Help, overnight hamster personality change =/!

smallfuzzything · 11-06-2009, 10:08 AM

Hi, I've had my syrian hamster Boris for 2 days now, he was really curious and bold in the pet store and when I got him back to my parents'. I brought him to my bf's apartment on thursday night, and he wasn't fazed at all by the long car journey and was being really docile before and after, climbing onto my hands, letting me pick him up gently, etc. But since thurs night I haven't seen him. He is asleep from when my bf gets up at 7.30am to when we go to bed about midnight or a bit after. My bf even checked him friday cos he was so worried he might have died! Just now I gently woke him up so I could add some more woodshavings to his tank, and he was nervous, extremely squeaky, and when I took the top off his nest box, he came out for about 2 mins then went back in, threw some bedding over his head and stared up at me squealing until I replaced the lid

I noticed right away he isn't properly opening one of his eyes,so I thought he may have poked it with something and is feeling a bit poorly... I'm just worried because before today he seemed super relaxed and happy to sit on my hand. Do you think he is just a bit overwhelmed from all the travelling he has done in 3 days and a big change of scenery? Or is he feeling ill and should I be more worried about his eye?? Also can anyone suggest good ways to ease his bodyclock into waking him up in the evening so me and the boy can interact with him and tame him properly? He's too cute not to! I know thats a lot to read and answer, I've never kept a hamster before and I don't want to go about anything in the wrong way. Any help is much appreciated!

souffle · 11-06-2009, 10:34 AM

I would say he is unwell and you need to see a vet with him. The most likely problem is wet tail so you must check his botty. I know it his hard to disturb him when he just wants to stay in but he is doing this because he feels poorly. The sticky eyes are a clasic symptom of illness. It is very hard to pull a ham through wet tail I have to warn you and if he has this he must have antibiotics and quite intensive nursing.
A baby hamster moving home is very very prone to getting it as the stress can make it come on. That is why it is very important to make the move as quiet and stress free as possible.
I hope you can get him seen and he improves soon but you must check him right now.

souffle · 11-06-2009, 10:55 AM

Have you managed to check him yet sfuzzyt?

smallfuzzything · 11-06-2009, 11:10 AM

Yes, he isn't squealing now and looks fine apart from the sticky eye - no wet tail at all thank god. I read on another board that hamsters can just get a goopy eye and you should cleanse it gently with a cotton bud? He doesnt look like theres anything wrong physically but I realise he might well be stressed from the move.

souffle · 11-06-2009, 11:59 AM

Thank goodness he seems OK. They can get eye infections or allergies if the bedding is dusty. If it keeps getting sticky/shut he may need some eye drops. Keep things very calm and stress free for him.

smallfuzzything · 11-06-2009, 12:24 PM

Whew he seems totally fine now, I dabbed a bit of water onto his eye area using a cotton bud, and it fully opened a few minutes later

it looks clean and bright so I think it's healthy. He's been in the taming tub, climbing on my hands and wrists and getting to know my bf quite happily. I was really scared for a while there!

suga · 11-06-2009, 12:44 PM

Phew - glad the little one is better now.

souffle · 11-07-2009, 03:01 AM

Very glad to hear he is OK

He must have been scared with the move. Sounds like the taming is going well too.