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Old 05-06-2015, 06:46 PM   #1
Stardust79
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Question Syrian odd behaviour in plastic tubes...worried!

Hi guys,

My 5 month old Syrian Peanut is behaving very strange. I have seen him do this before when I first got him.

He has a large wired cage with connecting plastic tubes. When I first got him he stayed in them for weeks. He would come out and pouch food everyday but would not come out at all, he wouldn't play, or do anything. He was laying in urine. I was concerned so I took his tubes away for months and he is a happy active hamster. Gets up around 7pm and runs and runs on his wheel. He plays in his sand bath and chews his chew toys.

I reintroduced the tubes 2 days ago as I thought by now he wouldn't do it again. He has. For 36 hours apart from coming out for food he has layed in tubes and pulled bedding over each end and put all of his food in there. He barely will open his eyes, he wont come out. It's now coming up to 3am and he is just laying there eyes closed. Very strange behaviour for him. He loves his wheel every night. Is this hibernation? He isn't unresponsive, but his eyes are constantly closed but he eats (eyes closed) But other than that he isn't being normal. This only happens with the tubes attached. It isn't cold in here, it's about 22 celcius in my home. Is this a nesting/hibernation instinct assosiated with the tubes? I worry as there isn't much air in there, added with ammonia from his urine it can't be normal. Any help would be appreciated

I am an experienced hamster keeper of 12 hamster over 18 years. Never seen this before.
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Old 05-06-2015, 09:30 PM   #2
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Syrian odd behaviour in plastic tubes...worried!

I would remove the tubes permanently. I've heard this a lot about the hamsters taking to staying in the tubes, the thing with these tubes is they can get very smelly and if Peanut became ill it would be difficult to get to him. That's the reason I don't use them, some hamsters do this so they feel safe.
When you took them out before you got a totally different hamster who was active and friendly.
I don't know where you're from but, I doubt it's hibernation, we're through winter and into spring going on summer.
Has he got plenty of substrate and bedding? I always give mine loads of toilet paper for there bedding, it's very soft and safe.
Once you remove the tubes, you'll be able to see how active he is.
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Old 05-07-2015, 12:15 AM   #3
cypher
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Default Re: Syrian odd behaviour in plastic tubes...worried!

I agree take the tubes out again & keep them out!
It seems he's happy enough without them & they can cause more problems than they're worth tbh.
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Old 05-07-2015, 08:43 AM   #4
Stardust79
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Default Re: Syrian odd behaviour in plastic tubes...worried!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy View Post
I would remove the tubes permanently. I've heard this a lot about the hamsters taking to staying in the tubes, the thing with these tubes is they can get very smelly and if Peanut became ill it would be difficult to get to him. That's the reason I don't use them, some hamsters do this so they feel safe.
When you took them out before you got a totally different hamster who was active and friendly.
I don't know where you're from but, I doubt it's hibernation, we're through winter and into spring going on summer.
Has he got plenty of substrate and bedding? I always give mine loads of toilet paper for there bedding, it's very soft and safe.
Once you remove the tubes, you'll be able to see how active he is.
Thank you both. I took the tubes out late last night. He kept putting his nose to the air holes with his eyes closed. Couldn't get him out so I pulled the tubes off and he come out as I pointed them into his cage.

Yes he has carefresh bedding and nesting and a medium sized natural house.

As I say ge did this when I first got him. Took the tubes away and for 3 months has been happy and active. Gave the tubes back 2 days ago and he hadn't been out since.

I saw it as hibernating. He had a massive supply of food in the tubes. He had taken his bedding in there and used it to block both ends. He was eating with his eyes closed and not responding to my voice. Very strange. He is back in his house now. Very quiet last night and seemed distressed after I block the tubes off. Hopefully he will be active tonight.
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Old 05-07-2015, 09:44 AM   #5
cypher
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Default Re: Syrian odd behaviour in plastic tubes...worried!

I wouldn't worry if he isn't as active as normal for a few days even, it's been quite a lot of change having his tubes back (which he obviously wanted to live in permanently lol!) & having them taken away again he make take a little while to settle down.
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Old 05-08-2015, 09:47 AM   #6
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Syrian odd behaviour in plastic tubes...worried!

You've taken away his security, so he'll probably have a couple of days of sulking lol!
It's for the best and he'll become that active hamster real soon.
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