Odd behaviour after escaping

Peanutsfamily · 02-20-2019, 07:26 AM

Hi, our little girl peanut escaped on Sunday night, she is a 16 month old Syrian. We found her Monday afternoon, I shouted her name and shook her food bowl and out from under a cupboard she came. She had travelled through four rooms and I expect did allot of running so I put her straight to water which she went crazy for, biting the spout and trying to get as much as possible, she then ate a carrot. Yesterday, Tuesday Peanut seemed fine, she is very tame and is bonded with my eldest daughter, she sits with her peacefully enjoying being petted especially behind the ears but today Wednesday my daughter thought she had died, as she wasn't sleeping in her usual spot and apparently did some jerks like hiccuping. However when we picked her up she was very unsettled even with my daughter she wouldn't stay still and quite flighty so clearly stressed. I gave her a carrot which she loves and normally eats but she pouched it. I don't know what has caused this change. I'm meant to be cleaning her out today but instead we have left her to sleep in case she's just exhausted and ill watch her behaviour later tonight when she's awake, if it's still strange I'll take her to the vet in the morning. But I just wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar? Thanks. Oh I should say the cage she escaped from was on the floor so she's dropped down.

Pebbles82 · 02-20-2019, 12:22 PM

Does she seem to be moving normally - ie walking around ok and no sign of injury? If no sign of injury she is probably just getting over the stress. Just keep an eye on her. I wouldn't do a cage clean now. They can have strange behaviour after a stressful experience so unless she really seems ill or injuredit would be best just to let her settle.

Not sure if you're aware but it's not necessary to clean them out every week and best not to really. Pet shops advise that still but it's old advice. They do better to have more substrate in and just "spot cleaning" mostly. You can easily go 6 to 8weeks with just spot cleaning, and even then best not to clean everythign at the same time and do a "partial clean". Eg change half the substrate, replacing the clean dry half and mixing it in so it still smells familiar (they scent mark their cages). And don't clean anything else at the same time. Then do the wheel a different week and any toys etc a different week again or as and when needed. Toys often don't need cleaning that often. Also best to leave her nest and hoard alone unless pee'd on. I "prune" the hoard after a couple of months but always leave some of the original hoard behind and if you have to remove it, add new food in exactly the same place to replace it.

Hammyloui · 02-20-2019, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Does she seem to be moving normally - ie walking around ok and no sign of injury? If no sign of injury she is probably just getting over the stress. Just keep an eye on her. I wouldn't do a cage clean now. They can have strange behaviour after a stressful experience so unless she really seems ill or injuredit would be best just to let her settle.

Not sure if you're aware but it's not necessary to clean them out every week and best not to really. Pet shops advise that still but it's old advice. They do better to have more substrate in and just "spot cleaning" mostly. You can easily go 6 to 8weeks with just spot cleaning, and even then best not to clean everythign at the same time and do a "partial clean". Eg change half the substrate, replacing the clean dry half and mixing it in so it still smells familiar (they scent mark their cages). And don't clean anything else at the same time. Then do the wheel a different week and any toys etc a different week again or as and when needed. Toys often don't need cleaning that often. Also best to leave her nest and hoard alone unless pee'd on. I "prune" the hoard after a couple of months but always leave some of the original hoard behind and if you have to remove it, add new food in exactly the same place to replace it.

Just check on her drinking and eating habit , and as previously said as long as she has no physical injuries or isn't seeming in pain i would leave her alone as she's most likely just exhausted and stressed x

Peanutsfamily · 02-25-2019, 01:05 PM

Thank you so much for your replies and for the really good advise, I'm happy to report that it was just delayed exhaustion, Peanut is back to her usual self, eating well and happy. We are all so relieved I was really panicking there for a moment.

SyrianHammie · 02-26-2019, 04:35 AM

Just reading this and so happy to hear that it was just delayed exhaustion and stress for the adventurous little Hammie. Glad she's back to her usual behaviours!