Leaving a 5 week old hamster?

[Helly]

Hello,

I'm new to hamster central! Me and my partner had a beautiful hamster Syrian hamster, Bramble, who sadly died a month ago. She was our first hamster and we got her from a Pets at Home at 10 weeks and really patiently tamed her.

This weekend we got a 4 week old hamster (Arnie) from a family whose two hamsters had very briefly been put together accidentally, and a few weeks later... ta da! The family have done a really good job at handling him and he is a lot less nervous than Bramble was. However, we haven't tried handling him yet as he is still a little too nervous for that. So we have been talking to him, fed a couple of things by hand, but have mostly given him space the past 2 nights.

We are supposed to be going away this weekend to see family, and weren't expecting orginally to have a hamster when we organised it! My question is, do you think it'd be ok to leave him on his own for 2 nights? Or should I stay behind and try and crack on with taming and handling him? I don't want leaving him for 2 nights to affect him being tamed overall. But also feels like as he is at this stage already where we haven't handled him so far, would it not have a massive effect?

With Bramble, we only ever left her 1 night at a time, or got people to check on her if it was longer (but when she was fully tamed).

Sorry for the long post!! Any help would be greatly appreciated x

[cypher]

Hi & welcome to the forum
I don't think 2 nights would really make a big difference to taming at this stage, maybe leave some tissues with your scent on in the cage while you're away.
Do you have anyone who could check on him while your away, just to be sure he's OK though?

[souffle]

Hi and welcome
Four weeks is really very young to have a baby hamster. Really they should be with the single sex sibling group till they are 6-7 weeks. Hamsters often go through a skitty phase when separated from mum and this compounded with the new home may have made him a little nervous. He will soon settle though. I think you should start handling again pretty soon and do short sessions three or more times a day. Going away for two nights shouldn't really be a problem although with a hamster this young he really needs checked and fed some 'wet food' like porridge, babyfood, fruit or veg, chicken, egg etc daily. This is also prime growing time and they really do eat loads. Try and get a carer to pop in once a day and check all is well.

[Helly]

Thank you both for your help, and food advice, it is much appreciated

I didn't realise that was quite young to take him, I hope the little dude will be ok. Him and his siblings were an accident, and the local pets at home advised the family that they should seperate them from the mum by 4 weeks or she might reject/hurt him. He was the last of his litter to go and was 4 weeks 3 days when we took him.

We will give him lots of good food, and be patient with him, and hopefully he will settle in and be happy little chappy. Thanks again x

[kyrilliondaemon]

Pets at home were right about separating them from Mum at four weeks, its just that normally they'll stay with their same-sex siblings for at least a week or two afterwards. I'm sure he'll be ok in the end though

I hope he settles in quickly for you