fred used to being picked up in a box but it's slow progress trying to get him to go in the box and not jump out again when I start to move it! I also tap on his cage and talk to him to let him know I'm there. But Fred is a very unsociable hamster and prefers to hide in his house and sleep!! It is possible Alladin just likes to re-acquaint himself with his cage each time he wakes to see if anything has changed. Give him plenty of places to hide in the cage and I'm sure he'll be just fine with the size. Neither of my hamsters like to use my hand as a stepping stone! How old is he and how long have you had him? He could still just be getting used to new surroundings if he's young and you haven't had him long. Best of luck.

[Tette]

Thanks Debbie! Good to know he´s not the only one.

He is almost 3 months, and I´ve had him since july 1. I´ll try to give him more places to hide as you said, maybe that will help.

It´s just so odd - having no problem climbing on me but being so scared of the hands only.

[cutehammies]

hmm you said that he's not scared of climbing on you, just your hands? I think that could be because your body probably stays very still when you know he's climbing on you so he doesnt fall off, but hands move so make him nervous? Sounds like you're doing the right things.
Sorry I cant add more.