New to hamster-ing!

Bumblebug · 04-23-2018, 05:25 AM

This is our first hamster. We bought him as a baby and we've had him for just over two weeks. He is SUPER grumpy! We've followed all the advice about leaving him to settle, he's in a quiet-ish room, in a big cage. I don't know what to do about him. He's bitten and drawn blood from my daughter twice, when she was stroking him. He won't come to us to be picked up, even with treats. I thought he'd be a bit happier by now, but when I go in to see him when he's active in the evening he squeaks at me, chatters his teeth, and runs and hides in his tunnel. He just seems miserable and unhappy with us, I'm wondering if we've made a big mistake getting him? We've got other pets, so we're in for the long term commitment, but I'm wondering if he'd be happier elsewhere. What can I do to cheer him up?

Amethyst_ice · 04-23-2018, 05:42 AM

Hello and welcome to HC.

Sorry to hear you are having a bit of a rocky start!

Why do you think he would be happier elsewhere and not behave the same? All animals take time..some longer than others.

A few things may be able to help us give some tips though. What kind of hamster is he? What cage is he in? I see you put he runs into his tubes..tubes can hinder the taming process as they are safe places for the hamster. The goal is to let the hammy learn that you are safe. It sounds like he is a bit scared and defensive at the moment. Does he bit outside the cage or just inside? Some hamsters can be defensive inside the cage but perfectly fine outside x

Bumblebug · 04-23-2018, 05:58 AM

Thank you for your reply

He's a Syrian, and he's in one of these (30 x 38 x 59cm) - the large size with the tube at the back. ((It won't let me put the URL but it's the large Pets At Home hamster cage))

It hadn't actually occurred to me he might be miserable elsewhere, I'm just assuming it's something we're doing wrong!

He doesn't come anywhere near us in his cage, so he's not bitten in there. We've got a wire play pen for him which I put his house in when I'm cleaning the poo out of his cage (I've been spot cleaning every 1-2 days, and fully cleaning once a week, and putting some of the stinky stuff back in with the new stuff). He'll come out of his house while I'm doing that, and that's where he bites.

Yesterday he completely froze and didn't move for ages, and he let me pick him up and put him back in the cage, but he literally seemed petrified.

cypher · 04-23-2018, 06:03 AM

Sorry to hear things aren't going so well but don't be too despondent just yet, it's still early days & it can take time to get things right especially with your first ham.
Can you upload a photo of your cage? If you can then we might be able to make suggestions for any changes to your set up, toys, house, wheel etc that might help.
I would spend a lot of time just talking to him gently & quietly, I find this can help the more nervous ones get used to your presence & stop seeing you as so much of a threat, it can help if you leave a treat when you walk away too so he can begin to make the association between you & good things.
Have you tried the tissue trick to get him used to your scent? Put some plain white toilet tissue up your sleeve for a while then shred it up a bit & put it into the cage, you can do that daily for a while if need be, sometimes they use it for nesting but if not it doesn't really matter it will still help.
It maybe that you began with stroking a bit too soon, I would begin by just putting a hand just inside the cage with a treat & wait for him to come to you for now, don't move your hand at all, it may take several attempts so be patient.
Taming can be easier out of the cage & they are often less inclined to bite, you will need a secure playpen or safe area, some people use the bath with a towel in the bottom (plug in!) with some toys for him to explore then you can slowly introduce your hand & let him get used to you that way.

Bumblebug · 04-23-2018, 06:18 AM

Thank you Cypher.

I haven't tried the scent thing, maybe that's the next step then.

His cage has a house/bed that he always sleeps in (and wees/poos in/stores food in!), a freestanding wheel which he uses for hours every night, a couple of chew toys which he ignores, and a cardboard tube which he hasn't touched. When we put him in the playpen he has a wooden box with some holes, which he likes going and out of, and we put the wheel in there for him to play on too.

hellobg · 04-23-2018, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumblebug

Thank you Cypher.

I haven't tried the scent thing, maybe that's the next step then.

His cage has a house/bed that he always sleeps in (and wees/poos in/stores food in!), a freestanding wheel which he uses for hours every night, a couple of chew toys which he ignores, and a cardboard tube which he hasn't touched. When we put him in the playpen he has a wooden box with some holes, which he likes going and out of, and we put the wheel in there for him to play on too.

Perhaps a picture of the cage may be great. We might be able to see some problems.

Razor · 04-23-2018, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumblebug

Thank you for your reply

He's a Syrian, and he's in one of these (30 x 38 x 59cm) - the large size with the tube at the back. ((It won't let me put the URL but it's the large Pets At Home hamster cage))

It hadn't actually occurred to me he might be miserable elsewhere, I'm just assuming it's something we're doing wrong!

He doesn't come anywhere near us in his cage, so he's not bitten in there. We've got a wire play pen for him which I put his house in when I'm cleaning the poo out of his cage (I've been spot cleaning every 1-2 days, and fully cleaning once a week, and putting some of the stinky stuff back in with the new stuff). He'll come out of his house while I'm doing that, and that's where he bites.

Yesterday he completely froze and didn't move for ages, and he let me pick him up and put him back in the cage, but he literally seemed petrified.

Don't worry about the poo. Hamster usually eat it to recover the vitamins out of it. It's usually dried and doesn't smell. What you need to worry about is the pee. He will probably be using a corner to pee in. Place a sand bath or a corner toilet there and place some of the soiled bedding into it. He'll get the cue and use it as a toilet soon.
Cage cleans are stressful for hamsters (which you might notice is when he tends to bite). I wouldn't recommend a weekly full clean out. If you have provided sufficient substrate, and just clean out the peed bits, you can easily run the the same bedding for 2-3 months. Full clean outs tend to remove their scent completely from the cage, and almost makes them feel like they're in a new cage, and will take time to settle down again. So unless he pees in odd places, I'd spot clean every 2-3 days and full clean out over much longer periods of time. And try not to disturb his nest unless peed on. If you have to do so, make sure to place back some of the old bedding and his hoard in the exact same place, with a bit additional fresh food.
Also considering its early days with him around you, I'd go easy on the cleaning.

Bumblebug · 04-23-2018, 06:56 AM

Hope this works...

cypher · 04-23-2018, 07:13 AM

His cage does look rather small but that's not such a big problem for a starter cage when taming but it is very empty so you could definitely make some changes that would make him feel a lot safer & happier.
You need to completely fill the base with substrate, that might mean removing the shelf but I wouldn't worry about that.
He needs a house that's about shoe box size, a cardboard box with no base sat on the substrate & just a door cut out will do fine for now at least. You can give lots of shredded toilet tissue for him to make a nice nest.
I would bin the house you have on the shelf tbh, it's not big enough for a syrian.
Can you block the hole if you remove the tube? It doesn't really serve any purpose & is taking up space that could be used for toys etc & hiding in tubes can make interacting or getting them out really hard.
Do you know what size wheel you have? A young syrian will be ok with an 8" wheel but . he will probably need a bigger one when he's fully grown.
He could do with some toys, a whimzee dog chew toothbrush would be nice, they love those!
I'm not so good on syrian toys etc being a dwarf owner but someone else will be able to make suggestions I'm sure.
Hope that helps a bit.

Amethyst_ice · 04-23-2018, 07:28 AM

To add to what Cypher said...yes, not the best of cages but certainly not the worst! In terms of syrian toys, tbh I find the ones they use the most are the bendy wooden bridges! They can walk on top or go under and you can even place them on the side in a corner to make a wall for a deeper dig area. I also use mine as a ramp by the door to encourage them to meet me there and climb out. I have never reached into a cage to try catch a hammy in all my years of keeping tbh. I either fully take off the top of the cage or train them to come to the door and climb out (either to my hand, the surface or into a ball)

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...aysticks-small

This has also been popular with my lot and seems to be something they actually chew!

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...ed-play-bridge

The wicker tunnels I also find get chewed on and can be useful to lift the hammy out when they go inside.

Some hamsters like hammocks that you could hang. Just dont use towel as the threads can get twisted arond their limbs. Have a browse of the "show me your cages" thread for some ideas