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Small pets

Stressed new hamster

19 replies

danceswithfools · 04/11/2011 21:53

Hi
We fetched a new Syrian hamster from the pet shop yesterday, he is 8 weeks old. He was from a local family run shop with a good reputation. We have left him in his cage for over 24 hours, but whenever anyone goes near he starts squeaking, presumably because he is stressed. This evening I put his cage base in a deeper box and tried to pick him up in a tube, but he was squeaking so loudly and ran frantically over my lap, so I put him back. He is eating and drinking, climbing up the bars and up to all the floors of his cage OK and slept most of today. I am just worried about him, he seems stressed near people and I am not sure if we should persevere with trying to handle him or if we should leave him alone for a few more days. What does anyone think? Thanks for any advice.

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CurlyhairedAssassin · 20/12/2011 19:21

That's the thing about hamsters from breeders - they only breed from the healthiest stock so their babies will be healthy too, no genetic problems. I'm assuming that there is no checking up of parents for pet-shop bred hamsters.

brighthair · 18/12/2011 23:41

Go back and speak to them, that's less than 2 weeks
Mine came from a well known pet store chain and died of a bowel problem age 9 weeks. So did the replacement, vet said prob genetic
Then I had one from a local breeder who lived to a decent age, now on no 4 who again came from a private breeder

CurlyhairedAssassin · 13/12/2011 23:46

Dances, don't give up! Yes that is very sad but you were unlucky. We are first time hamster owners and had heard a few stories from friends about pet shop hams that didn't last long so we ended up waiting to get one from a registered breeder, went along to the Northern hamster show in march and got a boy. He is lovely, very healthy and strong and big and I got brilliant advice from the breeders at the show who are all massive fans of hams and v enthusiastic. You could google hamster show and see when the next one is near you? It was def worth the wait for a properly bred litter.

Bellavita · 16/11/2011 17:02

TheElvesSawBatgirlKissingSanta · 16/11/2011 16:53

Oh what a shame!!! Sorry for your loss!! :(

danceswithfools · 15/11/2011 22:32

I'm afraid that he wasn't shy, he was ill :( Today I took him to the vets because his stomach was alarmingly swollen and he was struggling to walk. We had to have him put down. thanks for all the advice anyway. I'm not sure if we are going to get another hamster as it has not been one of our best experiences to say the least!

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Bellavita · 07/11/2011 16:02

Just leave his cage door open and wait for him to climb out. Whilst he is on top of the cage, hold the chocolate drop out for him between your fingers and when he goes to get it, grab him with the other hand.

danceswithfools · 07/11/2011 11:42

Thanks, we are getting there, tried the choc drops and he loves them althougth will only take them through the cage bars, not impressed when put our hand in the cage! Will keep at it, thanks again.

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brighthair · 06/11/2011 22:48

My newest hamster took ages to even take food off me! He likes being stroked, still working on the picking up
Sitting by the cage and babbling helps as he gets used to my voice. Slow movements too

danceswithfools · 06/11/2011 09:55

thanks everyone for the advice, I really appreciate it. He has stopped squeaking now so think he is settling down. I think it was the squeaking that was making me so worried, he sounded so distressed. He has taken food from us this morning and DD has been talking to him which he seemed OK with. He is very sweet I think we are all falling for him! We are going to try the choc drops idea to see if he will run over our hand to start with. Thanks everyone.

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Bellavita · 05/11/2011 08:15

Dances, you can get little hammy treats - chocolate drops/yoghurt drops. I would maybe get some and tempt him out this way? Ours likes toast and jam, christmas cake, biscuits....

Ours is adorable, even my mum loves him and she doesn't exactly do pets . Her and my dad looked after him for 3 weeks whilst we were on hols in the summer and she still says she misses him.

danceswithfools · 05/11/2011 08:07

Thanks, sorry ran out of battery charge last night. We are out all day today so he can have some peace and quiet. I've tried offering food through the bars but so far he is not interested. Will stick at it and let you know! I didn't even know that hamsters could squeak, but it is quite upsetting as he sounds stressed, poor thing.

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Bellavita · 04/11/2011 22:23

Yes ditch the tube idea.

Make sure you have the smell of the saw dusty chipping stuff that goes in his cage on your hands. Definitely hold out a treat to him too through the bars.

Ours took a couple of days to settle in although he never squeaked.

TheElvesSawBatgirlKissingSanta · 04/11/2011 22:14

Too much

TheElvesSawBatgirlKissingSanta · 04/11/2011 22:13

I dont think it would get any worse, just sounds like you need to start again slowly. I wouldnt try the tube again though, I would think if he got scared and tried to run out and then couldnt/fell out it would freak him out alot more than a hand would. At least if its a hand he would be expecting something different, he would just expect to run through a tube and come out the other side in his cage.
Oops waffling on again!!

danceswithfools · 04/11/2011 22:07

Sorry x posted and waffling is much appreciated. I am used to rabbits, but a complete novice with hamsters.

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danceswithfools · 04/11/2011 22:06

I got the tube idea on here! It's just a cardboard one, I let him walk into it and then picked it up, it didn't go as well as I hoped, I admit . Thanks, I was thinking maybe leave him for a few more days but didn't want things to get worse. Thanks again.

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TheElvesSawBatgirlKissingSanta · 04/11/2011 22:05

After 'hammy' was used to the hand feeding, we made a big pen for him on the floor and put his cage in the middle. He came out on his own to play and started running over our hands and legs, plus he had the option to go back in his cage if he wanted to!
He needs to know that your friendy not a threat!
Sorry for waffeling on!

TheElvesSawBatgirlKissingSanta · 04/11/2011 22:01

Id leave him alone for a few more days and then take things really slowly.
Put you hand in the cage with abit of food and let him take that and get used to your smell for a few days.
How do you mean you tried to pick him up in a tube?
My hamster would freak out and attack anything that tried to 'pick him up' that wasnt a hand!

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