My new Robo is nowhere to be seen!

[Aising]

So I adopted the gorgeous little Roborovski lad Milo a week ago yesterday. He came from a great home where he had a Grosvenor cage all to himself. I moved him over into a Skyline tank, 700 square inches. The first day or so he was really curious about his new surroundings and explored all his new toys and used the dustbath and nibbled on his cuttlefish. But a couple of days ago I put this house in his tank and I've barely seen him since! He's ignoring the corner-fitting cabin that he originally came with. He comes back out of the new cabin occasionally to and drink and grab some food but other than that he spends all his time in the house. I'm a bit disappointed as I love to watch him exploring. I'm also a bit worried that maybe he is feeling overwhelmed?

He came with his own flying saucer and although it's in the tank I haven't seen him use it since he arrived.

Looking for reassurance, really! Is a week too soon to expect him to be settled in?

[dreamtree1234]

Aisling, I wouldn't be worried. As long as you see him coming out for drink and food, he is probably just fine. Sometimes hammies just need a little extra time to settle in to a new home. It hasn't been long, and I'm sure he is just thoroughly excited to have his new house and doing a little extra housekeeping, lol. I would just continue to talk to him even though he isn't out and about when you do so. Keep using the tissue trick, and he will probably gain extra confidence soon. He may be just a bit timid at the moment. Milo is sure adorable.

[AmityvilleHams]

I'd agree that it'll take time for settling,even with minor changes Even in the same house merely changing cages can make a hamster become unsettled,or something as simple as a bit of cleaning.

As a side note though,if the cuttlefish is cuttlefish bone I'd remove it as it would give the potential for dangerously imbalanced calcium which is not good.

[Aising]

I think it's cuttlefish bone so I'll remove it. Thanks to both of you for the reassurances.

[Thin Lizzy]

Sounds like Milo is just settling like the others said, talking so helps, even if you can't see him it can be soothing for them and the tissue trick is so good for them getting familiar with your scent. Hams also like to mark their home, rub themselves against their toys and home.

[CMB]

He could be enjoying the big house so much, he doesn't want to leave it.

[velma]

When I first got Hector, I put him in smaller tank to help get him tame, which I think helped. After a few weeks I upgraded him and unfortunately, he didn't settle in and was much as you describe - a day or two of scurrying around and then reclusive. But I gave him 3 weeks before I put him back in the smaller tank, as I feel it can take that sort of time to tell how they're doing. For Hector, where he's spent his time in the small tank in the adoption area, larger spaces were too overwhelming. So a week is still very early days. You just need to be patient - which is always the hardest part when you bring a new furry friend home! Give it a few more weeks and your little robo will tell you how he feels. Plenty of tubes and cover help a lot so it doesn't feel too vast in there. If he feels safe in his house, I'm sure he'll get to a point where he feels brave enough to come out and make friends.

[Aising]

Thanks Velma. I don't even mind that much about taming - just want the wee little scrap to be happy.

[Aising]

Milo burrowed his way from one end of the tank to the other this morning. I think he's getting braver but is still shy. I'm going to put some old ferplast tubing under the substrate and see if he'll use those.

[CMB]

I think he will like the buried tubing. Hopefully he will get braver and you will see him more often.