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Old 08-01-2021, 10:33 AM   #1
MissT
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 2
Unhappy New Owner

Hi guys! Not really sure how this forum works or if I am doing this correctly. I got my new hamster Rodger from pets at home yesterday- he is my first since I was around 12. I didn't know what I was doing as a child, and now as an adult I want to do this right. He has been in his bedding today and it keeps shaking? Is he okay? I am wondering if he is cleaning himself but its happened a few times and its been daylight.. I know they are nocturnal. Just getting worried he is stressed. I can see he doesn't have enough saw dust to burrow in but I don't want to wake him to provide more. He hasn't gone is his hut yet either. What shall I do? Please let me know if you can help!
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Old 08-02-2021, 03:16 AM   #2
Petite
Senior Hamster
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 501
Default Re: New Owner

Hallo, and welcome to Hamster Central.

What kind of hamster is Rodger? If you've only had him a day or so, he will still be settling into his new environment. That's a lot of changes all at once for a hamster. I don't think the bedding shaking is anything to worry about - hamsters wake during the day just as humans wake during the night. Some hams use their houses and some don't, but if you put it in a quiet, dark part of the cage he is more likely to try it out. You can make it darker by adding a bendy bridge over the entrance, and he might also appreciate some bedding in his cage that he can take into it for nesting material - plain white toilet paper torn into strips is best.

Sawdust is not really the best kind of substrate to use. Especially if he's a dwarf, he will want to burrow, and sawdust doesn't really hold tunnels very well. Kaytee Clean and Cosy, on the other hand, does hold its tunnels - both my dwarfs are currently using this. There's no need to disturb him to provide more bedding; you can just pile it on top.

Hope you and Rodger get on well.
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Old 08-02-2021, 10:52 AM   #3
MissT
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 2
Smile Re: New Owner

Hi there, thank you for your reply!

Rodger is a Syrian Hamster, once he has woken up I will move his home to a darker area of his cage. I have read online about bin cages so I learning more about them to start making him one. He was borrowed when I first saw him there, I did add extra bedding on top of him last night.

I did hear him playing around in the darkness last night which put me at ease! I am going to try some trust exercises tonight once he has woken up. I have read that just placing a treat on my hand and waiting for him to come over is a good start. When would you suggest is a good time to start handling him? I just don't want to stress him out too much!

Thank you again
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Old 08-03-2021, 09:57 AM   #4
harmless
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: South Carolina, USA
Posts: 45
Default Re: New Owner

Hi... When I was in a pet store this morning window shopping, I noticed the same thing in the "Winter White" enclosure.

The bedding was shaking. I wondered if the little guys were scratching themselves a lot.. but I noticed the movement was progressing from the middle to the back of the enclosure, more like whoever was in there was trying to construct or improve a tunnel.
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Old 08-03-2021, 08:19 PM   #5
kparham
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Colorado
Posts: 20
Default Re: New Owner

As others have said, I wouldn't worry too much about the shaking! It is most likely Rodger cleaning himself or burrowing. If you don't want to use a traditional substrate like Clean and Cozy for a burrowing area, shredded paper towels work great as well! I'm a college student so I try to save money where I can, and doing this definitely is cheaper than using a ton of bedding for a burrowing area. Also in regards to Rodger not going in his hut, he may just not like it! I have several "enclosures" for my hamster, and one of them I don't think she's ever used. Something my hamster really loves is the Niteangel Multi-Chamber Hamster House Maze, it stays quite dark in there during the day and has plenty of room. I hope everything works out well for you two!
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Old 08-09-2021, 12:33 PM   #6
Ivys_Life
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Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: USA
Posts: 21
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Talking Re: New Owner

Quote:
Originally Posted by MissT View Post
Hi there, thank you for your reply!

Rodger is a Syrian Hamster, once he has woken up I will move his home to a darker area of his cage. I have read online about bin cages so I learning more about them to start making him one. He was borrowed when I first saw him there, I did add extra bedding on top of him last night.

I did hear him playing around in the darkness last night which put me at ease! I am going to try some trust exercises tonight once he has woken up. I have read that just placing a treat on my hand and waiting for him to come over is a good start. When would you suggest is a good time to start handling him? I just don't want to stress him out too much!

Thank you again
Bin cages have worked better for me that any other cage. Even cages that are supposedly "dwarf hamster safe" my little Dwarf hamster has gotten out of. Bin cages are super cheap and easy to make, the one I have right now doesn't even have a lid, so it's literally just a bin (not that I reccomend using it without a lid, but it can be done in a pinch). Just cut some slits, or cut the middle out of the bin and add wire on top and you're done! If you're looking for somewhere to learn a lot about hamsters then you've come to the right place! You'll have a ton of fun and learn a lot on Hamster Central!
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