Change in behaviour

Tazius · 01-19-2016, 02:04 PM

Hi all,

Haven't been here in a while and unfortunately need some advice on our hamster, Faolan's, change in behaviour.

When we first got him in late October he was a really bolshy, confident character. He was always really curious about us, responsive to our voices and presence, happily ran away on his wheel all night regardless of whether we were moving around or not, and spending time with us outside of the cage.

For a few weeks at the end of November/throughout December we weren't able to spend as much time with him as a result of busy human lives, illness, etc, and we had started seeing less and less of Faolan. We didn't worry too much because we figured it was the winter and probably a bit cold for him.

However, over that time I've noticed that his behaviour seems to have actually changed (rather than it being weather related)?

Where he was once very bolshy and curious, he now seems more timid and afraid. He continuously hides in his bed, rather than playing on his wheel or around his cage, unless we are either asleep or out of the room and he is in complete darkness. If either one of us disturbs him while he is on his wheel, while we are out of the room and then enter the room, he completely freezes until you go away again which is a massive contrast with his previous behaviour. He isn't interested in us anymore when we speak to him, doesn't really want to be taken out of his cage, or go on his wheel (which he was OBSESSED with when he was new).

It makes me really sad because he's almost an entirely different hamster, and we're now really worried that we've done something wrong to make him afraid of us. Other than this behavioural change, he seems to be fit and healthy. He's eating and drinking normally, although he is a massive hoarder and never leaves any food in his bowl. We try to keep his cage as clean as possible, and take him out when we can, but are finding it difficult as we both have disabilities so we do what we can when we can at the moment.

Does anybody have any advice for us?

Shannonmcn · 01-19-2016, 04:09 PM

His wheel is definitely big enough? First thought when a ham goes off their wheel is that it might be too small and be causing them back pain. Full grown Syrians v often need an 11"/28cm wheel.

If that's not it then I guess he is maybe just used to having his own space for a while. Just start from the beginning with him, tissues with your scent, high value treats that he only gets by interacting with you and see if he remembers that human time is fun time! I do notice that if I haven't taken my Syrian out in a few days it takes her a while to get her confidence back and remember that she knows where she is and then she's fine.

Does he have other things to do like maybe some food puzzles? My fave is to put dinner in an eggbox and cover it over with bedding so he has to chew his way in, it's a good time to spend some time beside the cage, light on, have a chat to him since he will hopefully be too interested in food to worry about what you're doing.

Bertiebobbins · 01-25-2016, 12:47 AM

I shouldn't think he had time to become properly confident and tame in the short time from when you got him in October until you say you had a long period in Nov/Dec when you didn't really handle him. One of mine is prone to fits of hiding away/pretending he isn't there/only coming out in the dark, he's perfectly tame and cuddly but sometimes gets a right strop on and I don't see him unless I wait around and surprise him in the dark! However he didn't fully get his confidence until I had had him for about five months, and that was earned by regular handling (every single day usually twice a day). Now he will usually come out of his nest if I call him but not always, for instance yesterday he didn't fancy coming out to see me and I had to surprise him in the dark to check he was ok! My other ham is much bolder and nothing makes him hide if he thinks there is a chance he can come out of his cage.

I suspect your ham is a bit more like my more timid ham and needs a bit more input to make him tame and keep him confident.

Tazius · 01-26-2016, 05:18 AM

Have you any advice in the best way to go about taking him out? I've been finding it difficult to sort out a routine with taking him out (and his often results in it not happening), because I have trouble getting him to venture out of his bed. I try calling softly, turning the lights down, sprinkling food in his food bowl, but he often just turns his back in his cup and pulls the bedding tighter over the hole so I back off again.

The other issue I had been having was with putting my hands in the cage as it's a bin cage (which I find awkward, and makes me nervous as he can be aggressive sometimes). However, we're going to order him an Alaska cage so that shouldn't be a problem with the doors! We're also buying him a bigger wheel, and some new toys to try and interest him more.

Any advice would be really appreciated. I feel a bit guilty and feel like I'm not spending enough time with him

Bertiebobbins · 01-26-2016, 11:23 AM

The Alaska cage will help so you don't have to put your hands in from above.

Nibble is the shy ham I have. He's been playing hard to get he last few days because we got a new clock and he doesn't seem to like the ticking noise!

When he's being like that I get him out by offering him his evening veg and treats in a bowl big enough for him to climb into, then I lift the bowl out when he has climbed in. If you identify something he LOVES so much he can't resist, that ought to do the trick! For Nibble it was a nice bit of broccoli, and I used to give him the whole big thing so he couldn't try and grab it and run! I think it took him about 3 days to get the hang of it.