Peppy2017
01-08-2018, 06:58 PM
Hi Everyone,
So I am a new hamster owner. I got Peppy, a teddy bear hamster, 1 week and 3 days ago;, and I'm not 100% sure what normal behavior is for hamsters when their brought to a new home. When I first brought him home he was active and alert, even when someone was around. He would hide at first but then come out and get close enough to sniff my hand. Then he'd run if I tried to touch him. He's finally let me pet him without running, although he still trembles as if he is scared. He will take treats from my hand, and some times he will come out of hiding if he hears the food bag rattle. I thought he was settling in nicely but now he is almost the complete opposite. He will still take a treat from me and come out to eat but he seems to be so much more afraid than he was when I first brought him home. He barley comes out any more unless it's dark, and hides any where he can when awake (even behind his wheel). And instead of his ears being up like when I first brought him home, they are almost always down. I expected behavior like this when I first brought him home but not after he started to show signs of settling in. I know it takes time to settle in, I just don't understand the change in him. The only thing that's been different is that I've used my alarm a few times in the past few days. Could that be why he is suddenly acting so much more timid than before? Is this normal behavior, or should I be worried?
Thanks,
Peppy2017
So I am a new hamster owner. I got Peppy, a teddy bear hamster, 1 week and 3 days ago;, and I'm not 100% sure what normal behavior is for hamsters when their brought to a new home. When I first brought him home he was active and alert, even when someone was around. He would hide at first but then come out and get close enough to sniff my hand. Then he'd run if I tried to touch him. He's finally let me pet him without running, although he still trembles as if he is scared. He will take treats from my hand, and some times he will come out of hiding if he hears the food bag rattle. I thought he was settling in nicely but now he is almost the complete opposite. He will still take a treat from me and come out to eat but he seems to be so much more afraid than he was when I first brought him home. He barley comes out any more unless it's dark, and hides any where he can when awake (even behind his wheel). And instead of his ears being up like when I first brought him home, they are almost always down. I expected behavior like this when I first brought him home but not after he started to show signs of settling in. I know it takes time to settle in, I just don't understand the change in him. The only thing that's been different is that I've used my alarm a few times in the past few days. Could that be why he is suddenly acting so much more timid than before? Is this normal behavior, or should I be worried?
Thanks,
Peppy2017