New hamster

sharonc · 09-09-2018, 02:24 PM

Hello, I brought home Humphrey a week ago, he is from a breeder and is 7 weeks old. I am trying to bond with him, however, he is not making an appearance until late in the evening so this is proving difficult. On the occasion he is up before 10 pm he is okay taking food from my hand but still seems shy. Do you think he is deliberately not coming out until late and is this likely to change as he becomes more settled?

cypher · 09-09-2018, 10:31 PM

A week isn't long for Humphrey to have settled in, he may just need more time.
Was he handled when he was with the breeder? If he was then when he wakes I would try coaxing him into something you can transport him to a safe play area & spend a little time interacting with him there, he may do better out of the cage.
If he isn't used to being handled then he may need a little longer to settle & adjust to his new home, you could try gently waking him a little earlier than he normally gets up by gently rustling a food bag of the substrate or making that a regular time for giving him some treats or his veg that may draw him out if he keeps doing a no show until very late.

sharonc · 09-09-2018, 11:20 PM

Yes he was handled by the breeder, I will try and coax him out sooner with healthy treats and see how it goes.

Sasha04 · 09-10-2018, 04:09 PM

Congrats on Humphrey!
Like cypher said, a week isn’t very long for a ham to settle in. Imagine it from Humphrey’s point of view, he may have been in a cage and area where all the sights, sounds, and scents were the same. Now, he was brought out of his cage and taken on a loud and frightening journey (car). Then, he was put in a whole other world with different scents, sights, and sounds plus a whole new are. Bringing a ham home is one of the most stressful times of their lives. Hope this makes sense lol!
Like cypher said, he may do better out of his cage. Hope all goes well with Humphrey, I love his name!

Thin Lizzy · 09-15-2018, 04:59 AM

Congratulations on Humphrey, looking forward to pics once he's settled.

BubbyandHamper · 09-15-2018, 08:34 AM

Congrats on the new ham. Hope to see him soon

Rads · 09-20-2018, 07:48 AM

Hello, and welcome aboard the good ship HC, congrats on getting Humphrey he is very young and it can take a few weeks to get used to his new surroundings and you, he is already taking treats from your hand which is brilliant..! I'm sure you will have much fun with him, looking forward to seeing pics of him.

adrien · 09-20-2018, 08:49 AM

he should be given a week untouched anyway, so i wouldnt be too worried. do you keep your lights on in your room? try turning them out. my roborovski will not come out with lights on because he is scared of the "sun," but he is still a late riser, and usually doesn't come out until quite late.

i wouldn't suggest trying to adjust his sleep schedule as some people have said, honestly. he should wake up for brief periods during the day to pee and drink, so you can try a little treat and stuff then perhaps? though he may be too sleepy to be receptive.

you need to work on your ham's schedule, so you could try waking up earlier. i spend 30-60 minutes awake somewhere between 4 and 6 am to give my boys breakfast because that is what works for them, and it's a good time for a little bonding.