Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

Hello everyone,

My Winter White dwarf girl did the strangest thing yesterday and I wondered whether anyone else had ever observed something similar?

I'd taken her into the garden to run about on the grass. I do this from time to time so that she has a change of scene and some additional exercise. My little one also enjoys watching her during this time.

She was out as normal and was wondering a bit far away from us, so I gently scooped her up using both hands. She'd usually be busy sniffing me and moving about but this time she suddenly flattened slightly and kept absolutely still with her eyes staring. Her nose was barely twitching. I gently called her name and stroked her and after a couple of minutes she "revived" and was her normal curious self again. When I put her down afterwards, she had done a poo and I wonder whether this is the reason why she suddenly so still?

Has anyone else every observed a this or a similar kind of behaviour in a dwarf. She scared me a bit when it happened, but since then seems her normal lovely self?

Just curious about what might have happened.

Thanks,
posie
x

Re: Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

Turtle does the same thing sometimes! Like when I put him on my bed to run around, he will randomly stop and stare at me, and just look like a lil statue. I think they're just trying to figure what you are and what you're doing.

Re: Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

Yes, its as if they're in a little world of their own.

Re: Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

It is a in built mechanism. They are pray animals which means in the wild there are lot's of other creatures that would kill & eat a hamster, so if they see something over there head or out the corner of there eye they are not sure about they freeze.

This instinct would hopefully make them seen less if they keep still until they think the danger has passed.

Talking to them helps bring them out of it but the best thing I have found to bring them back is food! put a bit of food in front of there nose so they can smell it & they come round to eat it!

Silver xxx

Re: Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Silver, your explanation about prey animals makes a lot of sense, especially as we were outside at the time. Rosie may have felt threatened by something, so she froze. It was so weird to see. Anyway, I'm glad that a gentle talk was the way to go. I'll remember the food tip if it should ever happen again, too.

- posie
x

Re: Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

Yeah, there are all sorts of things that can freak them out and get them into fight or flight mode, or freeze mode in their case!

Re: Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

It's a normal thing. Sometimes if dwarf hamsters become to scare they freeze :D No worries :)

Re: Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

Yes, i knew it from my Syrians but since I had my dwarf Poppy she always seemed more restless and alert even when standing still but one day she was out in her play box she stuck one head in a toilet roll and the other half was out with her little feet dangling lifeless, I got so scared I thought she had died, as even moving the roll or stroking her (which she normally doesnt like) did not change anything. When I tried to grab her she was out in a split second again and looking at me as if I was daft:roll: Scary, though, isnt't it? I find it weirder with dwarfs as they are always so quick. I havent seen her doing it since tho...

Re: Dwarf hamster: suddenly still and staring?!
 

My little guy seemed to freeze this morning. I think just before he did so, one of our cats walked on by, between me and his cage; wonder if that could have triggered that? A bit strange. Even after I moved him the first time, he seemed frozen. Poor little guy if he was afraid...

Love these little guys!!

Rachael