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Old 12-17-2016, 07:09 AM   #1
Jessicad
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Default Please Help! New Hamster!

Hello

I am really hoping someone may be able to help me.

I used to have a Syrian Hamster about 3/4 years ago, he was so tame and loving so I decided on Wednesday to get another one.

I am having some real issues. When I went to the shop they told me she was quite a shy one, but due to my previous history I didn't see it as a problem.

I have now had the Hamster for 4 days and she is so shy, she is startled at any noise, I tried to get her out and she was squeaking very loudly and clearly distressed. I left her alone but no matter how much time I take to it near the cage she is very scared.

I called the shop and they said to change the cage. I currently have a three level one with tubes and the lot. The problem is I cannot get her out of it without the whole thing falling apart. There is no access to her what so ever. So I have bought a very basic cage. The question is should I move her? I know they need their space and get used to the cage but I can't see how it is going to work as she won't go near me. With the basic cage I am hoping she gets used to us being around then over time move her back to the bigger cage.

Any help and advise would be appreciated. I just want to do what is best for her but no idea how I am going to be able to handle her to clean the cage or anything.

Thank you
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Old 12-17-2016, 07:53 AM   #2
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

I think in this case you do need to move her to a small basic set up till you get her tamed. She will only be a small baby just now and ideally the cage should be fairly enclosed but easily accessable for you to tame her from. Something like a these would be perfect to tame a baby syrian from http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...c-hamster-home
Many people will disagree with me on this but at this stage the size of the cage must be smaller so she can become secure and settled before you upgrade. I would go with the tank type and not a barred cage. The cage she is in now does not sound suitable and she may escape from that. Tubes are a no no for nervous hammies as trying to getthem out causes them even more stress.
Only upgrade when you feel she is full settled and tame.
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Old 12-17-2016, 10:35 AM   #3
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

I agree with Souffle. Since she is nervous, that will be fine as a temporary cage until she feels settled, as long as you can fit the essentials in. Her current cage doesn't sound suitable for a hamster. Let her settle in for a little longer since it's only a few days. I would say try and move her into the cage Souffle suggested in 2-3 days time.

Having a smaller cage will really help with taming. They will want to come out of the cage more. My hamster, Larry-Jasper, was already quite tame because he was from a breeder, but he went straight into a smaller cage than his main cage and it really helped with taming him.
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Old 12-17-2016, 12:38 PM   #4
Jessicad
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

Thank you for your messages.

It really put my mind at rest knowing people are there to help so thank you!

I bought this cage today (I can't post the link). It's on wilko.com small hamster cage. Is this suitable or do you think the pets at home one is best?

The the best plan of action is to leave her for another couple of days and then transfer her to the smaller cage? Do you think putting her in a ball to get her out is the best option?

This is the cage she is currently in: lazy bones three storey cage

I'm so worried she won't be able to be tamed as last time is was so easy. Hopefully once she is in the right cage it will get easier.

Thanks
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Old 12-17-2016, 12:50 PM   #5
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

The link to your new cage isn't working so I can't see it but if it's just a basic cage with no tubes or levels then I would just move her in straight away tbh, the sooner you get her out of her current unsuitable cage the quicker she will settle in properly, leaving her in her current cage is only going to continue to stress both of you really.
Don't worry about her being untameable, some hams do take longer than others but she will get there.
Do the tissue trick (put some toilet tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then put that in the cage & repeat that daily for a while so she can get used to your scent & learn it's nothing threatening.
For a day or two just talk to her quietly while she settles in then once she's calmed down a bit try offering her a treat of some kind but take your time, don't rush her & just go at her pace. She'll probably feel a lot more secure & calm in a better cage & things should go a lot better.
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Old 12-17-2016, 01:04 PM   #6
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

When the time does come to upgrade zooplus sell some lovely cages, the alaska and the barney being two favourites on here.
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Old 12-17-2016, 02:05 PM   #7
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

The cages on the wilco site look too small. I would get a refund on the cage you bought and get a different one from zoo plus.

One level cage is best with a big floor space is better than tall cages with levels. As you have a Syrian your cage needs to fit a 10 - 12 inch wheel in as well a a good depth of substrate.

To help taming put plain toilet tissue up your sleeve for a few hours to get your scent on it. Then remove it, tear it into strips and put them in the hamster's cage. It helps your hamster get used to your scent and makes you less threatening.
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Old 12-17-2016, 03:00 PM   #8
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

Four days is early days and they do need some time to settle in, but I agree with the others that the current cage sounds a bit of an issue. Three tiers will be quite tall presumably and they are better with lower, wider cages, to avoid fall risks and to be able to have normal behaviours - eg a house that is open underneath on the floor of the cage on top of the substrate - this will help her feel more secure as she can burrow down and hoard in her house. An upturned shoe box is a good size, with a hole cut in for a door. So she has somewhere dark and safe to retreat to and can nest and hoard in there. Also it helps if the wheel is at floor level and some kind of shelf to sit under - but not too much height or open space above. So a wider lower cage would be best. I looked at your link and typed small hamster cage into the search box. I'm guessing it was one of the first three - none of which would be good - so I'd take that back and get a refund and get something else.

Things have changed a lot with the hamster world and new things come along all the time So deep enough substrate is one thing that can help (minimum 3 to 4" but as much as you can give). Avoid cage cleaning regularly. Deeper substrate helps with this as you can spot clean mainly and only do "big" cleans much less often - and even then a partial clean helps them feel less stressed as it still smells familiar.

For now - until you get another cage sorted, I would try having house wheel, food bowl, water bottle and toys at floor level and as much substrate as you can fit in. So she can have everything she needs at hand near her house (it helps if the house is dark inside - you could put a tube or bendy bridge over the door) and not have to venture too far. Also try scatter feeding a bit - this might distract her (they like finding food!). So put half the hamster mix in her bowl and scatter the other half around the floor of the cage.

As for what cage to move her to - that's a tricky one. As Souffle suggests you could put her in something small to help her feel secure and then upgrade her - but that means buying two cages eventually. Another option might be to buy something that isn't too tall or too large, but is something that is a good size for a Syrian long term, saving on upgrading costs later - I'm thinking of the Hamster Heaven really. It's only 36cm tall inside and most hamsters seem to like it! It comes ready to go although most people end up removing a lot of the plastic shelves and houses and so on at some point and setting it up differently. But to start with it's not a bad option the way it comes (although I would remove the tubes and penthouse and block of the tube holes.

It's not a bad price on Zooplus (cheaper than everywhere else)

Annoyingly Zooplus aren't listing it at the moment!

A similar option is the Grosvenor Rat and Hamster cage. It's a little bit smaller than the hamster heaven, same low-ish height and comes with a good shelf. But is also big enough for a permanent cage (unless she grows huge!).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Frie...d+hamster+cage

On the other hand - it doesn't have to be expensive to upgrade - the small cage souffle linked is about £25 I think, and the Alaska cage at Zooplus is about £33 - totalling £58 so it could work out as cheap as buying a £50 to £60 cage like the Hamster heaven.

For now I would leave her alone for another few days - try and put food and water out when she's asleep and don't clean the cage for at least the next two weeks - just take the odd handful of wee'd on substrate out in maybe 5 or 6 days time, replace it with a clean handful and mix it in a bit. And have things at floor level. And lots and lots of bedding/nesting material and substrate so she can build a big cosy nest and feel secure. Plain white toilet paper torn into strips is the best - put a huge pile of it somewhere in the cage and let her pouch it and take it to where she wants to nest.

When you do move her, keep all the substrate and put it in the new cage on top of some new substrate, so it smells familiar, and try and put house wheel, toys etc in a similar/same layout to help her adjust to the change.
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Old 12-17-2016, 04:09 PM   #9
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

I've often thought for a young hamster to have to adjust to leaving their mother, then their siblings as well as having to adjust to leaving the relatively small enclosures of pet stores to be put into a larger cage on their own within a relatively short space of time can be pretty overwhelming and in your situation, I'd agree with Soufflé that a smaller and more basic set up could be beneficial.

I think that I might have seen the three tier cage that you have in a pet shop once and I agree, it's probably going to make taming more difficult. I would go with something like Soufflé has suggested - you can often find them at reasonable prices secondhand on eBay and the like and then you can upgrade at a later date. Even a Syrian at this young age is not likely to need a huge wheel and an 8" wheel is likely to be fine to start with unless your hamster is particularly large.
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Old 12-18-2016, 07:35 PM   #10
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Default Re: Please Help! New Hamster!

If you bought the Savic Small Animal Julie Double Hamster Cage (£15) or Rotastak Natro 200 (£34.99) then I would say keep it, as neither look to be awful cages. The Savic one would probably be better, as Savic are known for making some of the better hamster cages (Hamster Heaven and Knockdown Plaza). This option is only if you already bought either of those cages, otherwise read on.

Otherwise, go with the cage Souffle suggested. An enclosed tank may make her feel more secure and there won't be a risk or bar chewing, but a barred cage would be better for interaction.

This cage is another option as a temporary cage. I own both the small and large in turquoise. The large would be better for longer and can be kept as a travel cage for afterwards. It may also be a smaller jump for her as she is already used to the space but on three levels. I ended up binning the wheel and level, but kept the tubes, house, bottle and bowl. The house would be too small for a Syrian.

The smaller cage would be ideal for short trips (to vet etc). I only have it because my hamster is a dwarf and can fit all his things in it.
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