Does he hate me?

pinkneon · 03-12-2016, 08:00 PM

Hi all. This is gonna sound a bit crazy but I'm starting to think that maybe Sweep doesn't like me much. The first few days he was here he was out and about in his cage many times. He would hide when I came near to the cage to say hi, which was only natural. In the evenings I'd sit and talk to him whilst he ate or went digging. Yesterday day time was the first actual day he slept in the day, and he spent a large part of last night on wheel. BUT he hardly came out before 2am ... Today he's been out once before now, and that was several hours ago. He's been in bed since then and has only been up for the past 20 mins or so because I woke him (accidentally) when I went to check on him. But I'm wondering if the reason he won't come out any more (at least not while I'm up!) is because he doesn't like the fact I haven't been playing with him so I could let him settle? I mean, he was handled at the pet shop, and may have been handled before then, so I feel like he is thinking that there is no point in him coming out earlier because he won't get played with? I know that sounds really stupid, but I'm really worried he hates me! He's ok when I put his food in the cage, but so far tonight he hasn't even been to the food bowl and I filled it up hours ago! He has been out for a drink hut then has gone again. He's happy for me to come up to the cage and talk to him if he's awake, and is brave enough to take treats from me ... I don't tend to sleep early anyway, but I can't keep staying up til 2 or 3AM just so I can see him!

*And he's just gone back to bed ...

I am wondering if he might be better off in a barred cage, because at the moment he can't really see me unless I'm near the cage, whereas ifnhe was in a barred cage he would be able to see me so would know I was here

Piebald · 03-13-2016, 12:53 AM

It's early days and he is settling in. He was probably extra active at first exploring all the new nooks and crannies and now he's a bit tired. He's not up to play yet, he needs to make his home his own first and feel secure. He's had a lot of changes in a short time. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions yet about tank vs barred, especially as I read in your other thread the had been bar chewing, although I know it was the emergency accommodation. He should be able to see you from inside the tank, and the Exo has that ventilation strip so he can get some scent too. If you want to test what he sees put a camera or phone cam inside and take some snaps looking out. If you want to keep an eye on him without disturbing him get some red lights (LED strips) outside the tank to softly illuminate it. I've heard that hams cannot see red light well so it doesn't disturb them like a white light would. Have you done the tissue trick?
But most of all just relax. Hammies are very sensitive and will pick up on your stress. It'll be fine. You're a good Mum and in time you will be great friends. Just let it happen in it's own time.

pinkneon · 03-13-2016, 04:16 AM

He's in a maxi duna, and base is quite deep though there is a lot of substrate but really he can only see me if he stands on top of his house. He's always been in there since I got him last week on Tuesday - maybe you got us confused with someone else? He did spend the first few days throwing all his toys into one corner, but now is happy to have them back where they are meant to be. I know a lot of people say that boys are lazier than girls, and I have had some that were lazy but not many, but I just feel like he can't be bothered to come out whilst I'm awake because he thinks he's discovered that I won't (yet) take him out to play!
Soon after posting this thread last night I went to bed, and he came out and went on his wheel and had some food. Then I woke up a few hours later and turned on the lampmso I could go to the toilet, as there are no street lights down our road and so it gets very dark in the rooms! As soon as I turned it on I could hear the wheel stop and then he went back to his house ...

pinkneon · 03-13-2016, 04:18 AM

Oh, and I usually turn out the main light between 9 and 10 and just have bedside lamp on. The lamp isn't very bright and is right across the room from his cage, but it doesn't seem to help much ...

Rsclio197 · 03-13-2016, 06:19 AM

Hey I had this with Poppy remember, she was mental for 3 days then came the constant sleeping for 4 days and nights plus diarrhea. I doubt sweep had diarrhea but it sounds normal. He just want's to make the place his own.

After Poppys rest she is all over me now, she was climbing all over me last night inside of my sleeves and trying to climb on my shoulder.

Patience is key.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-13-2016, 06:22 AM

Some hammies can take a couple weeks to settle in. I wouldn't move any toys around or do anything except feed & change water. The first few days I don't even talk to my new hamsters. He needs to claim his new home as his, so make sure you don't move anything around.

I wouldnt be in any rush to tame him, there's lots of time for that once he feels secure. He should wake up earlier too & be up & about when it's daylight in mornings or with house lights on in the evenings. I'd just make sure he knows that his house is his own.

Getting him a new cage would be unsettling & you'd have to start all over again.

Piebald · 03-13-2016, 06:24 AM

Sorry you're right I did confuse you with someone else with a new hammie!

I still suggest much the same thing though. Maybe you can make a level so he can come up and see you if he wants to? And do the tissue thing if you haven't already-- put some tissue in your sleeve next to your body for a few hours then tear it and offer as bedding. This will help make him more comfortable with your smell.

Regarding the light, hammies prefer it rather dark, and the shy ones don't like to come out when there is any light at all, so leaving a white light on is going to encourage him to stay hiding.

You might start working on a routine so you can see him a little earlier. Once you start a routine you need to keep up with it faithfully so be sure it is one you can manage every day of the week. Try offering a treat just when it is getting dark as this is a natural wakey time. You can only offer, gently, maybe after some soft vocal calls rustle the bedding softly and see if he comes out for it. If not try again tomorrow, and the next day and sooner or later curiosity will get the better of him. If you keep that up hopefully you can, with patience, turn that time into a full fun for both of you play time for an hour or so. But take it one step at a time.

flowerfairy · 03-13-2016, 06:28 AM

Gopal took weeks to get into a routne of waking up when i fed him. Even then its get up grab food go back to bed. I feed him in the morning.

He now comes out around 11pm and i play with him if i am not too tired!

It is totally normal for them to take a while to settle and adjust to a routine. I am sure he doesn't hate you.

Woodstock is in the duna maxi. What a great cage. His is on a low coffee table oppsite the foot of my bed. It makes it easier to see him cos i am looking down into his cage. He comes out for a good old food search each mornig but waits for lights out before coming out at night, same with the roborovskis. Gopal is the one who i interact with the most.

Rsclio197 · 03-13-2016, 06:28 AM

Buy a cheap lamp to turn on in the evening that you can hide behind a cupboard or cover it with something so it gives off a nice dull light rather than Turning the main light on.

Mweekie · 03-13-2016, 07:06 AM

Hi there,

I'm in a very similar situation with Cookie at the moment, and I've had her for over a month now. Before moving her into her new permanent home yesterday, we were at the point where Cookie was approaching me for treats and little strokes. But when she went into her new home yesterday, I have pretty much left her too herself, and tonight when I open the door to her tank, to give her food/water, it will be the first time I have done that since she moved in.

Sweep just needs some time to adjust to his surroundings, even if he was digging etc. over the past few days, he's still not sure of where he is and what is going on. He needs time and gentle encouragement...but he'll get there.

From what I have read from your posts so far, you seem to be a great Hammy Mummy, especially with the amount of questions and things you're making and also if you're not sure of something, then you ask for our opinion and that's great!

Sweep will come round to you in his own time

Mweekie xx