Weird actions in the tube!?

[xFluffyHamsterx]

Hey guys, so I have a 4 month old Syrian hamster, presumably a male seeing as he's not tame enough to be picked up yet (he's always very anxious and jumpy, i've only just stroked him recently). I've recently put him in a small playpen every few days with some of his toys etc and a plastic tube. He's usually okay searching around but when I put the tube in he gets very anxious. I've caught him grooming himself in it, laying on his back and occasionally peaking his head out. If I move, he will freak and, because I can't see inside the tube as it's sometimes different shapes, he just moves and changes directions.

I'm just curious as to why he's acting like this, because the second he's in his cage again he's okay and not so anxious. Obviously I'm considering to take the tube out but he seems to like it in his cage?

Thanks for reading!

[Bethyboo11]

That's a hard one! Since he's so shy, I would reccomend him getting used to you whilst he's still inside his cage. My hamster was exactly the same!

[cypher]

It sounds as though he may just be using the tube as a place to hide away in the play pen, he will feel more secure in the cage, that's his home but persevere with the play pen as it is the easiest way to get them used to being handled, maybe just don't put the tube in if he seems better without it.