Hamster walks around on tummy always, but otherwise seems unharmed. is this normal?

[Aaawhyme]

hey guys!



I need advice on my hamster (Honey)'s odd behavior. I've had my Syrian hamster for about 2ish/3ish months now. She's fairly young and has started to warm up to me I think, but I'm not sure? I take her out of her pen every day and pamper her lots, but I've noticed odd behavior that's different than how she's been up until now. Which is usually 'exploring everywhere she can when she's out of the pen.'



For the past few weeks she has been super slow and just sits there when I take her out of the pen, and she always walks with her tummy touching the ground. i'll put her in her ball (which she normally runs around everywhere) and she'll just sit there and barely move. I'll sit her on the desk and she'll barely go anywhere and just flatten out like a little pod on the desk and can remain there until decide to move her. she's pretty docile all of a sudden.- for the past two weeks or so.



she's usually go go go, and the past few weeks shes just been content sitting wherever i put her. when i poke around her to see if she's in pain or something, she's doesn't appear to have any signs of distress and otherwise seems perfectly happy.



I've read that hamsters that move on their stomach are very scared or something, but this doesn't seem to be the case with her, at least from what I can tell!

Does anyone know what this might be?



- another thing, I've read if she is too cold she might go into hibernation but my place is not cold at all, if anything it's fairly warm (but not too warm either)!



Is she just really chill towards me now? if thats the case, the behavior happened so abruptly one day, so did she just have an epiphany one day where she decided she's cool just sitting with me and decided she's explored enough?



or could this be something else? she honestly doesn't appear ill, and she's been eating and pooping normally!

also, nothing has change around the home, no new pets, no new furniture, no new food mix, etc.

any insight on this behavior would be much appreciated!

[souffle]

We call this 'the pancake creep' It's quite common in hammies who have had a little fright at something and become wary of being out. It's sometimes a phase they go through at a certain age too. I'd avoid the ball for now. They can get a scare if they bang in to something so lots of gentle handling is best just now. I would also be careful not to swoop down on her and as this can scare them when the see a large person looming over them. Something like fireworks can also scare them. Keep handling and be consistent and secure in holding her and I'm sure she will come round again. She's a pretty girl and looks like a long haired red eyed cream satin!

[BubbyandHamper]

Aaawhyme yeah this is just your ham being careful and all. She's fine.

souffle I kinda wanna learn more about this 'pancake creep' are there any other threads on it?

[souffle]

I don't think there other other threads. It's just an observation Bubby where they go flat like a pancake and creep along slowly at times!

[Sasha04]

Like the other member have said, it’s normal! Souffle gave great advice. I didn’t know it was called ‘the pancake creep’, it describes it perfectly!

[Aaawhyme]

thanks so much for the info, guys! I really appreciate, and it's eased my mind a little!