don't understand he's behaviour

maxdawn · 03-13-2015, 03:36 PM

I got a rescue Chinese hamster just over a month ago. He's very friendly comes and sits on my hand ect. But all he does is sit on the shelf in the same corner. He's has a big cage 100x50 cm Barney cage with lots of toys, hideys wheel ect. But he just stays in the corner he never plays.
Tonight I put him I a small plastic stacking box 50x30 cm so I could clean his cage. He loved the box ran a round it climbed on all his toys went made on his wheel. As soon as I put him back in the cage he went straight for his corner.
Does this mean he liked the box. Could it because its smaller or is it because it has solid plastic sides and feels safer. Should I think about getting a detolf ?
Has anyone had a hamster not like cages

becky1412 · 03-13-2015, 03:44 PM

Put in lots of hides and places he will feel less vulnerable and more secure and he should come round. If i was that small and easy for prey to catch i wouldn't want to be running around in the open!

kaialin · 03-13-2015, 03:45 PM

I had a dwarf who diddnt like her cage. It was big and full of toys but all she did was sit In one corner and chew on a bit of plastic, moved her into a smaller cage and she has been happy as Larry... Very particular little fluffy things they are

velma · 03-13-2015, 03:46 PM

I have a robo that didn't like his bigger tank & was happiest in his technically "too small" tank. So I don't know about cage vs tank as his were two sizes of the same tank. But Some hamsters can feel exposed & he might find that in a detolf which are very open. Chinese particularly I think like lots of cover. He could have been running round his cleaning tub because it was new, maybe because he was happier more contained but chances are you could try reconfiguring his current cage to give him more cover which might help? If you post a picture of your current setup, people might be able to give you some suggestions of how to tweak it. Particularly the Chinese owning members.

maxdawn · 03-13-2015, 04:05 PM

Here's a photo of his cage.
IMG_20150313_230240.jpg

maxdawn · 03-13-2015, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by becky1412

Put in lots of hides and places he will feel less vulnerable and more secure and he should come round. If i was that small and easy for prey to catch i wouldn't want to be running around in the open!

He has lots of hideys. I can't fit any more in there

maxdawn · 03-13-2015, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaialin

I had a dwarf who diddnt like her cage. It was big and full of toys but all she did was sit In one corner and chew on a bit of plastic, moved her into a smaller cage and she has been happy as Larry... Very particular little fluffy things they are

Thanks I think I will put him in the box tomorrow for a play and see how he acts

maxdawn · 03-13-2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velma

I have a robo that didn't like his bigger tank & was happiest in his technically "too small" tank. So I don't know about cage vs tank as his were two sizes of the same tank. But Some hamsters can feel exposed & he might find that in a detolf which are very open. Chinese particularly I think like lots of cover. He could have been running round his cleaning tub because it was new, maybe because he was happier more contained but chances are you could try reconfiguring his current cage to give him more cover which might help? If you post a picture of your current setup, people might be able to give you some suggestions of how to tweak it. Particularly the Chinese owning members.

Thanks thats a good idea. I have now upload a photo of his cage

Thin Lizzy · 03-13-2015, 08:54 PM

I would make putting him in the box as part of his daily routine. I'd also try and make an area in his cage a bit like this box, it's a wonderful cage but, your hammie needs lots of hidey holes and lots of cover as he might feel scared by the openness in the cage, making little sections in his cage with plenty of barriers and shade will make him feel safer.

cypher · 03-14-2015, 12:53 AM

A month isn't that long for a Chinese to settle in properly, they can be very slow to tame & very timid so don't get too worried just yet.
There is still a lot of open space in your cage even with the little hideouts & there doesn't appear to be that much depth of substrate from what I can see.
I generally fill the base with substrate especially with my Chinese as they really love to dig & burrow, I would also put in things like kitchen roll tubes great for getting from one spot to another without feeling too exposed, more little boxes, egg boxes are great, to hide in, you could maybe make a little shelf in the corner where the saucer is, use a cardboard box with entrance holes cut in or a house with a flat top & make some extra play/hide away space there with the saucer on top, maybe add in some more bendy bridges for climbing on too.
Mine absolutely loves her hammocks too so maybe think about putting one or two of those in, it would give her more places to play & also make the cage a bit darker so she'll feel safer.
I think you could still do a lot with your cage to make it really nice for a chinese so I hope that helps a bit.