Can hamsters look/act surprised? Debate!

[Maz]

This might not be much of a debate, if we all agree But what do you think? Can hamsters look surprised and react with surprise? I think they can - if something is not as expected. I'm thinking of Tino's reaction when he test licked a monkey nut, pulled back and had a surprised face (to me). Or is it just a reflex safety action?

 

[Hank]

What about when you accidentally stroke them, because you thought they knew you were there, they are surprised, but then look at you in a bit of a judging way

 

[Maz]

If looks could talk

 

[Lovelyness]

Yes, I would say they definitely seem to have different facial expressions!

 

[Socks' Mum]

I have a wonderful video of Socks looking daggers at my phone while I am trying to video him. It's on my old phone, but I will post it. He looks up from eating and glares at the camera when he realises that he is being filmed. Then turns on his heel and goes into his house, abandoning his food bowl

 

[Maz]

Oh they can definitely give dirty looks Our first hamster, Charlie, was the master of black looks - and turning his back on you!

 

[Socks' Mum]

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Here is the video: Socks gets cross!

 

[Maz]

Well he was definitely listening!

 

[Maz]

This is my favourite one of Charlie (RIP) looking surprised - or looking something!. When he found his donut bed had shrunk. His first one fell apart. So I bought another one that turned out to be a smaller size.

 

[Rio’s Mum]

This is my favourite one of Charlie (RIP) looking surprised - or looking something!. When he found his donut bed had shrunk. His first one fell apart. So I bought another one that turned out to be a smaller size.

View attachment 7397

Yep, he looks surprised! Lovely photo of him

 

[Maz]

Aw thanks Rio's Mum How is little Rio doing?

 

[Rio’s Mum]

Aw thanks Rio's Mum How is little Rio doing?

Hi Maz, he is great thank you. I was a little concerned as he now goes around his empire squeaking! I took a video but don’t know how to post it. He seems quite content, is still eating well and looking for treats but nothing amiss with his routine. I put back his log cabin on his last clean but he has never ever squeaked before .

 

[Maz]

I would love to see/hear him squeaking! He sounds very vocal. I wonder what he's trying to say. Some hamsters just are vocal and nothing to worry about usually. See if something sets it off (nice things or things that annoy him).

You just need to upload the video to youtube. Set it to "unlisted" if you don't want it publicly viewable - then paste the link on here in a message and it will be playable from the message (ie embedded). It will only be seen wherever you post the link if it's set to unlisted. Or just leave it as public if you want