Worried about my hamster (or just overprotective?)

Silaqui

Hi everyone,(Sorry if you read this in the other message board, someone suggested moving it here, hope you don't mind)

I am after a bit of advice from experienced hamster keepers - this is the only forum I post on and I don't know any in RL!

I bought a hamster (my first) from a pet shop on Friday night. She was fine on Friday, once the cage and all the stuff was set up she was running about, on her wheel, exploring the tubes and things. However since then she hasn't really done a lot, last night when I was expecting her to be out and about she just stayed in her nest. A lot of the things I have read on the net said that hamsters sleep a lot if they are bored but she has lots of hidey holes, tubes, chewy things etc in the cage to play with - Is this just her way of feeling safe in the cage until she settles?
Also, she has made her nest in one of the tunnel tubes rather than the little house - this really does sound over protective but she would move if she got too cold wouldn't she?

The girl in the shop said to leave her alone for a couple of days to let her settle in which we are doing, but it is so hard! Does her behaviour above sound normal for a brand new hamster?

Thanks for any help,
Silaqui

Kimberley

That is quite normal. My kids had one and it did the same, they make their own bed where they want. If you mess the bed up and rearrange it, you can be sure that the Hamster will alter it again Hamsters are nocturnal, they are more lively at night so never have the cage in your bedroom if your a light sleeper.

viktory

Congratulations on the addition to your family. Yes, her behaviour sounds normal. Hamsters will make their beds wherever they like. They will also hoard food in the nests, so when you clean the cage it is a good idea to transfer some food (not fresh though) to the cleaned cage.

Once hammy has settled in, make sure you handle her everyday to get her used to being petted. A ball for hammy to run around in is a good idea, although when I was a child my hamster had the run of my bedoom. Be warned though, they can disappear down the smallest of holes.

Silaqui

Thanks Viktory, how long do you think I should leave her to settle? The girl in the pet shop said a couple of days, but she doesn't come out of the tunnel enough yet for us to be able to get her used to being handled and stroked!
I've been dying to pick her up hehe.
We've got her a ball - I don't think there is anything this hamster hasn't got!

Miiri

It can take a couple of weeks to be honest.. let her get used to the sound of your voice, putting your hand in to the cage slowly and be patient - she should come round with a little tlc..

But its worth it.. they are such little characters..

Silaqui

Oh I know she is gorgeous... I can't stop watching her even when shes just sitting there!
She's still in the tunnel, I bet she's waiting till I go to bed and then she'll come out and be all crazy overnight!
I guess I'll just have to be patient then - I wish she'd come out a bit more just so I could put my hand in to get her used to me, I talk to her all the time though. My friend suggested taking the tunnel out so she couldn't go in it but I'd feel way too cruel doing that, she obviously feels safe in there and I can't take her bed away!

RebekahR

Oh yes totatlly normal! She is still upsettled from coming somewhere new. A nice cosey tube they love. Think in the wild they sleep in tunnels and lite hidey holes. My hamster sleeps on loads of odd places lol! She even sleeps in her wheel sometimes! Odd creature lol. Like you I am sensitive and want to pick her and up and pop her back into her nest. But i'm sure if she is cold she will go. The only other time she will sleep outside of her bedding alone is if its time to clean her out and her bedding is messy. Try getting up at 5am and see if she is up then!! Mine always comes out just as we go to bed ... and we go around 1am! I wouldnt say pick her up yet. She needs to get to trust you. Shove your hand in and she will nip you from fear. Try first of all feeding her through the bars with food, then open the door and feed through the door, then eventually put your hand flat with food on the edge of your fingers. When she is confident she will climb on your hand and eat from your hand. I would say then you can practice picking her up very slowly. The other way I tame mine is to get in the bath (plug in, no water) with them. And let them crawl on me and try to stroke them. Slowely but surely and she will become your best friend for her little life.

Milford_Cubicle

Don't forget to give her the inner from the toilet roll when it's empty, she'll love to run up and down it, hide in it, then eat it

RebekahR

Oh for sure! Or an alternative bed mine likes is a tissue paper box when its empty. The small cube shaped ones.

viktory

When I had hamsters I used to give them a couple of days to settle in and then I'd coax it out with a tasty treat (carrot or cucumber). How's it going with her?

Silaqui

Hi, thanks for all the advice everybody.
I've put a toilet roll in and kind of buried it under the woodshavings with just the ends visible - I'd go in it lol! I know she's been out at night because I can hear the wheel squeaking, but shes still quite shy. She did come down for a bit earlier on and I fed her a couple of seeds through the bars then managed to put my hand in and stroke it and she took another couple of seeds out of my hand, but then she took them back up to her bed and hasn't come down again!