Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Behaviour

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-20-2021, 08:36 AM   #1
Missposition
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4
Post Shy hamster worries from a beginner

Hi HC! I'm a long-time lurker, first-time poster hammy owner. I finally decided to make an account to get some advice/reassurance/guidance about my buddy.
Apologies in advance for the long post, just trying to include as much info as possible, but:

Tl;dr - my hamster doesn't come out when we're in the room, and won't play with toys in playpen. Is he just shy or am I doing something wrong?

Details
So, I own a male Syrian hamster (Meeko), estimated 3 months old (bought from a pet store in the UK in Jan, so age is roughly estimated from then) who I got in January.
As a first-time owner, I followed all the guidance I read here and on other forums, so we didn't disturb him for the first week, made sure his cage was the right size (and replaced the god-awful wheel with the right sized one too!), used appropriate bedding and gave him plenty of places to hide and toys to chew/play with. I'm still learning but this and many other forums are my go-to for checking I'm on the right track with things!

Meeko seems to be doing really well, but as of today he's still very shy. He's happy to come onto my hand (which I'm aware is a total win compared to some hammies!) and isn't scared of us seemingly, but he has a complete aversion to coming out of his hideaway (bottomless edible hut style) while we're in the room - even if it's 1-2am and the room is dimly lit. He'll come out and play when the room is dark and we're not in it, any time from 11pm onwards, because we hear him running and foraging, so I know he's happy to be out in the space. I've also strategically placed food in his hammock etc., which is always retrieved, so I know he has the ability to explore the whole cage happily. It's just that when we're around, we simply don't see him unless I coerce him out with a treat - I do this to put him in his playpen and do a visual healthcheck every few days.

On that note, his playpen - he'll do all he can to chew the corners or burrow under the blanket base, but doesn't want to actively play or interact with anything in it.

So I guess my question is, is Meeko simply shy and doing okay, or should I be doing more to make him feel more confident to come out of his hide? If he's simply just a sweet, shy soul, then I'll happily sacrifice my selfish desire to see him! I just want to make sure he's doing okay and that I'm not doing anything wrong.
Missposition is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2021, 02:40 AM   #2
Dodo
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 121
Default Re: Shy hamster worries from a beginner

Hi there! Am I getting this right: he doesn't come out if you're in the room but comes on your hand and lets you handle him if you offer him a treat?
If I understood that correctly, I would say yes it seems like your hamster is quite shy, but seems to be doing well... Have you tried replacing playpen activities with bathtub bonding sessions? Maybe if he comes on your hand you can take him to the bathtub and let him run on your legs a few minutes? It is frustrating of course to never see him going on in his cage, but I can't think of anything to do to improve that. Maybe he just needs more time. Maybe you can cheat by buying a red light. Apparently hamsters don't see the difference between red light and obscurity; or buying a pet camera so you can see what he's doing from another room.
I also got my male Syrian from a pet store in January, and he is also impossibly shy, but differently from yours: now he's happy to go about in his enclosure when we're around, and actually likes to come out, but still shies away from my hands, so I have to use his little carrier to take him anywhere! Good luck with yours, you've only had him 2 months, so there is still plenty of time of him to come out of his shell more. Keep us posted
Dodo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2021, 04:24 AM   #3
Missposition
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4
Smile Re: Shy hamster worries from a beginner

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodo View Post
Hi there! Am I getting this right: he doesn't come out if you're in the room but comes on your hand and lets you handle him if you offer him a treat?
If I understood that correctly, I would say yes it seems like your hamster is quite shy, but seems to be doing well... Have you tried replacing playpen activities with bathtub bonding sessions? Maybe if he comes on your hand you can take him to the bathtub and let him run on your legs a few minutes? It is frustrating of course to never see him going on in his cage, but I can't think of anything to do to improve that. Maybe he just needs more time. Maybe you can cheat by buying a red light. Apparently hamsters don't see the difference between red light and obscurity; or buying a pet camera so you can see what he's doing from another room.
I also got my male Syrian from a pet store in January, and he is also impossibly shy, but differently from yours: now he's happy to go about in his enclosure when we're around, and actually likes to come out, but still shies away from my hands, so I have to use his little carrier to take him anywhere! Good luck with yours, you've only had him 2 months, so there is still plenty of time of him to come out of his shell more. Keep us posted
Hey Dodo, thanks so much for this! Yes, basically he doesn't much like coming out of his hide while we're in the room, but will come out if tempted with food (it's almost as though he can't find his way out unless we tempt him out!). He does happily run over my hands in his playpen, though, when he's not trying to burrow out of it.

Unfortunately I don't have a bathtub, so I can't try that, but I have used a blanket on my couch to let him run around my lap a bit. He's speedy but I worry that'll stress him if I do it too much!

As for a pet camera, I was just discussing this with my partner! I think it might be a good way to check he's doing okay without having to disturb him too much, so may be my next investment.

Thank you so much for your reply, though - it's reassured me that at least hopefully something isn't wrong with him health wise!
Missposition is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2021, 06:37 AM   #4
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Shy hamster worries from a beginner

I'd also go with bonding/taming sessions rather than putting him in the playpen.
It can take a while to get to know a hamster and to find out what they like and respond to. Some are more forthcoming than others.

You aren't doing anything wrong, in fact, i think that you are a very caring hamster owner and sensitive to your hamster's needs.

A lot depends on the hamster's personality.
Some are sociable with humans and seek out our company and others see us as a food supplier and taxi service to be called upon as and when required.

Our late Henry, a male Syrian, was very tame but preferred his own company. He'd ask to come out of his cage maybe once a week or even less to free roam and strip wallpaper. He didn't like us watching him while in his cage so often waited till we had gone to bed and the lights were out before he came out to do his hamster stuff. When i came down in the middle of the night and see him running on his wheel, he'd stop and stare at me, waiting and willing me to go away. If i didn't he would stomp off into his house. He'd happily come out every morning when called because he liked to share our breakfast but everything had to happen on his terms and his terms only. I still miss him.

Male Syrian Rodney who inherited Henry's Alaska is totally different. He doesn't care who is watching him and by 18.00 every day he is standing by his front door asking to be let out to free roam.

Both i tamed myself by letting them run and sniff around on my lap while i sat in a hamster proof area keeping sessions short at first. I moved on to light touch and stroking, then did pick up exercises until i was able to handle them.
I let them walk into a mug to transport them in and out of their cage. A hamster ball is a good and safe means of transport but that's the one and only use it's good for.
Their reward after the taming session was freedom and a few seeds while they were on my lap.
Rodney run off second session but with Henry i had to "stage" an escape to give him the idea of free roaming.
A playpen didn't work because he'd just sit and sulk.
None of ours liked a playpen but the hall with a blanket and toys like a spare wheel etc down works a treat. I close the doors and close off access to the stairs then sit down with whoever's turn it is to run around.
They use me as a climbing frame and run over my feet which us a good, fun way to get to know each other.

I don't think it matters where a hamster is from. Henry was from a pet shop and Rodney i rescued from a bad situation.
Ria P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2021, 11:47 AM   #5
Missposition
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4
Default Re: Shy hamster worries from a beginner

Hey RiaP. Thanks so much for such a detailed response - I’m sorry to hear about late Henry, but relieved to hear that he has very similar traits to Meeko.

I’ve done some bonding work with him already and he does seem to be quite happy around me, and doesn’t cower or seem afraid - I think perhaps you’re right, and he’s simply not interested in being stared at! Can’t say I blame him.

I’ll definitely give him some more space and follow some of this advice - thank you so much.
Missposition is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2021, 01:42 PM   #6
Missposition
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4
Default Re: Shy hamster worries from a beginner

Hi all!
Wanted to share an update (and another thank you!). We’ve decided to help muffle some of the daily noise and light that Meeko’s cage undergoes by shielding the top with a blanket, and that’s working wonders! He seems more comfortable to come out and explore, even when we’re downstairs with him.

I also covered half of his playpen with the blanket while he was in there - he much prefers it and plays quite happily now! I still need to continue bonding and working with him, but I’m so grateful for all the advice and reassurance here, so I wanted to share the solution for anyone with similar woes.

Thanks again crew!
Missposition is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
shy, room, make, playpen, simply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:30 AM.