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Old 07-28-2019, 11:33 AM   #1
Chunky_smalls
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1
Default HELP!! My hamster has lost interest in me ☹️

Hey

So I brought my first male Syrian hamster called Chunky Smallz back in April from pets at home. After lots of research before buying him I decided to get him a Ikea Detlof cage. My dad built a raised lid, a massive house onto, a tunnel and bedding box for him to burrow in. I later added x2 plastic bendy tube tunnels and a coconut house a extra few bendy bridges later on he also and a large hamsters wheel.

He has a sand bath which he loves and seems to be the only place he will dig!! He doesn’t seem to burrow and sits onto of his bedding in his house which he fills up to the top!!

The trouble is he never comes out of his house until me and my boyfriend have gone to bed. At first he used to come out at around 21:00-22:00 but now it’s at least 00:00-01:00.

He has never taken any treats from my hand and will maybe sniff them or have a nibble thinking they was food.

As he no longer comes out until we have left we have had to resort to taking the lid off his house and waking him up which is really mean but I have no other way of clearing his house out!! He has three rooms and he seems to use all three for toileting/ hoarding he has also blocked up the holes in the house so I have no idea how he gets out of the house and down the ramp but he does some how!!

When we first put him in his play pen ( a large 6ft kids paddling pool with loads of extra toys) he would run around for a bit but now he will just sit in his house and sulk!! To get him back in his cage we also have to lift that house up!!

He has chewed the wooden edge around the top of his house and also attached the cage so I have put something to cover it!!

I am a first time hamsters owner and just want the best for him so have decided to buy a large Ikea wardrobe which I plan on converting into a bigger cage for him.

Can any one offer me any advice as to where I am going wrong or any hints and tips?

Thanks
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Old 08-09-2019, 01:11 PM   #2
Bella1827
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 32
Default Re: HELP!! My hamster has lost interest in me ☹️

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chunky_smalls View Post
Hey

So I brought my first male Syrian hamster called Chunky Smallz back in April from pets at home. After lots of research before buying him I decided to get him a Ikea Detlof cage. My dad built a raised lid, a massive house onto, a tunnel and bedding box for him to burrow in. I later added x2 plastic bendy tube tunnels and a coconut house a extra few bendy bridges later on he also and a large hamsters wheel.

He has a sand bath which he loves and seems to be the only place he will dig!! He doesn’t seem to burrow and sits onto of his bedding in his house which he fills up to the top!!

The trouble is he never comes out of his house until me and my boyfriend have gone to bed. At first he used to come out at around 21:00-22:00 but now it’s at least 00:00-01:00.

He has never taken any treats from my hand and will maybe sniff them or have a nibble thinking they was food.

As he no longer comes out until we have left we have had to resort to taking the lid off his house and waking him up which is really mean but I have no other way of clearing his house out!! He has three rooms and he seems to use all three for toileting/ hoarding he has also blocked up the holes in the house so I have no idea how he gets out of the house and down the ramp but he does some how!!

When we first put him in his play pen ( a large 6ft kids paddling pool with loads of extra toys) he would run around for a bit but now he will just sit in his house and sulk!! To get him back in his cage we also have to lift that house up!!

He has chewed the wooden edge around the top of his house and also attached the cage so I have put something to cover it!!

I am a first time hamsters owner and just want the best for him so have decided to buy a large Ikea wardrobe which I plan on converting into a bigger cage for him.

Can any one offer me any advice as to where I am going wrong or any hints and tips?

Thanks
What kind of treats are you trying to hand feed him? Some hamsters are really fussy like mine, he doesn’t really like many store bought treats like milk drops etc. He mainly likes more natural treats like meal worms and millet. Your hamster sounds like it has a wonderful life and I’m sure he’s very appreciative of you. Perhaps try bonding in the bath tub with him, that way you’ll be his only focus and that might prehaps help him realise you aren’t a threat. Hope this helps!
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Old 08-10-2019, 04:29 AM   #3
Schwartzie
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 385
Default Re: HELP!! My hamster has lost interest in me ☹️

Please send pictures of your hamster’s habitat...sounds amazing! I would love to see☺️
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Old 08-10-2019, 05:27 AM   #4
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: HELP!! My hamster has lost interest in me ☹️

Nah, don't think your hamster has gone off you because i have a male Syrian like yours.

My Henry likes his own company best, gets up to do his hamster thing after i've gone to bed, sulks in his play pen, he's lovely when he's not in a grump and my interactions with him depend on what mood he's in. He's funny because he's a little character with very expressive body language.

He barricades his door to keep me out but quickly appeared when i put a bit of my breakfast boiled egg into his egg cup by his house this morning. Scoffed the lot, not even a glance of appreciation in my direction but back to bed with his door shut.

Chunky Smallz blocks himself in to keep thieves (you) out who break in and steal his hoards. He pees in all rooms as a deterrent and to mark his property. He got to know you and now he's suspicious of you, lol. Don't take it personal, hamsters don't hold grudges, i think.

I'd install a corner toilet with some pee'd on substrate in it. Henry uses the Rodipet ceramic one. I'd cut back on the cleaning because their nest is very precious to a hamster and they do not like human hands fiddling with them too often.
About 21.00 i open the small section of Henry's house roof to check his toilet and clean it if needed. The nest i only visually check once a week or less. Touching the nest should be avoided as much as possible.

I'll let you know tonight how i get my somewhat unsociable hamster out of his cage to interact with him but now i have to go to work...
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Old 08-10-2019, 07:46 AM   #5
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: HELP!! My hamster has lost interest in me ☹️

I found that my hamster doesn't like his play pen but seems to like running around on my bed and climbing over me, listening to different sounds etc. Something you can try too. The first time on my bed he froze so i put him back and waited a few days and then he was fine.

I also hamster proofed a room and let him explore in there. He runs down my legs, i catch him, he's off again and then eventually runs off my legs. Bit of a game we play.

He never asks to come out of his cage and won't go into a mug to get lifted out.

So at 21.00 i check his toilet, if he's tired or asleep i leave him be but sometimes he starts to climb out of his house and i can pick him up. What follows after depends on his mood. If he doesn't want to be out he'll sit and sulk and i put him back but if he wants to be out he'll sniff and gets active. I don't know what he wants until i get him out but have learned that he only wants to come out twice a week or so. I used to make the mistake and took him out too often then wondered why he tried to kick me when i tried to pick him up. Takes a while to get to know a hamster.

I think some hamsters aren't the cuddly type and we have to try other ways to pet them.

Does he have a Whimzee to chew on? They like them.

Sunflower seeds in their shell are well liked by hamsters and can tempt them out of their house.
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house, cage, large, burrow, bendy, hamsters, extra, top, put, back, decided, lid, ikea, bedding, hamster, advice, idea, holes, blocked, ramp, offer, toileting, tips, waking, clearing

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