Mori's anti-social behavior

[yoshiko]

I've had Mori now for two weeks and so fair I've noticed somethings that I am not sure if it's a odd habit or just something he needs more time for since most of my hamsters I've own never had these problems or odd behaviors.

First thing is the nervousness he has. He is sweet in nature no biting or anything but hold him and he shakes (I guess that is what he is doing) he seems unsure of himself. He lets me pet him and everything. And he panting sometimes usually if I just let him sit in my hand for a few mins this will stop and he will move around.

second thing is the one that I've never seen before...he will hide all day and won't come out until my room is pitch black. I understand he is a night time animal but I figure he would get up at some points but as soon as I turn any lights on even the smallest light I own that is way on the opposite side of the room he runs and hides.

what I've been doing is I'll get him out of his cage same time every day and sit in my bed with him letting him roam free. I don't have a bathtub so my bed is the only area. I'll give him a small treat (will take from my hand) and pet him lightly with one finger time to time.

so I guess what I am wondering is that if this is normal behavior for a Chinese Dwarf? is there other tricks I can try to not make him so nervous or is it that he needs more time? he is very young

[cypher]

Chinese hams from pet shops rather than breeders do tend to be rather nervous & skittish to begin with although they can get much tamer & calmer with time & patient handling so you're doing ok if you only had him two weeks.
My Chinese girls were both quite active at various times of the day but my boy stays in bed all day! The boys do seem to be a lot lazier, mine does love his wheel but doesn't have the same urge to come out & explore absolutely everything the way girls do, a lot less digging & burrowing effort generally too!
Large open areas do make them very nervous so the bed may not be the best place to interact with him unless you can create a smaller enclosed space to handle him, I find that either interacting with them in the cage where they feel secure, not sure what set up you have but it helps if you have a cage with a nice big front door to do this but you can still manage fine with bin cages or other similar style cages, or you can use a plastic storage bin for play/interaction, put some substrate (preferably from the cage with his scent on it) in the bottom so he can have a little dig around & maybe also something from the cage that's familiar to him.
If you can get or make a small pouch from fleece they like to sit in those & it can be used to get them more comfortable with handling.
Try keeping a lamp or some dim lighting on rather than full room lights, he's probably only coming out when it's dark because he's still afraid, if he does come out give him some time before going to the cage & trying to interact with him, as he gets to feel more confident he should be fine with at least some light on.

[yoshiko]

Thanks for the info.

Mori lives in a 40 gallon tank so no front door just a top lid.

He digs around like crazy all the time always a new spot where he is hiding.

I just wasn't sure what kind of behaviors were normal. He did come from a pet store but from a breeder in town. I'm trying the tissue paper trick of having it on me then giving it to him. He does seem rather lazy mostly, he is in his wheel all night and not caring about the other toys he has. I'm going to Wal-Mart today so I will buy some fleece and make a pouch for him.

thanks