Please help! I’m worried my new hamster is dead!

[Daniellealicek]

Hey guys, I’m new here and getting myself worked up!

I got my female Syrian hamster on Sunday (approx 6 weeks old), she lives in a 500 square inch tank with 2 sand baths, a large section to burrow, a large wheel and various hide out spots. Since day one she has loved it, and each day I’ve slightly tailored the tank when she’s asleep based on what I’ve learnt she likes the most. I haven’t had a hamster since I was a child but I’ve fallen in love and tried to give her everything she needs based on my research and her response to her tank, and so far she’s seemed really happy.

I haven’t overwhelmed her with attempting to tame her yet as I read she needs a couple of weeks to adjust, but she has been taking food out of my hand and I think she must of been handled prior to owning her.

Every night she’s been getting up anywhere between 9pm and 11pm, and I wait up to see her so I can interact and she’s usually awake for a while when I get up on a morning. Tonight I came home at about 10pm and she wasn’t up yet, I waited and waited but she still hasn’t made an appearance (it’s currently about 3:20am). I can usually hear where she is in the tank because she makes snoring noises every so often or rustles around, but I haven’t heard a thing since I got home.

I’m really worried as so far this is really unusual, and I can’t sleep until I know she’s okay but I don’t want to dig around trying to find her if she’s absolutely fine, as this might make her scared and create trust issues. What should I do? I’m so worried

Thanks guys ❤️

[Ithuviel]

Hmm i would dig around for the hamster this evening....don't worry she will forget anyway. i hope she is fine.

[Pebbles82]

I'm sure she's fine. It is quite common not to see them for a few days! And especially when the weather is cold and they stay snug in their nest. The way to tell if she's ok is the veg test! Assume you give her a bit of fresh veg every day (it's a good idea) - just a tiny bit the size of your thumbnail. eg a tiny broccoli floret or a small cube of cucumber. If the fresh veg is gone in the morning they're fine They can't resist it. I put it in a different place to the regular food bowl and sometimes on the far side of the cage from the house on a separate dish - so they have to get a bit of exercise/use the cage to get it each day.

The other test you can do is put a bit of substrate on the hamster wheel before you go to bed. If it's gone every morning she's used the wheel.

If you're worried though you could try tempting her out in a tube - put it over the house door and put a smelly treat in the far end - eg a piece of cucumber or cheese - that should make her investigate and come out.

[Ithuviel]

So how is the hamster? Is everything ok?

[Celestial]

I hope your hamster is ok!

[Pebbles82]

Yes do let us know. I hope she hasn’t escaped either!