Another taming question!

[Woollywally]

I'm having a few problems with taming Brian too.
I don't know whether it's a good idea or not, but I've been putting his whole cage in the bath, and taking the lid off and letting him do what he wants. He quite happily comes out and plays with the toys I put down for him. He seems quite confident to come and take food from my fingers, but when I have put food in the center of my flat hand, he just comes and bites me. I don't know if he just thinks I'm food or if he wants me to leave him alone, but he's quite happy to take food from my fingers, and comes and sniffs the air around me, so I don't really think he's scared.
Problem is, when he bites me, it always makes me jump and I drop the food and Brian gets a reward for biting me! What do you recommend?

[Shannonmcn]

It sounds to me like he thinks your finger is food. Rather than going from finger tip to centre of your hand, could you put the food sitting right at the tip of your finger? So both food and finger are right at his nose and he can't get one confused for the other? Then once he's got that distinction right you can move the food back a bit towards your palm?

I notice if I have something in the palm of my hand (usually cooked rice this happens with, which she loves) my syrian will sometimes sniff my finger then look at me as if "er, why are you just showing me your hand, where food?" their eyesight really is that bad sometimes and I have to physically point out the food to her when it's sitting in my palm. He could just be making a genuine mistake!

[cypher]

It does sound more like confusion rather than aggression or fear, if he's in the cage you could try burying your fingers in the substrate until he gets the idea.
It may sound daft but if I'm feeding from my palm & they just look at my fingers I point to the food with the other hand! Maybe move it around a bit with my finger so they see where it is, remember their sight is pretty useless & they do go by smell mostly so he may just need a bit of help finding the food.

[Coco61]

I am no expert on taming, others here are and I have picked up a lot from other threads. My Syrian came from a breeder so had the advantage of being hand tamed from the very start. When from a shop, things take time. Each hamster will be different and you should take taming at their pace. Don't be tempted to force anything. First-did you use the tissue trick. I learnt this here. Put toilet paper up your sleeve for a couple of hours before putting in the cage near the nest. This will get him used to your scent as not being a threat(or food!) do this daily. Then take it slow with hands. Do what he is comfortable with for now. He is only a baby and has had a huge disruption to his life and a lot to adjust to. Wash hands before handling so you don't smell of food. After a couple of weeks or so you could get in the bath with him so he can run all over you again getting used to your scent. Always talk to him when near the cage so he gets used to your voice. Consider a play box. Do you have the box your cage came in as a starter? With some food cartons you can cut doorways in so he can play around. Then put your hand in flat when he is happy and see if he will then take treats from you. Just don't rush it some take much longer to tame than others but it is so worth it!

[Woollywally]

You are all amazing! Thank you so much for your responses. I'm off to try some as Brian is awake now!!