Behaviour Query

[Windle]

Recently Rhino has started burrowing (digging) in a corner of his cage. Nothing unusual there but he seems to spend a long time just sitting in that corner staring out one side of the cage. I've caught him doing it several times and I'm worried it's a sign that he's bored. He has a wheel which he uses, he also has a wooden nibble toy thing where he can pull large bits out and chew them which again he plays with.

Any ideas?

Also, sometimes he'll nibble the plastic in that corner then he'll start chewing/licking his legs, and licking his paw and scratching/rubbing his fur (not like when he's cleaning himself. He tends to use 2 forepaws for that), normally behind his ears and down his side. I read that male syrians like to secrete something and rub it on themselves to mark their den, is this what he's doing?

Advice as always, gratefully received!

Thanks
Jamie ( & Rhino)

[Katty_Sheldon]

Hi,
i have a WWR, and i saw him also one night sleeping in the corner. When he woke up and went away, i could see that he digged and peed all over the place. Now he is no more sleeping there i thing, but he pees there (instead of in his house as before, guess he grew up, haha).
I also saw him sitting in his wheel and i panicked, but i read in the forum that its nothing weird...
So i guess its normal for them to find a favourite spot maybe? Is he in a new cage? Mine is in it for 2 weeks now but seems to settle just now
Mine uses forepaws and legs to clean himself. It looks like he is biting his leg and than schratching himself, but its cleaning actually (so fast leg,LOL)...
Im just a beginner with hamsters, but i thought some similar hamster behaviour could help you... good luck, im also looking forward to some more experienced opinions.

[souffle]

I don't think it is anything to worry about. Often they do like to just sit and watch and also sometimes if they spot something out the corner of their eye they will go into a freeze which is a natural instinct to protect themselves in case an enemy is about. Perhaps a few more toys like cardboard boxes to climb on and trash or maybe a large, hard dog biscuit to chew would stop in nibbling the plastic. Males do tend to scent more than females though is is usually the females we see rubbing their flanks along things to scent. Males get very damp hip spots when they are scenting.
Keep a close eye on him just in case and give him plenty out time for free running and handling.