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Old 01-02-2016, 09:07 AM   #1
paigelee
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Default My first hamster, help advice needed.

I have had my dwarf hamster Lucy for four days now and since she is my first hamster I need some advice.

She is hiding in her house all the time and rarely comes out. I know this is common for new hamsters as they get use to their cage. Every morning and every night I just lift up her house after gentle scratching on the bedding to wake her up. I am just checking to make sure she seems alright. I don't know if there is anything else I should be doing at this point. Should I let her sniff my finger to get use to me? Should I check her nest for any reason? Will she eventually come out and run around her cage and how long should this hiding behavior go on? I guess I am wondering if and when I should start to worry about her.

I have put a towel over half of her cage for privacy, hoping that this would make her feel more comfortable. Please help, I need all the advice I can get.
Thanks
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Old 01-02-2016, 02:15 PM   #2
flowerfairy
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Default Re: My first hamster, help advice needed.

It is perfectly normal for them to hide away for the first few days/week.

Erinsanimals does a really good youtube video about it;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgnti2qgZQQ

You sound very caring. Hope Lucy ventures out soon.
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Old 01-02-2016, 11:48 PM   #3
cypher
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Default Re: My first hamster, help advice needed.

I replied to your other post but just wanted to say here putting a towel over the cage isn't a good idea if she can reach it as she may chew/ingest some of the fibres which could really cause problems.
If she's out & about definitely let her sniff at your fingers.
Lifting the house up can be quite scary for them so it's better to wait until they come out if you can, rustle the bedding or a food bag at feeding time & see if that helps draw her out.
I would leave her nest alone if possible unless you think she's peeing in there try not to disturb it, if she is peeing in there try taking some soiled nesting material or substrate & put it in some kind of litter tray with some chinchilla sand & put that close by or if she's peeing outside the nest do the same but put the litter tray where she pees.
If that works you only need to little spot cleans & can leave most of the cage & nest undisturbed so she can really settle in & make her home her own.
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Old 01-02-2016, 11:53 PM   #4
Elliiy
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Default Re: My first hamster, help advice needed.

like flower fairy said erinsanimals does some really good videos to help out these kind of things with new hamster owners when i first got my little hammy i went straight to youtube and it really helps well along with this forum. another youtube that may help is hoppinghammy she does plenty of hamster videos that may help. Good luck and i hope Lucy warms up to you
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Old 01-03-2016, 03:42 AM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: My first hamster, help advice needed.

Hi there. Four days isn't very long. It can be incredibly frustrating though when you want to interact with them! Patience is needed It can take a couple of weeks for them to adjust to and familiarise with a new cage/habitat and generally it's best to not disturb anything in the cage during that time and avoid cleaning anything. Certainly don't do a full cage clean during the first two weeks. If it gets really stinky you could take out a handful of stinky substrate and add a new handful and mix it in to the existing substrate so it is less stinky This is known as spot cleaning.

To familiarise her with your scent you could do the tissue trick. Put some sheets of plain white toilet paper up your sleeve and leave them there for a few hours. Then tear them into strips and put them in a big pile in the cage - she will use them for nesting material and will get familiar with your scent.

For now, maybe leave her alone for a couple more days then try putting a treat at the end of a toilet roll tube, in the cage and see if she comes out to get it. After that you can move on to putting one on your hand.

Dr McK's thread in December showed how her new dwarf hamster went from being very shy to more confident over the space of a month and it's still work in progress. Here it is - there might be some tips on there too.

31 Days of December 2015
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Old 01-03-2016, 03:52 AM   #6
Pumpkinhammies
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Default Re: My first hamster, help advice needed.

I've had similar issues but its normal. Im not sure if you specified but dwarfs should usually begin the training process around 4 to 7 days after you get them. As Other people have said Erins animals do great videos and her advice is safe. Another good youtuber with valuable hamster advice is chocolatecolors26.
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Old 01-12-2016, 05:31 PM   #7
Lozz
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Default Re: My first hamster, help advice needed.

You sound lovely, Lucy is very lucky!
I probably wouldn't lift up her house as it can be very scary for them and its a good idea to make their own little house a place where they can feel totally safe and secure- being adopted and meeting a new family can be very overwhelming!
When I adopted Gus Gus (a dwarf hamster) I took it very slowly and it took him about ten days/ two weeks to become used to me properly, but I started to notice his confidence growing within a few days. If you see her awake and wandering around, you could start by slowly placing your hand in her cage nearby her where she can see it and letting her smell you, then you can place a treat (sunflower seeds are usually popular!) on your hand and let her take it. That way, she feels calm and unthreatened in your presence, and starts to associate you with nice things
I wouldn't put a towel over her cage because, not only could she ingest it, it also she won't be able to see you and get used to all the sights and smells of her new home.
Good luck! x
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Old 01-13-2016, 03:10 AM   #8
xbuttons94
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Default Re: My first hamster, help advice needed.

There are some great threads on here for taming advice. I know someone mentioned the tissue trick which I thought was brilliant! Keep a tissue up your sleeve and let it get your scent on it and pop some in your hams cage. She should theb gradually get use to your smell around her. She might just be taking a little longer to settle in. My Robos took a little while to get use to things. I wish you the best of luck with her and maybe check out some of the taming and advice threads, they are great! x
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