A Little Weird

[Goliath]

So okay. I was handling my hamster and picking him up the other day and he jumped out of my hand. Luckily the food bin was open and he ended up landing right in it. He was so still I thought he had a heart attack or something. I picked him up and put him back in his play pen where he sat for a long time. He let me pet the dust out of his eyes and hardly moved an centimeter.
Now, before this he was nipping whenever my fingers got too close. After this, however, he has been extremely docile, very friendly, and even climbs up on my hand.
Any ideas on why on earth this would have happened? His behavior is very confusing.

[SarahJ]

I think hes in shock after the fall.

Have you given him a check over to make sure he hasnt hurt himself?

[Goliath]

I'm positive he's fine. He's been moving about his cage normally for the past few days now and the only difference is in his temperment. Maybe he knew how worried I was and saw I wasn't so bad after all?

[KatiePillow]

Hamsters are pray animals, so pretend not to be hurt even when they are.
Try pressing against his joints and see if he flinches or something.. just to be on the safe side.

[Goliath]

he's fine when i handle him. and i'm pretty, not rough but.... thourough... ya know? he never flinches.

[Goliath]

like i said he landed in his food. he's just fine, he's just.... ya know, more tame now.

[Goliath]

Okay, I was a bit rude. I'll check when I get home today. Thanks for the advice.

[tracers]

He was probably scared when he jumped and fell into the food bin. By you rescuing him, and cleaning him off, he probably realized that you're not so bad after-all, and now he's comfortable around you.

[Goliath]

that makes me happy. At least someone else thinks that my hamster is smart enough to think that way. :P