Is Rolo normal?

[RedSky]

So we have had Rolo for a few months now and I find her a bit odd.
Don't get me wrong she is beautiful and we love her so much, one look at her face and I fell for her straight away but...
She does this thing which really creeps my OH and I out so much! It has happened so many times in different places in her tank.
So picture one of us walking into the living room, her cage is on the floor.
Just out of the corner of your eye you notice that the hedgehog shaped chew is looking extra smooth today, even a little bit fluffy.
And that is when she will just twist every so S L O W L Y round and stare you in the eyes.

She will do this in any point in her cage. What is so strange is that I still haven't seen her run on her wheel or do anything in her cage other than drink, yet she is the most destructive of my hamsters and the one who is out most often. Every time we go in she must just freeze to the spot or something but I hardly ever see her moving.
Once I put my hand in she will either come or run and hide, and once out she just looks for a way to escape her playpen. But her ears are forwards and she will take treats so I take that as she isn't overly frightened.

We haven't had a Syrian since we were children, and she is sooo different from any of our dwarf hamsters, who are very different in personalities but have many similar behaviours that even match our gerbils.

Is this normal Syrian behaviour or is she just one of a kind or is something going on we need to look at?

[Skeever]

Sounds like something still spooks her enough that she does a mild freeze, and turns slowly because they figure it might be the nice human thingies? kinda like the classic, slow turn in horror movies? Can't help it but that's the image that comes to mind.

Usually when they are hyperalert (sounds in the environment we can't hear, smells we don't notice) they do very cute, humorous moves. The look I get is 'You hear that? Huh? You heard that right?" then he goes back to sniffing the air and peering.

Sounds like a quirky personality, not scared really like you said, but hyper vigilant? She may calm as she ages too....

[RedSky]

She is exactly like the slow turn in horror movies, it is quite creepy. We keep saying one day she will turn and have a head in her paws or a axe or something.
I've never seen her sniffing at the air the way my other rodents do, she just does this scary turn thing then either sits there or goes back to bed. She won't do anything (other than drink) while we are watching, unless we give her tasty treats! Then she will happily sit and eat (or sometimes pouch) them.
She also does a funny walk thing, where she stretches out. I figure it is most likely scent marking but her stomach/side aren't touching anything...
I love her loads, but do often joke her Mum dropped her on her head as a baby... Mean I know, but she confuses me so much.

[Skeever]

LOL, you should find the Stalker Hamster video online....a hamster basically freezes and stares at the person filming it for a loooonnng time, while hiding behind a bottle or lamp! Kinda eerie, heh.

Are you sure she isn't doing a walking while stretching move? they tend to look ludicrous when they do it, but it's natural.

[spyro87]

Heh heh. The image in my head right now lol

I can't honestly suggest much except she will calm down as she settles in and gets used to your home, the new cafe and everything else.
Give her time.
In the meantime enjoy her quirky behaviour. We miss it when it stops

[RedSky]

She isn't very new, she has been here a few months and has been doing this the entire time. Maybe it will get less but there are no signs of it yet.

The stalker hamster video is funny, reminds me of her, the only difference being that she is ALWAYS sat with her back to the room and turns her head to look at you and then STARES!
It is funny and very cute, but also a little eerie when it is the last thing you see at night, having just gone in to check her water before bed.

[Skeever]

My overactive imagination is seeing an all hammy version of The Exorcist, now.....I think I need professional help...

I do wonder if my ham is looking at me sometimes, or just looking straight ahead and not slightly up when he's out. I mean, the eyes are essential big black dots....

It is eerie though, can't disagree with that.....any chance you could catch it on video via a cam or phone cam? I'm sure our imagination is making it more than it is, lol....

[BrainGirl]

Your description of her behaviour is hilarious enough but I would love to see that one video! You need to set up a nanny cam to catch it

[RedSky]

I shall try to catch it, she does it a few times a week. It's just having my phone at the ready. I'll have to start walking into the living room with it on record haha.