Sad looking Baldrick

Vierville · 03-08-2020, 04:57 AM

Little Baldrick is a very expressive little fellow, last night I saw him lying in his cage looking so sad...I have no idea why as he had just had a good run around outside his cage with us.

Just thought I'd share this photo of him...

Ria P · 03-08-2020, 05:36 AM

Nah, i think he looks knackered and just about to doze off after his run.

Celestial · 03-08-2020, 05:29 PM

He's so cute!
He's just looks tuckered out as Ria P suggested.
But... if he loses interest in things he used to like (e.g. food, nibbling, running around, etc.) after a day or so, then maybe he is moping and should have a vet look over him to make sure nothing's wrong.

I didn't get a picture of it, but one time my hamster accidentally smashed her nest and moped in a corner, looking like she would be crying if she could, until we gave her more nesting material.

Charlie Dunn · 03-09-2020, 02:53 AM

Our dwarf ham Boo does this. He runs for a while in his wheel at high speed and then gets out and lies just like that in a specific corner (which he only uses for this purpose and washing) and then he has a snooze for a bit, recovers his energy and then is off again running! I think he’s worn out rather than sad x

Pebbles82 · 03-09-2020, 03:36 AM

Aw - I know what you mean - it is maybe a bit of guilt tripping

I tend to just talk to them until they cheer up or walk off and get sick of you talking to them

If he had a nice time out of the cage. He looks very sweet. Did you change anything in his cage while he was out? Although if you did he might be looking mad rather than sad!

Hope you don't mind me asking but the shelf he's on looks to be some kind of grid - although maybe it has clear plastic on top? If it is a grid shelf then that can be very bad for their feet and cause bumblefoot - not sure if you knew that. Easy solution is put a piece of cardboard on top of it (or hemp mat but that's not so easily accessible).

Or give him some extra treats and hide a couple so he has to find them and gets distracted

Pebbles82 · 03-09-2020, 03:41 AM

They do have a whole range of expressions and really do communicate either by that or behaviour I think. The difficulty is interpreting them sometimes! I have had black looks, pleading looks, butter wouldn't melt in my mouth looks, turning their backs on you. Sulky looks. Maybe he does look a bit wistful as they can look pooped and happy but it's hard to tell. Ask him! The cleverest thing I've seen them do is indicate with their heads. Had two hamsters do that - eg go over to something look at it, look at you, look at it again - and they're telling you something is wrong or not working. Or giving you a look then getting on the wheel to show you it's not spinning. Mind you Newt was sneaky with that and a couple of times fooled me into thinking I hadn't put out his treat in the usual place and it had me wondering if I'd forgotten so put it out- then he'd do it again! Look at the place and pester and look at me, when he'd already had it! ie trying to get me to give him another one!

Vierville · 03-09-2020, 04:16 AM

Hi everyone. Yeah I think he might just have been tired out after his run around. He is a very precious little character and seems very sensitive too...I often find him sitting in a corner just staring...

They are such clever little creatures in their own way.

Serendipity7000, thank you for your concern about his shelf - I'd have thought exactly the same as you if I'd seen that photo but it is a solid plastic shelf with a diamond grid pattern moulded onto it for grip i guess. Definitely not an open grid. He has a Ferplast Favola cage so this is what the top level is made of.

Pebbles82 · 03-09-2020, 04:37 AM

Ah yes I know the shelf you mean

Vierville · 03-12-2020, 04:45 PM

I just thought I'd give some feedback - Ria P was absolutely right, Baldrick seems to do this when he's tired after a good run around bless him!

I had him out and running and climbing all over me for about 40 minutes this evening and sure as anything as soon as I put him back in his cage he flopped down flat on his tummy in the exact same spot.

He's a funny little guy and I'm very happy to be his human 'dad'

Celestial · 03-12-2020, 10:40 PM

I'm glad you found out that he's just tired when he lays there!

It's a great opportunity to take pictures!