New hamster - hiding a lot

[vikingvampireparrot]

Hi - I am new on here, we have just got a new hamster after not having any for years. I'm not sure if we have forgotten what they are like or he is behaving a little oddly!!

We got our new Syrian hamster Earl on Tuesday and intended to leave him be for a few days to let him settle in. We saw him Tuesday night and Wednesday night very briefly - quick scout around the cage then back to bed. But since them we haven't seen him at all (we know he's ok cos the food goes down each night!). I panicked on Thursday night when he didn't come out and lifted up his igloo to check but have left him since.

The thing is, it's a bit hard to tame a hamster when he won't even come out!! We have been in the living room till at least 11 every night and are usually back down by 7am so he must only be coming out between these times - is this normal? What can we do to try to encourage him to come out earlier?

It's been a long time since I've had a pet that needs proper taming and he seems determined not to make it easy!!

[Smokey the hamster]

My Russian Dwarf Hamster does the exact same thing but seems to sleep all the time and get in the early hours of the morning.
I know this because I stayed up to one in the morning and he still didn't come out but when I woke up a biscuit had moved that I put into his cage so he must of gotten up quite early then gone to sleep quite early aswell.