I have a hamster!

[BeautyandtheBeast]

Hey guys - so some of you might have already seen some of my posts but the plan was to go to Pets at Home tomorrow and bring home a new bundle of fluff; all being well. Unfortunately, my friend couldn't take me tomorrow, so.. we went today instead! I am now the very proud owner of a male Syrian! He is brown with a white band. There will some pictures to follow but he's very shy so I'm going to give him a while to settle in before I get the camera out. I have a question though; do you guys usually put your hamster, still in their box, in the cage and leave them to venture out on their own? He's been in there for a good 2 1/2 hours I'd say. He's definitely awake - I can hear him rusting, but he hasn't even popped his head out yet. I've never had this before. Any advice will be greatly appreciated :)

(He's nameless at the minute, I want to get to know his personality first)

[candice clews]

Hi, Congratulations on getting a hamster, he sounds incredibly cute! Cant wait to see the pictures and name :)

I've had three Syrians from pets at home (3 separate occasions) and I have always done the same. I set the cage up before I go and when I get home, I put the box in the cage, and open it up and let the hamster out. I left the box in my hamsters cages for about a week until they were fully familiar and happy for it too be taken out. I found that mine used it as a bed for the first couple of days and when they slowly got used to the new cage and surroundings they were happy to use the bedding I had provided them with to create in their beds.

I completely left mine 48 hours on there own (as recommended) apart from my fudge, who was out running on my lap and in his ball 2 hours after I got him lol! All hamsters are different, some take longer than others to settle in, once he makes a bed then take the box out as it wont be needed. If he is still using it then leave it In until he stops xx

[BeautyandtheBeast]

Thank you! I'm very excited to bond with my little fluff ball :) I've always done the same with all of my hamsters. Some have taken longer than others to start exploring their new homes but I've never had a hamster this shy/nervous to start investing a little - I'm worried he's going to stay in there all night

[Pebbles82]

I read somewhere, when we got ours, to let them out of the box and run into their cage, but it sounds a bit risky to me! They might run off somewhere else. Charlie started out with a terrible 3 tier rotostak unit. They didn't have boxes to take hamsters home in and told me I had to bring something in - so I took the bottom tier in - so he was already in it when I got home and I just attached the top bits.

Maybe you could put a trail of tempting bits of food near the box - that might tempt him out. I'm sure he'll come out after dark and make a nest. Just make sure you have a nice big pile of torn up white toilet paper in there for him to build a nest with :-)

[BeautyandtheBeast]

I couldn't do that, I'd be too scared of them running off and not being able to find them/get them out! Thank you - I'm going to give him a little longer, the cage door opening/closing seems to make him jump out of his skin, poor fella :( but I will definitely leave a little trail of tasty treats to lure him out if no progress is made; maybe in the next hour or so. I've got some toilet tissue in there, I probably should've bought my own today though.. Mum wasn't very happy with how much I used, haha

[Pebbles82]

I'm sure he'll be fine but best to leave him to sort himself out in the cage for 2 or 3 days now.

[BeautyandtheBeast]

Will do - shall keep you all updated :)

[pinkneon]

We've always kept those little cardboard boxes in the cage. They've always come out in their own time but have used the box as somewhere to hide or sleep. I only get rid of it when it's so badly chewed that it's unrecognizable!

[CMB]

Congratulations on getting your hamster. Hope he settles in soon. He will enjoy having the box to sleep or play in.

[BeautyandtheBeast]

Morning guys. I needent of worried, Mr. came out of the box eventually. I hardly heard him all night - only when he was munching on some food :) He hasn't used his wheel yet but he didn't have one at Pets at Home (this makes me so upset) so he probably just needs a little time to figure it out. Made a little nest under the platform and is currently sound asleep. Night one has been a success!

[Jenibelle]

Congratulations on your new little guy! :)

I honestly didn't even think of putting Bernie's box in in his tank. I just plopped him into it! But I did put his old bedding in there with him.

[Pebbles82]

Morning guys. I needent of worried, Mr. came out of the box eventually. I hardly heard him all night - only when he was munching on some food :) He hasn't used his wheel yet but he didn't have one at Pets at Home (this makes me so upset) so he probably just needs a little time to figure it out. Made a little nest under the platform and is currently sound asleep. Night one has been a success!

Lovely! You could try putting a treat in the wheel - that might tempt him into it :-) But do it while he's asleep during the day, quietly :-) Maybe wait a few days to do that while he's settling in - he might find the wheel and use it anyway.

[BeautyandtheBeast]

Thank you :) The person at Pets at Home didn't put any bedding in his box, I probably should have asked them to. I will try putting a treat in his wheel if he doesn't use it in the next day or two - I'm currently waiting for a very large order from Viovet, including lots of tasty treats but until then I've got some meal worms I could try him with

[CMB]

A sun flower seed, peanut or some veg in the wheel may be enough to get your hamster in it.

Put some bedding on the top and if it is not there when you look again the chances are the wheel has been used.

[BeautyandtheBeast]

I will try putting some treats on it tomorrow if he doesn't go on it tonight and I will put some bedding on top - thank you for that idea :)

[CMB]

Serendipity's idea of putting bedding on top of the wheel (I think) Serendipity has lots of useful links and ideas.

[BeautyandtheBeast]

Well thank you Serendipity :) and she sure does! She's been very helpful! (I'm saying she, I'm sorry if you're a male, haha)

[Pebbles82]

Lol no I'm not male. I got the bedding on top of the wheel tip on here :-)

[shawniyatwain]

Aww congratulations :) can't wait to see some pictures!

[BeautyandtheBeast]

Thank you! I can't wait to show my gorgeous boy off :)

I put some bedding on top of the wheel and it had fallen off when I went to look this morning - I thought that I'd heard him on it last night. I'm so relieved, I was worried he wouldn't get the exercise he needed while in his cage

[flowerfairy]

Awww. When I got Arun from our local pet shop I requested some of his bedding and some of his food.

He stayed in his little house for most of the first day and slept in it for almost a week. He has now moved into his wooden house and will be in his diy cage when I make it.

Hope to see pics of your gorgeous boy very soon.

[BeautyandtheBeast]

I should've done that.. At least I know for next time though :) (hopefully not for a long time yet) Good luck with the DIY! :)

[BeautyandtheBeast]

Just a quick update; my hammy still doesn't have a name. I'm sure one will come to me eventually. He's still nervous, as to be expected but he has made small steps. I've been talking to him through the bars. Last night I offered him a meal worm. He sniffed at it but showed no interest in taking it off of me. Instead I offered him a sunflower seed and he took it off me and started eating it then and there. I was so happy :) I didn't try again as after he'd finished eating he started running on his wheel and I know that this can be a sign of stress. Instead I popped the meal worm into his food bowl and he went to get it out straight away. I could hear him munching on it in his nest (boy are those things loud) All seems to be going well and I know that we're going to carry on making little steps together :) Mr's sleeping pattern isn't great though. I waited up until he woke up and spent around ten minutes just talking to him and offering him the treats. I was falling asleep by the time I got into bed at half twelve!

[CMB]

Good to hear he is settling in and becoming more used to you.