Shy hamster

haziebabie · 01-23-2009, 04:18 AM

Hi everyone,

Wiley is the shyest hamster I have ever known, in his cage he won't even run in his wheel when anyone is in the room. He does come out when nagged and will happily have cuddles and be handled and run in his ball, but in his cage he just freezes or hides. My two girls will happily carry on with what they are doing or be up at the bars begging for treats. He seems well and obviously very active when we can't see him (can tell from volume of squeaky wheel noise.) His fur is fluffy and he is peeing (only one in his toilet) and pooing properly. He is also eating and drinking well. Another thing is sometimes its nearly impossible to wake him, the girls normally come and investigate as soon as I call and tap. Before now with Wiley I have been so fed up trying to wake him I have had the lid of his nest house and been stroking him for a minute before he will even stir..maybe he is pretending to sleep..? I always get them up at the same time so thought he would have adjusted by now.

Last night I moved his cage into the living room so he is more around us in the evening, normally all the hams are in the dining room and I pop in to see them occasionally once they are up and we also have an hour of 'hamster time' when we get them out in their balls and play with them in the playbox. Do you think this is a good idea. Also gives him more distance from the females. Anyone had a hamster like this...?

souffle · 01-23-2009, 04:38 AM

They are all different Haziebaby and quite unique in their ways and characters - even brothers and sisters! We do tend to find that males are more laid back and chilled out than the busy females. As long as he is tame and happy when he comes out and enjoys being handled, is eating well etc then I don't think there is anything to worry about.
Our Napoleon has given us a few frights as he sleeps rather soundly. There we are blowing on him and calling him and just as the tears of panic start to well up he raised a tousled head as if to say 'hey whats going on man?'

Keep a close eye on him of course for any signs of illness and I would continue getting him up and out when it suits you.
Could it be anything to do with the cage move or was he always like this? It can unsettle them a bit when they move house especially when it is a totally new style to them so I would say you are best to keep him there for now. Try him in the lounge for a few days and see what he is like with the TV etc. He may be better suited to a tank type cage if he shows signs of jitteriness in the lounge as it feels more secure. Take the squeaky wheel off the spindle and smear a tiny bit of vaseline on it and that should stop the noise!
Let us know how he does.

sy278 · 01-23-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haziebabie

Hi everyone,

Wiley is the shyest hamster I have ever known, in his cage he won't even run in his wheel when anyone is in the room. He does come out when nagged and will happily have cuddles and be handled and run in his ball, but in his cage he just freezes or hides. My two girls will happily carry on with what they are doing or be up at the bars begging for treats. He seems well and obviously very active when we can't see him (can tell from volume of squeaky wheel noise.) His fur is fluffy and he is peeing (only one in his toilet) and pooing properly. He is also eating and drinking well. Another thing is sometimes its nearly impossible to wake him, the girls normally come and investigate as soon as I call and tap. Before now with Wiley I have been so fed up trying to wake him I have had the lid of his nest house and been stroking him for a minute before he will even stir..maybe he is pretending to sleep..? I always get them up at the same time so thought he would have adjusted by now.

Last night I moved his cage into the living room so he is more around us in the evening, normally all the hams are in the dining room and I pop in to see them occasionally once they are up and we also have an hour of 'hamster time' when we get them out in their balls and play with them in the playbox. Do you think this is a good idea. Also gives him more distance from the females. Anyone had a hamster like this...?

Incredible this is almost word for word what I was about to post on Nibbles.

We have had him in the lounge since we got him almost a week ago, I have been watching him on a camera from another room and he goes nuts on his wheel at night, but when anyones in the room, the most he does is dig in the sand. If he is doing something he stops and sits quietly without moving.

I'm not sure how much he is drinking I have seen him drink but he is taking very little. His water bottle is only 50cl and although I have been changing the water when I do its like its barely been touched.

How much do they normally drink? IF I hadn't been changing his water he would only be around half way through it, and some of that is it dripping.

haziebabie · 01-23-2009, 09:32 AM

Souffle - I guess he has only been in his new cage for 2 weeks, maybe he is just sensitive. He took a good while to adjust to be taking from Mum too come to think of it. I will get the vaseline out to do all 3 of the wheels tonight when they are out.

Sy278 - Aww Nibbles does sound so much like Wiley. He is quite a new guy though, he probably is just a sensitive like Wiley seems to be. How is taming going? He will still be getting to know you at this early stage. I take Wiley being used to us for granted cause he was born here, but perhaps that is just his personality.

Not sure how much they should drink. Mine get changed very day, sometimes only a couple of teaspoons worth will have gone, sometimes 3 times that, it all depends. I always make sure they are filled to the brim so I know how much is gone. I don't think mine leak though apart from the drops they spill.