Can you help?

mrsblloyd · 03-27-2007, 09:22 AM

I came home on Sunday evening to find Toffee (our hamster) holding on the bars of his cage as he had become wedged between the cage and the plastic tube. We removed the plastic tube and he did not move, we tried to remove him from the bars but he did not want to let go. After gently removing his grip he felt very stiff and not moving around like his usual self. Then after a few minutes he was back to his normal self.

We were just wondering if this has happened to anybody else and whether this was a normal reaction for hamsters when scared?

We would also be very interested to know if this is a natural occurrence when they were in the wild as a defense mechanism.

Also, he seemed to do the same thing last night when he was in his exercise ball.

souffle · 03-27-2007, 10:51 AM

This does seem to happen quite often and I am sure it is a natural reaction. Ours will often do it if we come into the room suddenly. They freeze and will stay like this for a while then slowly creep off! We always say 'they have spotted an eagle!' In the wild this action would protect them from being spotted by predators so I assume it is instinctive. Welcome to the forum by the way! Toffee sounds like a cutie.

mrsblloyd · 03-28-2007, 05:38 AM

Thanks for your kind sentiments and information.

Toffee is definitely a cutie but also a pickle but he keeps us entertained for hours. This is the first hamster we have ever had so we are just beginners and the only reason we decided to get one when we did was when one of our neighbours in the upstairs flat hamster escaped and we found it running around in ours the next morning. We just fell in love with it and decided to get one of our own.

How many hamsters do you have? and I am sure you have some great stories to share about their antics.

souffle · 03-28-2007, 07:22 AM

I have had hammies for 35 years now!!!! My daughter is now ham crazy and we show and breed the occassional litter. We currently have 5 as we like them all to have lots of attention. You can read about us Souffle & Pophammy if you click on the profiles. How old is Toffee? Great to have you with us and please ask any questions as our members are only to happy to chat about hams!

suga · 03-28-2007, 09:23 AM

Welcome to HC!

mrsblloyd · 03-29-2007, 08:02 AM

Thanks that is good to know. Toffee is about 13 weeks old now and has settled in really well to his new home and is an important part of the family.

I can see quite easily how people can get really attached to them and can spoil them rotten.