I hold my oldest about 3 times a week or so for about 20-30 mins and shes usually just fine, I put her back in the tub when shes starts moving around alot. Shes not very head shy and when she starts moving around and i touch her head and she acts like nothing happened then shes just exploring, when she gets startled from her head touched shes goes back because she doesnt want to be held anymore. My younger one doesnt like to be held harldy at all, either shes curls up in a ball or shes moves around very quickly til she finds a spot to hide. If I let her hide in my hands for about 5 mins or so she warms up and comes out and shes ok after that. Her favorite spot when out of the tank is wrapped around my gfs hair like a hairtie. Weve taken her places just wrapped up in her hair and she never has a problem then. When my gf holds her its usually one of the first places she tries to go.