Jumpy hamster! =(?

Question

My hamster hemi, will jump from my hands whenever i hold him. No matter how high im holding him. He just jumps, not to escape, but to explore. im worried because this is a nuesense, also, this could hurt him. obviously. Any ides on how to kepp him in my hands, post the answer. plz. even dumb ones. lol.

Answer 1

Well, along with trying to hold him u should let him run around!!!! Hamsters love to just walk around. Set up barriers like books in a circle and let him run around on the floor! THen try picking him up!

Good luck!

Answer 2

My very first hamster did this for almost a month, and I ended up having to sit on the floor with him all the time because I was scared he would break his neck =P I finally figured out that he just didn't have enough room in his cage, and he was getting hyper with all his pent-up energy.

I started to let him run around for a while (twenty minutes or so) before I would try and carry him anywhere or cuddle with him. It worked wonders, because he was already tired and had no more interest in exploring - he just wanted to sleep.

If this doesn't work, try giving him a treat/some food while he's in your hand so he's too occupied with eating and not interested in leaping from your grasp. Just stay close to the ground for the first little while, they can't really tell how high up they are because their eyesight is fairly bad.

Good luck! =)

Answer 3

I'm guessing Hemi (great name for a ham!) is young.  Young hams are like little kids.  They don't want to be held - they want to go exploring!  Also, there's a serious lack of depth perception for those first couple of months so they'll walk of the edge of anything without flinching.  Between the two it makes for a jumpy ham.  Totally normal.  I once had a ham fall from my hands - so lets say five feet up - onto a concrete floor and literally knock the air out of her so she was stunned.  I was horrified and thought that I'd killed her.  Luckily - no - she was just crazy and was with me for two more years after that.  

Anyway, once your little jumping bean gets older he will be more content to sit in your hands and ride around but for now he's just wanting to go!go!go!  The only fool proof way I've found to hold them when they're this way is to cup them - one hand above, one below and carry them quickly to wherever you're going.  If you do this calmly and regularly, he'll get the point.  Make sure you make your hands a part of his every day life, petting, lifting him onto low things, scooping him up from underneath, giving him treats.  This will teach him that your hands are good things that he wants to see around.  My friends joke that all my hams think of when they think of me is a nose, mouth and hands.  As he gets older he'll start looking for your hands as the point of mobility, gateway to freedom and fun and giver of affection and treats.  Right now he just sees them as a step to the great outdoors.  

It sounds like you're doing fine.  Make sure he gets lots of 'out' time to free range (be aware they're not only escape artists but gnawers) and include yourself in his adventures.  Like a little kid he'll soon learn to look for you.  You sound like you're going to have a lot of fun with him.  Enjoy yourself.  He apparently already is.

Answer 4

i think he is just wanting to get out of his cage and explore. i would suggest a ball he can run around in for up to 2 hours. or until he stops. let him get a little tired then try cuddling with him in your hands