Frozen hamster/squeaking

Gunilla · 06-07-2012, 02:10 AM

My two WW hamsters are quite happy and healthy.

But i still don't know how to explain some of their behaviour.

1. Kusya squeaks sometimes, like little mouse, mostly in her sleep. It worried me at first , but she seems to be fine, still why she does this - I have no idea. It happens maybe once a fortnight

2. They freeze on my hand. At first it was Kusya, now Byaka started doing the same - locking for up to a minute, even whiskers not twitching.

Thanks in advance.

HorseyMandz · 06-07-2012, 03:08 AM

Minnie, my hamster freezes sometimes when I scare her/take her by surprise. Does the freezing normally happen while you're moving or...? Because maybe they're scared by something.

Gunilla · 06-07-2012, 06:19 AM

no, they just run happily( well, each of them), and then freeze. Maybe they are getting tired? but nothing changes, it's the same old me, same old my hand, and suddenly Kusya is frozen. Byaka actually "locked" while climbing my leg, so she was ( in frozen state) sliding down before i caught her!

GemmasMom · 06-07-2012, 06:38 AM

Squeaking is normal... my girls squeak when they play, when they are scared, or when they bicker. Hams have really good ears, so maybe when they freeze, they hear soemthing that you aren't able to hear. That's their instinct.

cathface · 06-07-2012, 06:45 AM

yeah I reckon it's that they're hearing something that you probably haven't noticed that's making them freeze? my little one at the moment is very wary so any noises in the background make him perk up, eg. the OH shouting at the xbox in the front room (cages are in my bedroom), or someone scraping at a pan in the kitchen. these are all noises I can hear as well but are generally very quiet/dull because I keep my door shut when I get Badger out, but he seems very aware of them!

or do you have other pets like cats or dogs? something that could possibly smell predatory to your hams? if they catch a whiff of their scent, it could also probably make them freeze (although if a predator actually smelled/saw them, idk why freezing would help at all haha).

TraceyH · 06-07-2012, 07:11 AM

Three of my syrians squeak and it's the same type of squeak as well. My eldest ham Fernando sometimes runs around his cage at 3am squeaking really loudly. I think he might just be trying to wake me up to get him out.

Gunilla · 06-07-2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraceyH

Three of my syrians squeak and it's the same type of squeak as well. My eldest ham Fernando sometimes runs around his cage at 3am squeaking really loudly. I think he might just be trying to wake me up to get him out.

she squeaks while in her house, presumably sleeping. Maybe bad dream?

Gunilla · 06-07-2012, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathface

or do you have other pets like cats or dogs? something that could possibly smell predatory to your hams? if they catch a whiff of their scent, it could also probably make them freeze (although if a predator actually smelled/saw them, idk why freezing would help at all haha).

no, no other pets, apart from my husband (but by now they know he won't eat them)

fluffymunchkins · 06-07-2012, 08:37 AM

I have sleep squeaking hams

Mostly squirt, its just a vocal dream. As long as theres no signs of raspy breathing or anything I wouldn't worry.

Freezing is a natural instinct for hamsters when they sense danger. I haven't had any of mine do it when being handled, but it may be that they hear a noise or see movement and it causes them to freeze. I'd talk to them softly and give them a stroke to see if it snaps them out of it x

Gunilla · 06-07-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffymunchkins

I have sleep squeaking hams

Mostly squirt, its just a vocal dream. As long as theres no signs of raspy breathing or anything I wouldn't worry.

Freezing is a natural instinct for hamsters when they sense danger. I haven't had any of mine do it when being handled, but it may be that they hear a noise or see movement and it causes them to freeze. I'd talk to them softly and give them a stroke to see if it snaps them out of it x

Thanx! And your Squirt looks and moves like my CHucha. Well, i do understand its standard WW look, but Kusya mostly crawls and Byaka - stomps, while CHucha waddles just like it!