What are the signs of an abused hamster?

**zak** · 03-16-2016, 03:38 PM

I an asking on behalf of my friend who has just got a new Syrian hamster a few days ago. Him and his boyfriend suspect their new hamster has been abused by the way it is acting. It was apparently very skittish when they arrived to collect it, was okay while traveling, threw a massive fit (squealing, squawking, hissing, grunting, charging at them and so on) when they picked up the carrier once they got home to put it into the new cage and attempted to touch it and tried to jump out of the cage and run for its life when they filled its food and water bottle up and I know for fact why this is. It is because it is 8 weeks old, from a pet shop, never been handed and a whole new foreign environment for it which I tried to explain to them in great detail since I know a lot about hamsters but they weren't having any of it since I wasn't "official" enough. I am basically asking you guys to back me up on this and add on a few things I may have missed so I can show both of them.

SKB_Hamsters · 03-16-2016, 03:52 PM

I have experienced a similar thing with my past hamster who was absolutely fearful of everything in the pet shop she nearly jumped onto the floor and on the way home was trying to chew her way out of the cardboard boxes, and once in her new home tried to escape her cage. The hamster is not used to humans so it will need some time to settle in! I found the best way to win over a scared hamster is by giving them small fresh veg such as carrot can the hamster to gain trust, as hamster rely on their sense of smell (it will let the hamster know that humans brings good things, but don't feed to much though). I don't think the hamster would have been abused but tell your friend to leave it alone for a week to let it settle in. My hamster learnt to trust me and I hope the same result will happen!

flowerfairy · 03-17-2016, 05:59 AM

I agree. Best to let the hamster settle in for a week with no touching, etc

Is the cage a good size (ie bigger than 80 x 50cm)?

It must be a bit stressful for them to hear the hamster being so distressed. Just some gentle talking and lots of yummies should help.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-17-2016, 09:41 AM

I adopted an abused Syrian but he was about 8 mo old. I could just tell what a pathetic environment he came from at the pet store. It took him almost a month to feel comfortable with me. I'd just leave her completely alone like flower fairy said until your hammie starts to show signs that they are ready for interaction.

I bought a 3 mo old RCD hammie who I don't believe was abused but definitely had a scary beginning to his life, he was just very fearful & hid under the bedding for 17 days. I just let him alone till he stopped being afraid. At the pet store he was very active so I was hoping he would get back to being active again & he did.

Just suggestion to not rush the taming process, it's important for the hamster to know that his new cage is his, for him to feel secure, then start taming, don't worry he won't get lonely while he is settling in. It will be harder on you than for your hamster.

Pebbles82 · 03-18-2016, 08:52 AM

So is the problem that they think it's been abused and you think it is a fairly normal reaction for a pet shop hamster that hasn't been handled? It maybe doesn't matter which it is, as long as from now on they take things slowly as others have suggested. Or are they thinking of taking the hamster back because of his behaviour or something?

If they won't listen to any advice about taking things slowly and letting the hammy settle in and taming and so on, you could try giving them a little RSPCA book on hamsters or something. As a 'ham-warming' present lol.

We got this one when we got Charlie, which is quite good and they'll learn a lot from it, but it doesn't go into specifics like territorial behaviour and taming issues.

Care for Your Hamster (RSPCA Pet Guide): Amazon.co.uk: RSPCA: 9780008118303: Books

You could show them my little taming video if that helps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjyEme2xcq4

You could also print this out and put it inside the book folded in half - it has some useful basics on about space, depth of substrate, wheel size etc and it's also an RSPC sheet.

Hamster behaviour - Behaviour - Hamsters - Rodents

This article is also good on aggressive behaviour, why and what to do

Why does my hamster do that? A guide to the behaviour of Syrian Hamsters. | The Hamster Fanatic Forum Blog

So you could print that out and put it inside the book folded up too. Then wrap the book up in nice paper and take it round

Although it's annoying when people won't listen and want to hear it from an authority (that is SUCH a male thing!), don't get argumentative with them or they'll reject anything you offer. Just smile and be nice and say you thought this might be helpful with their new hammy as you found it helpful (white lie - or read it first then it's not a lie lol).

pinkneon · 03-18-2016, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

So is the problem that they think it's been abused and you think it is a fairly normal reaction for a pet shop hamster that hasn't been handled? It maybe doesn't matter which it is, as long as from now on they take things slowly as others have suggested. Or are they thinking of taking the hamster back because of his behaviour or something?

If they won't listen to any advice about taking things slowly and letting the hammy settle in and taming and so on, you could try giving them a little RSPCA book on hamsters or something. As a 'ham-warming' present lol.

We got this one when we got Charlie, which is quite good and they'll learn a lot from it, but it doesn't go into specifics like territorial behaviour and taming issues.

Care for Your Hamster (RSPCA Pet Guide): Amazon.co.uk: RSPCA: 9780008118303: Books

You could show them my little taming video if that helps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjyEme2xcq4

You could also print this out and put it inside the book folded in half - it has some useful basics on about space, depth of substrate, wheel size etc and it's also an RSPC sheet.

Hamster behaviour - Behaviour - Hamsters - Rodents

This article is also good on aggressive behaviour, why and what to do

Why does my hamster do that? A guide to the behaviour of Syrian Hamsters. | The Hamster Fanatic Forum Blog

So you could print that out and put it inside the book folded up too. Then wrap the book up in nice paper and take it round

Although it's annoying when people won't listen and want to hear it from an authority (that is SUCH a male thing!), don't get argumentative with them or they'll reject anything you offer. Just smile and be nice and say you thought this might be helpful with their new hammy as you found it helpful (white lie - or read it first then it's not a lie lol).

Hahahahahaha!

**zak** · 03-25-2016, 04:02 PM

It turns out I was right after all. I showed them all of your replies and it all clicked in their heads. The hamster has all of the habitrail setup's which connects onto a detolf (similar to HoppingHammys). The ball of fluff is now tamed and I have bought more than a few things for them in terms of hamster books etc. Thanks for all your advice, tips, tricks and help.

flowerfairy · 03-26-2016, 12:20 PM

Great update. Glad all is going so well. I love HoppingHammy's set up. Lucky hamster having a similar one.

SKB_Hamsters · 03-27-2016, 05:52 AM

I'm glad to hear that the hamster is now tamed, and that everything is ok. Lucky hamster to have a detolf cage.

Nancy's Hamsters · 03-27-2016, 06:04 AM

Glad your friends has a happy ending. I however just got a new Hamster pup from a person who got blessed with pups from their terrified hamster bought off craigslist. A beautiful Satin Hetero Silver Gray band little(only 4 1/2 weeks old) girl which was the only survivor and never handled at all. She was not bitey when I collected her out of the cage she was in but very flight like. I placed her in my carrier and headed home. Went to get her from the carrier into a tank already set up and the second I opened the lid of the carrier she cried, leaped and cleared the side of the carrier and ran under my PC desk(which is a huge and too heavy to move corner desk) and straight into the heat vents and up into the hole in the wall. Please say a prayer to God to guide her out from the walls as I have never once had any pups of that age even hand tamed come back out and be caught. I feel so horrid for her as she deserved a much better life then what she had. To make matters worse I lost my best satin male Dewey II just 24 hours before this.