Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Behaviour

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-24-2017, 02:11 AM   #1
Euan
Newborn Pup
 
Euan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 38
Post Sitting in the corner after clean out

Hi all,

I've had my Winter White (potentially crossed with a Campbell), for about three months. I cleaned his cage out last night using all the same cleaning spray, substrate bedding and putting his cage back in exactly the same way it was and always has been; after which he just sat in the corner stock still for about 10 minutes. Initially thought he was going to the loo but that wouldn't last that long so I offered him a sunflower seed and he started moving about again as normal. Then I can back 10 minutes later I came back and found him sat again, this time in the corner behind his hut and I just left him in peace and he stayed there for a good half hour.

We just left him to it and this morning I assume he's in his hut as I can't see him and there's no way he could have escaped.

Is sitting still in a corner for prolonged periods normal behaviors or an indication of something more serious?
Euan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2017, 02:23 AM   #2
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Sitting in the corner after clean out

It's possible he sensed something, a sound, scent or something that disturbed him & caused him to freeze or he may have been trying to get his bearings again after the cage clean.
See how he is when he comes back out & keep a close eye out for any changes in behaviour or signs of illness just in case there is something wrong.
You don't need to do full cage cleans or use any cleaning sprays, they depend on their own scent in the cage to find their way around & feel at home.
It's best just to spot clean any damp areas daily if he's not using a litter tray then just do partial cleans every few weeks, depending on the size of cage maybe half or a third of the cage at any one time, if cleaning the nest area always put back some of the old nest material & leave the food hoard or replace it with some fresh mix.
If you do complete cleans, use sprays (a damp paper towel is fine to wipe things down if need be) or clean too often it's really stressful for them.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2017, 02:34 AM   #3
Euan
Newborn Pup
 
Euan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 38
Default Re: Sitting in the corner after clean out

That makes sense, I'm just reverting back to what I was told to do by my parents many moons ago when I had hamsters before.

I'll try that next time I come to clean him out and just pull out his toilet areas and then leave some of his nesting material behind.

Thanks again Cypher!
Euan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2017, 02:05 PM   #4
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Sitting in the corner after clean out

They can look quite shocked after a cage clean The first time I cleaned out our hamster's nest because it was pee soaked I saw him happily bouncing up to his house and then stop dead still with a look of shock horror. I felt terrible.

As Cypher says, best to do "partial" cleans and mainly just spot clean. You don't need disinfectant unless there has been illness or disease - just a warm damp cloth or soapy water (like washing up liquid water). I tend to spot clean (the deeper the substrate is, the easier this is as the bottom half tends to stay dry). Then every 2 or 3 months change the substrate and replace half of it (the dry half and mix in the old with the new. Then do toys another week (if they need it - often toys don't need cleaning very often) and the wheel a different week again. In between you can just give the wheel a bit of a wipe inside with a cloth if it gets pee'd in rather than a full wash. It's best not to remove their nest. It's their number one most important thing - that and their hoards. If those go they feel invaded and robbed and start doing weird things like peeing on their hoard to stop people stealing it! If the nest is pee'd in you'll have to remove it, but try and put some dry bits back even if they're slightly whiffy, then just put loads of new torn up strips of white toilet paper out so your hammy can rebuild the nest. You can leave dry food hoards unless they are pee'd on. If you have to remove some then replace it with new food in exactly the same place.

Not sure if you have a litter tray but they tend to use one if you put one in the place they normally pee. Just say sorry for the clean out and hide a few treats in the cage and I'm sure he'll forget about it soon
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
corner, back, left, sitting, sat, cage, minutes, hut, normal, stayed, peace, time, found, assume, behaviors, periods, prolonged, indication, serious, escaped, morning, hour, half, good, thought

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:41 PM.