Very angry hamster

MeganAndMisty · 06-27-2016, 02:43 AM

We recently adopted a new 8 week old Syrian from pets at home as soon as we got into the car she started making weird sounds, she sounded like a pig! I currently have 3 hamsters and none of them have ever made this noise. The woman in the store said that she was just really angry, however she's now been here for 4 days and every time she wakes up she's constantly making this noise. I've not tried to touch her or anything shes in the spare bedroom so it's not too loud for her. I don't know what to do she's stressing me out, I had to walk away from her when we first put her in her cage because it made me so upset to see her like that.

In the pet shop as soon as they opened her tank she was the first one up and she was trying to get out she was so friendly! she was sniffing my hand and she got into the box by herself we didn't have to put her in it. I don't understand what is wrong. She's in an Alaska hamster cage, she had a large wheel her food, water, toys, sand, hideaways and chews.

cypher · 06-27-2016, 03:39 AM

I'm no expert on syrians but if she constantly makes that noise I would be wondering if she was in pain or anything or if there was something up with her breathing, I would guess that hams in the adoption part of P@H would have some sort of health check but I don't know really, it just sounds odd especially if she's in a quiet room & being left to settle on her own I wouldn't expect that kind of noise, not that I ever heard a ham make a noise like a pig.
Sorry I can't be more help.

pinkneon · 06-27-2016, 04:02 AM

If you got from the adoption section they should offer a free healthcheck, which you could do? Saying that I'd wait a few days unless you think she is unwell or in pain, to let her settle in. She could be a bit scared maybe?

Jasmine2016 · 06-27-2016, 04:21 AM

I had a hamster make a noise like a pig once, she did it when she was frightened.
Maybe check the room and see if there is anything near or in the cage that could be frightening her, otherwise I'd contact a vet and see what they advise.

WinnieTheHam · 06-27-2016, 04:24 AM

Is it like a creaky door sound? Some pups when separated from their siblings will make this sound. It can be quite a shock to them being away from their siblings and may cry out but it should get better over time. Abe still makes this sound in his sleep sometimes (he's 6 months old now). If you could get a video it would help a lot, there's quite a few different sounds syrians make and they all sound slightly similar unless you've heard them all before and are able to observe their behaviour at the same time. She's in a completely new environment and it'll take some time for her to settle, but to me it sounds like she's a bit frightened and shocked from being away from her siblings and enclosure she's used to.

Like others have said she could be in pain, observe her behaviour from afar to see how she moves around and does day-today things. Please try get a video so I can see what the sound is like. I hope she is okay and that it's just the shock of moving.

Nancy's Hamsters · 06-27-2016, 07:45 AM

She is afraid. I know big huge cages are seen as nice for Syrians, but with this gal I would down size her cage as I really feel she is panic stricken in that huge and open cage. Remember she went from a teeny tiny cage at P@H and most likely has never in her life been in a wide open and huge cage. She feels exposed and so very scared and she is panicked so is screaming a warning sound which would make most predators back off. Have you any small cage to place her in to calm down and feel less exposed? Once she calms down in the smaller cage you can slowly reintroduce her back into the Alaska.

Right now she has no trust in anything and is screaming this sound because it s all she can do.

Pebbles82 · 06-27-2016, 08:52 AM

The Alaska cage isn't that huge really though. Is her hide big enough or is it the little white house that comes with the Alaska cage? You could maybe put a cardboard shoe box in upside down under the shelf with a hole cut in for a door, to make sure she has somewhere dark to go and feel safe. I'm assuming you have plenty of substrate in the cage and plenty of torn up white toilet paper so she can build a nest. Other than that, check the bottle is working.

So she doesn't make the noise in her sleep, only when she wakes up? Does she seem stressed, rushing around, or does she look ok otherwise. You could try distracting her by scattering her food early evening before she wakes up. Put half the usual amount in her bowl and scatter the other half on the substrate. It might distract her as they like finding food and foraging. You could talk gently to her through the bars as well. I'd not touch or move anything in the cage for the first couple of weeks to let her settle in. And leave it a week before spot cleaning her wee corner.

Is there anything in the room that could upset her when she wakes up (ie is it near a window or something?) I agree with Winnie it could be a kind of homesick for her cagemates howl and to observe her and take a video. I don't see why she should be in pain if she was fine when you picked her up and took her home.

Maybe some hammy chocolate drops would be a comfort

MeganAndMisty · 06-28-2016, 04:42 AM

She's mostly fine now, I don't think she's in pain because she's letting me handle her and she's playing on her toys. I think she was just scared, she made the noise again this morning when she was in her nest but I think it was because the door on her cage is reall loud when it opens.

She has 3 hideaways in her cage that are all big enough for her, however she's taken all of the bedding out and put it all under the level in the cage and she sleeps there she didn't have a hideaway in the shop so i'm guessing thats just what she's used to. Thank you everyone! She's getting better now but if she starts making the noise more then i'll take her to the vets.

WinnieTheHam · 06-28-2016, 05:00 AM

Good to hear she's settling in. It must have just been the shock.

Pebbles82 · 06-28-2016, 05:06 AM

Glad she is settling in ok. Our Hamster was extremely nervy for some months after we got him and he hated the clang of the water bottle being changes as it went in and out of the bars - it made him very jumpy and nervy (they have often been in tanks at pet shops). So I had his bottle inside the cage instead which solved that issue. At first it was in a bottle stand, and now I use the Ferplast Drinky bottles which come with a clip. The clip fixes to the bars with the bottle holder part on the inside and you just take the bottle in and out of the holder - no noise at all

The clip stays on the bars permanently unless you want to move it. I find it much quicker and easier filling the bottles now as well. I'll add a link to where you can get them (they're often silly prices on Amazon). I get two at a time to save on postage costs and then I've always got a spare if there's a problem with one. I find they're good bottles too - let water out easily but don't drip. They only cost £2 to £3 each.

Regarding the noise of the door - do you need to open it in the mornings? In time, as she builds in confidence, this might bother her a lot less, but for now, maybe only open the door after she is well and truly awake in the evenings. If you need to do any spot cleaning you could have her out of the cage first (somewhere safe obviously! Like in a ball for 10 minutes or so, nearby! I used to find if Charlie was in his ball and I was doing something in his cage he'd start bashing the ball into my feet - as if to say - get out of my cage!).

They have the bottle pointing the opposite way round on the photo. Have added a photo of how I have it in our cage.

Fpi 4660 Drinky75 Drinky B.