Refusal to be picked up and biting

Question
Hello, we have a 9 week old Syrian male hamster. For the first 2-3 weeks, I could just reach in and scoop him up. But once I tried to do this, and he bit me badly enough to draw blood. Since then, its a huge fight, and bite fest to pick him up, I can be wearing gloves, and he is doing everything in his power to bite me. I never pick him up when he is sleepy,or hungry, and I always wash my hands so he doesnt smell food. I've read tons of sites, about how you shouldnt pick them up from directly over them, or behind them because they associate that with what prey would do, so I never do that. I cannot even let me 5 year old touch him for fear he will bite her, because if you even touch his fur,he backs up and puts his hands up like he is going to bite you. We try our very best to socilaze him, we get him out and let him run in his ball in the house, and I hold him with gloves on, and sometimes he will sit in my hands, if I have them cupped around him, I guess he feels safe, but its such a battle to get him out,and I'm afraid I will give up one day and then he might become mean and extremely scared of me if I dont socialze him. So my question is, how can I get him to let me pick him up without biting me? Is there something I'm doing wrong or is he just not a good hamster? My daughter really loves him,and he is her pet, so I hate the fact that he cannot even be in her room in his cage anymore. Thank you.

Answer
Hi Amanda,

Has he been dropped? It sounds like something happened that frightened him. Syrian hamsters generally don't bite unless they smell food on your hands or they feel threatened. Try putting your hand (without the glove) and part of your arm in his cage (if possible, if not just your hand), don't move your hand or arm, let him come to you. Don't try to pet him at this point, just let him sniff and get use to you,gain your trust. Also talk to him in a calm voice. Do this often when he is up, then after a few days try petting him when he comes to you. Eventually you should be able to pick him up without him bitting you. This could take some time, depending on your hamster. Don't give up! Also make sure his cage is in an area where there is less noise. Hamsters don't do well where there is a lot of noise because they are startled easily. Make sure he has wood chew toys to chew on and a wheel in his cage.

Thank you for your question and best of luck to you!