My new Hamster is a little bit different. Anything wrong?

[Nakuzo]

Hello everyone.

I am new to this forum, and I've never had a hamster prior to Oscar, which I bought about 6 days ago. I saw some videos on how to tame your hamster, what they like to do and things that I need to have in my cage. Below I will list some things that make me question if Oscar is really a hamster

Oscar rarely, if not never, uses his wheel. I introduced him to his wheel since day 2. He started running in there after that, but once I began letting him free roam my room for 20 minutes a day, he stopped using it.

Oscar doesn't climb at all. I have a ladder in his cage, which he only climbed once. When I let him free roam, he never tries to climb anywhere, rather he only runs around.

Oscar was never afraid of me. Since day 1, when I first put him in his cage, he was never afraid of me putting my hand in there or touching him, and he was pretty cool going over my hand if he needed to.

Oscar doesn't chew on any of his toys. I bought him 2 toys, a straw one and a wooden one. He doesn't chew on either one, but rather chew on the carpet, blankets and any other fabric he can find when I let him free roam.

Oscar doesn't really enjoy treats for some reason. I tried banana, carrots, broccoli and crackers. I have to wait until he finishes doing whatever it is he is doing and then he will come in my hand, take a look and then leave to continue with his business.

So, is any of this alarming? Do you have any advice to give me, since this is my first hamster and I don't really know all that much. Also in case you are wondering, Oscar is a Russian white dwarf, about 6 cm in size and probably male.

[Fluffagrams]

I don't think there's anything there that would worry me.

Hamsters can be very individual and over the years I've had hamsters which have displayed many of the traits that you've mentioned.

I've often found that my hamsters don't enjoy chewing on their toys or the litttle wooden blocks they sell in pet shops for that purpose so I usually give them something like a good quality dog biscuit or a whimzees chew but even a general hamster mix will wear down a hamster's teeth to a degree.

I've also found that a lot of my laid bck hamsters aren't really all that bothered about treats... two of my show hamsters, Elizabeth and Leo just tend to have a 'just leave them there and I'll get to them later' sort of attitude and if you wait for them to approach you, you'll be there all day. It sounds like Oscar is pretty chilled out too but as you've only had him for six days he may still be settling in with you so he may change as time goes on.

[cypher]

It doesn't sound that unusual to me either, I have to agree that they really are all very individual.
Just wondering what wheel you have though as most Russians will enjoy there wheel if it's a suitable size & works ok, they need a 20cm wheel, solid track, not mesh or barred, & you need to check that it is spinning freely & easily.
Chew toys are often ignored, I don't know what country you're in but if you can get whimzee dog chews, the small toothbrush is the best, Russian hams go mad for them.
It can take them a while to get used to new foods so don't give up if he doesn't seem to keen on his veg to begin with, continue to offer various different veg one at a time each day & see how he goes.
Don't give fruit or sweet treats with honey etc as Russian hams are prone to diabetes.
Other treats to try are mealworms, usually a big favourite, a monkey nut now & then & a few extra sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds in the shell, he may enjoy a millet spray too.

[Dessi]

He sounds normal to me. I just want to add that hamster are not climbers. In fact it’s best if they don’t as they are rather clumsy and could fall.

[Engel]

It's still early days yet. He's probably still settling in. What's your current setup? Can we have a photo?

What type of hamster is he? It may be that the wheel is too small. Dawrf hamsters need a 8 inch wheel and Syrians need a 11 inch wheel although some say 12 inch.

[Maker]

Originally Posted by Engel

It's still early days yet. He's probably still settling in. What's your current setup? Can we have a photo?

What type of hamster is he? It may be that the wheel is too small. Dawrf hamsters need a 8 inch wheel and Syrians need a 11 inch wheel although some say 12 inch.

I second this wheel observation, mine never used her until I got a big one, now she loves it!

[Nakuzo]

Originally Posted by Engel

It's still early days yet. He's probably still settling in. What's your current setup? Can we have a photo?

What type of hamster is he? It may be that the wheel is too small. Dawrf hamsters need a 8 inch wheel and Syrians need a 11 inch wheel although some say 12 inch.

He is a winter white dwarf hamster. His cage is pretty small (30x23) because when I bought him I was tight on the budget. I am planning to make him a bigger cage out of a plastic bin (59x35) in which I'll put a bigger wheel. Currently, his wheel is not 8 inches. Its diameter is probably somewhere close to 4,5 inches (it was stock with the cage). Good thing is that it is plastic so he doesn't have any issues (other than the size).

[Nakuzo]

Originally Posted by Maker

I second this wheel observation, mine never used her until I got a big one, now she loves it!

I'll look for a bigger wheel when I upgrade his cage (which will be in 3 weeks max). Currently, he lives in a 34x20 (in cm) cage and his wheel is 10 cm in diameter, which is small.

[Maker]

Originally Posted by Nakuzo

I'll look for a bigger wheel when I upgrade his cage (which will be in 3 weeks max). Currently, he lives in a 34x20 (in cm) cage and his wheel is 10 cm in diameter, which is small.

Go as big as you can afford and you will definitely notice the difference in your hamster, it’s worth it to know they are happy, would love to see him if you can put a photo of him when he’s in his new home