Very nervous hamster - advice please!

[SKB_Hamsters]

This is how I take my Syrians - I set up and playpen and sit in there with them. I go on my phone and completely ignore them - I don’t try to pick them up or try handle them. Normally they will avoid climbing on your for the first few days or even week. Then they start to get braver and begin climbing into your lap. When they get really comfortable climbing into your lap I put my hand - palm upward in my lap and let them walk over. I avoid lifting my hand up or moving it until they get really comfortable climbing into my hand. Then begin lifting your hand up briefly then put them straight back down - gradually extend the amount of time in your hand the more confident they get. It takes a lot of repetition and it best where possible do it daily. And they get a treat when I put them back into their cage so it more of a reward. This is the taming method. And wash your hand with unscented soap beforehand. This method is really successful for me and has help even my most nervous Syrian become tame.

When taming my hamsters I often do have to wake them up as otherwise like you say they don’t come out until very late. Try to pick a time around 8/9pm -feed them around this time, rustle the bedding near the house. Or I sometimes have to wake them up - which isn’t ideal. But I find once they get familiar with a set time they normal begin waking up at this time everyday. But for cleaning you will need to wake him up as it for his health - usually once I start making noise in the cage my Syrian comes out to investigate then I put her in a carrier or playpen when cleaning to avoid stressing her out.