Hamster sometimes bolts and runs away?

[rowan22]

Hi all

Got my syrian hamster around 3 months ago and shes coming on great. she took a little more time than usual because she was adopted, but now id say shes pretty much tame. she can be held, picked up, stroked and she will play without biting or acting afraid.
She's very fast, active and inquisitive when we take her out of her cage, because shes a young hamster. she doesn't ever appear afraid (maybe a little nervous sometimes if someone makes a loud noise), and I feel that if she was truly afraid of me then she would bite.
Usually she sleeps for like 22 hours a day, she always has, so to get her out and tame her its a case of waking her up by rustling the bedding in the cage and generally making a bit of noise.
Anyway, its just gone midnight where i am, and i usually wait until this time to wake her up... i went down to her cage and opened the lid, rustled the bedding and she came out. usually i let her climb onto the side of the tank and walk onto my hand from there, so as not to push her into doing anything she doesnt want to do. But tonight, she climbed up, and all of a sudden she jumped and bolted back to her nest, and no matter how much i tried to get her out she just refused to come out again. I even scattered food in her cage and she wasnt interested.
Is this scared behaviour? I didnt do anything different to what I usually do, so maybe she's just being grumpy.. it just seems strange but then again she is a fairly weird hamster lol.
Just wondered if this is something I should be worried about or if its normal?
Thanks!

[Ria P]

You didn't have a midnight feast of a sandwich which fresh onion and forgot to wash your hands? A smell could have put her off. My hamster hates my handcream.

[Shannonmcn]

Sounds like she just got spooked? I agree with Ria, it was probably just a strange smell since that's a thing she would notice but you maybe wouldn't. But they can pick up on sounds that we don't notice too.

Nothing to worry about imo, just watch that if you're carrying her in future that she can't bolt out of your hands or off your lap and fall. You can never predict when something might spook them.

[rowan22]

Having thought about it, I had just got back from work (in a bar) and i’d taken my makeup off with a wipe so the smell could’ve been bad from that - silly me. I’ll remember to wash my hands next time lol!! Thank you!