Talkative hamster?

[Burakki]

I’ve had my Syrian boy since October and the last couple of weeks he suddenly got talkative. He often makes these weird quasi snorting quasi sneezing sounds, as if he’s trying to clean his nose, but it doesn’t seem like he’s ill or actually sneezing. He’s always been a bit skittish and shy, but he didn’t have any stresses lately and he seems to make these sounds without any scares. He easily climbs my hand and takes food from me, acting very tame. The sounds start out of nowhere, sometimes he would make them even while sleeping.

Did he just got talkative with age (he’s about 4 months now) or should I be concerned?

[MaryRobinson]

Funnily enough I had this with Dora about a month after I got her (when she was about 7 months). I inadvertently woke her up at midday by dropping something in 'her'(!) room, and she came out of her house and nearly gave me a heart attack by chirruping and snuffling! It's such a funny sound, isn't it! I was convinced she was choking but then she yawned and carried on chirping all the while, then she just went back to bed. I was horrified - silly me! - and did lots of googling, convinced she was ill.

Turns out girl Syrians often do it if they're on heat, often enough - and the few times since she's done it have been when she's feeling a bit, well, fruity, I think, because she is on heat! Likewise, not stressed or unhappy or bothered but quite chatty!

I couldn't find anything definitive out there about it but I'm fairly sure it's nothing to be alarmed about. I wonder whether anyone else has an idea about this?