HALP! My hammie won't come out of her house!

fi_foxy · 01-30-2015, 10:58 AM

Hi guys,

So I'm quite new to the forum and I'm also a new hamster owner. I have 2 hybrid russian dwarf hammies called Crash and Cloud. They used to get along fine until they started fighting, partly my fault as their first cage had levels. At first I thought it was play/checking dominance etc but I then started noticing some little bloody bite marks on Cloud's hind legs and stomach - I separated them right away and Cloud (the one that was bitten) seems quite happy to be on her own and loves to play but Crash has become a complete introvert since moving her to a different cage. I left her to its so as not to scare her since it was another move and I'm sure she comes out at night but she used to come out when I came in the door and now I NEVER see her!

It's been almost 3 weeks now, I try and get her out every now and then since dwarfs can lose their tameness - but I don't like forcing her.

Should I change something in her cage? Does she miss Cloud? Maybe she doesn't like her substrate?

Any advice or help would be muchly appreciated! I'm so worried about her!

**kyrilliondaemon** · 01-30-2015, 11:24 AM

Could you try to leave her in peace apart from feeding and watering for a few days and see if a few days to relax on her own will help? Offering treats may also help convince her to be more sociable with you

fi_foxy · 01-30-2015, 11:25 AM

Only thing is that I left her alone, just watching her for 4-5 days before I started handling again. This is going to sound weird, but Crash isn't really interested in treats. I hand tamed her using toys and her ball.

**DrKMcK** · 01-30-2015, 11:29 AM

Hello fi_foxy. Just leave her to settle. Make sure she has a few hideys since she is anxious about being seen and let her come out on her terms. It may take a while. Home changes are sometimes necessary, as it was with these two hammies, but the stress can make them worried. So let her take her time. Just make sure she is taking food and water. You might also consider a red light at night so she might come out and not realize you can see her. Hamsters who are separated don't miss each other after 3 weeks. They just adapt to it. If they were to be put back together they would certainly fight. Just give it time.

fi_foxy · 01-31-2015, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Hello fi_foxy. Just leave her to settle. Make sure she has a few hideys since she is anxious about being seen and let her come out on her terms. It may take a while. Home changes are sometimes necessary, as it was with these two hammies, but the stress can make them worried. So let her take her time. Just make sure she is taking food and water. You might also consider a red light at night so she might come out and not realize you can see her. Hamsters who are separated don't miss each other after 3 weeks. They just adapt to it. If they were to be put back together they would certainly fight. Just give it time.

Thanks DrKMcK! I think I will just leave her to it. She's due her monthly clean out so I'll make sure she's got loads of hidey places and some super soft bedding so that she's cosy.

Thanks for all the advice guys. She popped out her cute head out of her strawberry this morning, so I think she's slowly coming around

Thin Lizzy · 02-03-2015, 05:49 PM

Crash seems to be missing her old cage and it sounds like she's finding it hard to adapt to her new cage, like the others have said, let her be, she'll soon settle in.
When you do decide to clean her cage out make sure you include some of her substrate and bedding with the new stuff, so she can smell her scent.

fi_foxy · 02-06-2015, 04:04 PM

I just wanted to say thank you for all the kind advice

Crash has become a bit more sociable now - I left her alone like you guys advised then proceeded to use some taming methods that worked when I first got her; she loves her ball the wee monkey and through doing this she's started to explore her cage more and she even comes out to say hello in the mornings like she used to!! I'm so pleased but I'm going to continue to take it slow so not to scare her.

Thanks again, you guys are great!

fi_foxy · 02-06-2015, 04:12 PM

Blurry but cutes!

Thin Lizzy · 02-06-2015, 06:58 PM

Crash is very cute!
So happy to hear you and Crash are getting to know each other and bonding! Well done and keep us posted.

cypher · 02-07-2015, 12:04 AM

Aww bless! That is cute

I missed this thread before but it's good to hear she's settling down again now all the same.