Hissing!?!

[SarahJ]

I moved my Hamster Nibbles in to the spare room last night after keeping me awake for a good 2 hours.

When i went in this morning to put her back in my room, she stood up on her back legs, opened her mouth really wide and started to hiss at me!
I put my hand in her cage and once she had a smell and noticed it was me she went all cute and lovable again.

I have never ever seen a hamster do this before and it kind of scared me!

does the hissing mean the same as when a cat hisses?

[Iluvhamsters]

I think you may have just startled her, especially if she had just wakened when you went in.

[annie81]

yeah she was probably upset anyway because she was in another environment and she didnt recognise you at once...

[SarahJ]

Im guessing the hissing meant "stay away"?

Have any of your hamsters ever done this?

[chavers]

No, never had any noises out of my hamster ever. I'd agree with the others that it was probably a bit startled and unused to its surroundings.....

[Iluvhamsters]

Originally Posted by SarahJ

Im guessing the hissing meant "stay away"?

Have any of your hamsters ever done this?

Possibly something like "stay away" or "go away" maybe "don't hurt me" or even "YIKES", something like that anyway.

Nibbles did that just the other week there and she was awake at the time, I can't remember what she was doing but I'd gone up to the cage and spoken to her gently, she obviously hadn't heard me, got a fright, hissed at me and ran to hide in her bed. I just continued to speak to her quietly and soothingly, she soon forgot about it and came over to say hello. Now, I make sure she knows I'm approaching the cage before I start speaking to her