Behaviour Changes

[BloonStuff]

I'm writing this post on behalf of my sister. She got her hamster Ernie the same time as I got Rue, so she's had her two weeks now. Both of them were very easily tamed but do have different personalities. Rue loves attention and bar chewing. She's pretty consistent in her mood and routine. However Eva has noticed with Ernie that her mood and temperament seems to change every few days. She was happy and social one day and the next she wasn't interested and just wanted to run in her wheel or sleep. Then Eva noticed she became nervous and skittish, not wanting to be touched. The next couple of days she was fine again and now tonight she seems scared again. Slowly she's gotten her confidence back, but I was just wondering if anyone's experienced this? We were wondering if it could be to do with her heat cycle or anything? Everything I've read about that says more about the physical changed, but I was wondering can there be temperament changes too?

Eva was really worried about her tonight because when she put her on the bed she just stayed still and felt like she was trembling a bit when she held her. Usually she'd just explore the bed. Like I said, she came round and back to her usual self eventually. So I don't think she's sick or anything.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Is this happening about every 4 days? It sounds like she is on heat when skittish which is possible for her behaviors.

[Thin Lizzy]

Every 4 days she's in heat!

[BloonStuff]

That's what I thought. I'll let my sister know. She was worried it was something she was doing or something had frightened her or something but since it was every few days it seemed too much like a coincidence when I know they go into heat every 4 days. Anyway, thanks! Hopefully this will put my sister's mind at rest.

[skucki]

I have the same problem. The difference is that mine is a boy... I am at a complete loss with him....