Hamster stressed in new cage

Grace11 · 10-05-2018, 10:52 AM

Hi,

This is my first time posting here! I bought my Syrian hamster Herby a new cage (bigger and with more to do) and I moved her old bed and food bowl in so she had stuff that smelled familiar but she is so stressed! She is climbing the walls and burying and I don’t know if this is normal or if I should be worried. I’ve never had a hamster before so still learning but she looks so stressed it’s upsetting me! Thank for advice in advance x

SKB_Hamsters · 10-07-2018, 11:31 AM

Hello and welcome to Hamster Central.
Hamsters can become stressed when moved into a new cage - it can take a few days for them to settle in a adjust. Burrowing is a normal behaviour so I wouldn’t be overly concerned by this.
What new cage do you have?

cypher · 10-07-2018, 11:47 AM

Welcome to HC.
How long since you moved your ham? As SKB says it can take them a while to settle, even a couple of weeks sometimes so it's best to just let them get on with it & unless something in the cage really doesn't seem to be working for them don't be tempted to try & change anything.

Pebbles82 · 10-07-2018, 12:22 PM

I reckon it will be a couple of weeks for her to settle and as the others say - just leave her to it and don't move things around or clean her out while she's settling in. It's usually an idea, when changing the cage, to move all the old bedding over so the whole cage smells familiar and try and put things in similar places - then they accept the new things a bit better. They are still a bit stressed at first because their whole world just changed! I've tended to do a transition with our hamsters and let them play in the new cage the day before with some bedding and toys and then move them the day after. I did it cold turkey once and our hamster was also very stressed - and it took 10 days before he stopped looking terrified and shaking - it was quite upsetting. But he did settle and when he did he was happy as larry and almost smiling!

Did you move her hoard as well (or some of it)? She is probably anxious abut it disappearing if not.

One thing as well, if it's a move to a larger cage, is they can feel a bit exposed from above so its a good idea to have plenty of toys and some hanging things like a rat sputnik as well as a shelf, and a large floor tunnel (I like the cork logs) so they can sit under things and enjoy the space without feeling too exposed. They also need somewhere dark to nest so a good sized house or under a shelf sometimes.

You could try scattering some of her food each day for a while - still put some in her bowl but scatter some as well. Foraging for it will help distract her from being scared.

Otherwise just leave her a few days. After that then adding a new thing might be accepted ok if it gives more overhead cover, but definitely don't do any changing things or clean outs for a couple of weeks.

I'd also like to know which cage she's in