help! new hamsters not settling in

emma g · 06-20-2016, 05:41 AM

Hi - sorry for the essay. I am a new hamster mummy and at a bit of a loss as to what to do.

I got 2 male Russian dwarf hamsters on Monday June 13th. I was told by the pet store they would be happier together so purchased 2. I did question keeping boys in pairs but the petstore told me they were social animals and would settle better as a pair. I got them home and put them into a large tub cage with 2 houses 2 water bottles 2 sets of toys and a wheel. I sprinkled the food in to avoid them becoming territorial over a bowl. They were fine on Monday and Tuesday but early Wednesday morning I noticed they were making a screeching noise and one had a mark on its nose. So I separated them. I put one of the hamsters into a small hamster cage (which I had brought for emergencies/ travel). The hamster happily walked into a tube and I moved it into a new cage. Up until this point they were both friendly towards me, they would come out of their house if I spoke, sniffed my hand and had accepted a piece of broccoli from me. I have since brought another bin cage and moved the hamster from the small cage into the bin cage on Thursday. now neither hamster seems to be coming out of their house when anyone is in the room. I was concerned to see if they were eating so I put a food bowl into each cage, and both hamster screeched at me when I put the bowls in. I understand that they are scared but i'm not really sure what to do now. I plan to leave them alone for a few days, just changing water an giving them food. I have put tissue with my scent on into both cages. I currently have them both in the same room and they can see/ smell each other. should I move them into different rooms? Any advice on how to tame them would be greatly received.

thanks xx

AlfredHam · 06-20-2016, 10:33 AM

That's a lot of change for them, they're probably just adjusting to it all. Alfie screamed at me for the first couple of days. Like you've said, I would leave them alone for the next few days apart from feeding and water changes. hopefully so,done with experience of dwarf hamsters will be along to give specific advice soon

Pebbles82 · 06-20-2016, 12:54 PM

Hi there - you have done brilliantly by separating them. It is just stress of change as Alfred says. They came from the pet shop to your home, and a new cage, and then another (necessary) cage change.

How long is it since you separated them? I would just start from scratch with them again. ie 2 or 3 days left alone, then talk gently to them, do the tissue trick (as you have done), and then start offering them the odd treat.

They are probably quite happily doing their own thing and need time to build up confidence coming out and about more.

One thing you could try is playing some soft music. Our hamster likes nursery rhymes

Especially "Run rabbit run" by Flannagan and Allen lol. His other favourite is "Over the Rainbow" - Or soft classical music maybe.

emma g · 06-20-2016, 01:30 PM

Thanks for your replies. I separated them on Thursday. I was hoping they would at least be out of their houses by now. One was out and about today digging and running on its wheel but I've not seen the one I moved since late last night, it doesn't seem to have eaten any food from the bowl, however there was food sprinkled in the cage as well. it also hasn't been on its wheel as I sprinkled a piece of food on it so I could see if he used the wheel whilst I was asleep. I talk to them as often as I can, but since separating them haven't put my hand into their cage other than to give food and water. I don't want to stress them out any more than I need to. I will try some classical music. I am willing to try anything to help them settle.

Pebbles82 · 06-20-2016, 01:35 PM

Which one is the one that isn't coming out at the moment? Is it the one you moved out and into a new cage, or the one you left behind? (I'm guessing the one you moved out!) Whichever it was, it seems one needs a bit more adustment than the other. Even tame settled hamsters sometimes don't like a hand in their cage. I used to get our Syrian out in a tube for some taming and out of cage time - he would happily walk into a tube - especially if there was a treat at the far end. Maybe you could tempt the reclusive one out with a treat in the end of a tube and have her somewhere safe for a bit of taming and to get a look at her. They are often completely different out of the cage than in it (they're more territorial in it). If you have a large box, or a playpen or the bathtub maybe - somewhere she can't escape from. It would be a good idea to check on her in case she did sustain some kind of injury before being separated.

Amber_x · 06-20-2016, 01:39 PM

Welcome to the forum, I hope your hams settle in soon.

Amber_x · 06-20-2016, 01:40 PM

Well done for separating them, something that helped me when taming is when they're used to taking treats from you, maybe get them to walk into a tube and then put your hands flat at either end. Make sure that you do it in the cage and close to the ground incase they jump off your hands!

emma g · 06-20-2016, 01:51 PM

Yes, the one that isn't coming out is the one that I moved when I separated them. he was just out loudly munching on some food, but my daughter walked in the room to ask me a question (she's 5 and meant to be asleep) and he quickly ran back into his house. i'm watching from the other side of the room at this point as he seems really scared and wont come out of his house is anyone is near him. His brother is running on his wheel in the cage next door, he doesn't run away if you talk to him. I'm just not sure about how to go about handing him a treat as he is in a bin cage and I don't want to scare him by putting my hand in from above.

Pebbles82 · 06-20-2016, 01:55 PM

Ok that makes sense - that little boy has had 3 cage changes in a short space of time so he's taking longer to adjust. It can take up to two weeks for them to settle into a new cage. It sounds like time and patience with him. Glad he's been out munching. Also he will be the one that was attacked I guess so he's bound to take a bit of time building his confidence up. It all sounds quite normal to me

In a couple of weeks you might see him tearing around the cage having fun. Or he may always be slightly shy. Maybe wait to offer him a treat in another day or two. It's good that he doesn't run away when you talk to him. You might need to get him out in a tube to offer him a treat from your hand - as you say it's tricky in a bin cage - unless you can do it through the mesh - does it have mesh on the front?

emma g · 06-20-2016, 02:01 PM

Yes we have mesh at the front and on one side of each tub. It is very small mesh, but I can probably get a sunflower seed in. thank you for your advice.