Hamster Squeaking

heidii · 10-28-2022, 04:09 AM

I have had a foster hamster for a couple of weeks now. He's a Syrian, about 16 months, and was known to be an escape artist. He had a little padlock on his old cage. I've upgraded his cage and whilst he still shows signs of boredom, he does tend to settle if I go over and pick him up or offer him a new enrichment/more forage.

Since I got him, he would very occasionally squeak. The first time was when he first went into his new, big cage. I'd just put him back into it after having him out in the play pen, and the moment he was in the cage he started squeaking.

The most recent time was today, where I put in some dried apple leaves and rose petals. He woke up and came out to have a look about round the cage, and started squeaking again.

The first time I assumed he was angry to be put back in the cage, but this time I'm unsure? Is squeaking only ever a sign that something is wrong/somethings upset the hamster? Or is it possible some hamsters are just more vocal?

flowerfairy · 10-28-2022, 10:53 AM

I have heard of people saying that their hamster is vocal with no obvious cause. I had a syrian who would squeak when in bed, I wondered if she was dreaming. Never found a reason.

Pebbles82 · 10-28-2022, 01:21 PM

If you've only had him a couple of weeks he'll be settling into the new cage and they can be very nervy and jumpy about change at first. He's probably a bit scared and disorientated. Some hamsters are more vocal than others. I've only had a Syrian squeak when a) they were scared (hand coming from above and b) when they were dreaming.

heidii · 10-28-2022, 01:59 PM

He has seemed extremely confident since I got him, really inquisitive but nothing like any of my other rescues who seemed displaced in their new environments. I always like to leave the hamster for a while to settle in, but this one didn't settle UNTIL I had given him some attention.

It seems odd and I will take him to the vet within the next few weeks. I would be more concerned if it seemed pained or random, but this seems to always have a trigger. Like after sitting and nibbling on some apple leaves, or being put back into his cage after being let out.

sushi_78 · 10-28-2022, 02:44 PM

I think vocalisations are often due to the hamster being irritated or upset, but, like humans, some hamsters are more easily irritated than others and some are just plain dramatic. So it doesn't necessarily mean you are doing anything wrong or that the hamster is unhappy in general. Some are much more vocal than others, sometimes about every little thing!

karlh · 10-28-2022, 04:07 PM

https://www.dropbox.com/s/be4fhrvfph...20001.m4a?dl=0
The above link is to a recording I made of one of my Campbell boys some years ago. He made this nice noise when I took him from the cage or a playpen. As if he wanted to tell me something.

heidii · 10-30-2022, 06:42 AM

I think when being put back in his cage, he was upset. But when I put in some new bits in his cage, he seemed perfectly happy nibbling on his new things and forage. It's only when he finished nibbling did he start squeaking. Did he not like his new things ?

Fluffy · 11-01-2022, 06:23 AM

I am not sure that is always the case. My last hamster was very vocal and would squeak when he was excited or happy. He would often squeak when we fed him treats or wanted out of the cage to play and then would continue once he was roaming around. I think it depends on the hamster. Each one like us has a different personality.

Jason