Clover
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RainbowBrite
Aw, Clover sounds very shy. I cannot remember if you have a camera set up? I was just wondering if you did as this would put your mind at rest when it comes to knowing what he does.
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elusive
Sorry to hear that Clover is still hiding away, it’s difficult to know what else to suggest really, a camera would at least give you some peace of mind if you could see that he’s up & about.
I don’t know about Syrians but with the other species I’ve had 4am seems to be a peak time for activity so you probably wouldn’t see that without a camera.
He may just be one of those hamsters that really doesn’t like human interaction very much but maybe if he will climb into a tube or something as Maz suggested you could try getting him out once in a while so he can at least get used to handling enough for health checks even if he doesn’t want to be sociable.
I don’t know about Syrians but with the other species I’ve had 4am seems to be a peak time for activity so you probably wouldn’t see that without a camera.
He may just be one of those hamsters that really doesn’t like human interaction very much but maybe if he will climb into a tube or something as Maz suggested you could try getting him out once in a while so he can at least get used to handling enough for health checks even if he doesn’t want to be sociable.
I don't have a camera yet but am now thinking about getting one. My worry is, as I can be quite anxious myself, that it could also have the opposite effect - increase my anxiety if I see exactly what he does (in other words, more things to worry about, as in what exactly he does and doesn't do).
The weird thing is that he was really sociable before the summer. Of course it could have been the house sitter, but he was ALSO very sociable right after, jumping around in the play pen, and keen to get out! He was hard to tame (in terms of touch) but he was definitely keen to get out and have fun. And then suddenly he went to this - I know the room change and the rat might have made him anxious again, but he has now been back in the old room with no disturbances or changes for two weeks, so it just seems to me a bit extreme in terms of reaction...?
The weird thing is that he was really sociable before the summer. Of course it could have been the house sitter, but he was ALSO very sociable right after, jumping around in the play pen, and keen to get out! He was hard to tame (in terms of touch) but he was definitely keen to get out and have fun. And then suddenly he went to this - I know the room change and the rat might have made him anxious again, but he has now been back in the old room with no disturbances or changes for two weeks, so it just seems to me a bit extreme in terms of reaction...?
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RainbowBrite
I can understand this because I get anxious too. My previous hamster was a robo and he rarely came out when I was about and I found a camera helped me a lot but everybody is different. In 8 months time he started coming out when I was about and I saw a lot of him which was wonderful. I am not saying Clover will take that long but I just wanted to tell you this as it is possible Clover may come out more in time.
I would say having such changes can be difficult for a sensitive hamster. Two weeks is not very long to me. You are doing all you can and being so patient. Hopefully in time Clover will learn his stay in this room is permanent and there will be no more changes. This should make him feel more secure.
I would say having such changes can be difficult for a sensitive hamster. Two weeks is not very long to me. You are doing all you can and being so patient. Hopefully in time Clover will learn his stay in this room is permanent and there will be no more changes. This should make him feel more secure.
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He seems perfectly well and healthy if he is doing things at night, but he may just need a bit longer to adjust after all the changes. It's a bit of a vicious circle isn't it. He probably does need to get used to you again and become familiar again and get used to being handled, but you can't really do it if he doesn't come out.
I think a middle ground to encourage him to come out might help - eg offering him a tube at the edge of his house. You could try putting it over the house door first. But I did once have a Syrian who never wanted to come out. Once he was out, he loved it, but I used to have to tempt him into a tube over his house door.
I think a middle ground to encourage him to come out might help - eg offering him a tube at the edge of his house. You could try putting it over the house door first. But I did once have a Syrian who never wanted to come out. Once he was out, he loved it, but I used to have to tempt him into a tube over his house door.
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elusive
It does seem quite an extreme reaction, I wouldn’t have thought the rat would have bothered him that much & once it was gone he would most likely soon forget it.
I can understand your concerns about a camera but it could be reassuring just to see that he is up & about & hamstering around at night.
I can understand your concerns about a camera but it could be reassuring just to see that he is up & about & hamstering around at night.
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Let us know how you get on with a tube over the house door, with something smelly at the far end, like a piece of cucumber. As soon as you see the tube move and think he's inside, gently get your hands over the end and lift the tube out. It helps to have a box nearby so you can put the tube down in it and carry the box to the playpen area. Once he's in the habit of this two or three times a week he will get used to being out of the cage and hopefully enjoy it and accept it as part of his routine. It helps to have a spare wheel in the playpen.
Maybe keep it to 20 minutes or so the first time, but see how it goes.
Maybe keep it to 20 minutes or so the first time, but see how it goes.
Hooray I managed to get him out today! I came home late (12.30) and he was out. I managed to feed him a treat but by the time I had the play pen out he had disappeared into his house again. I then decided to lift the lid and offered him the tube with a piece of cucumber in. After a bit of sniffing around he climbed in and now he’s been in the play pen for about 15 min already.
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He seems curious and likely - a little bit shy but I managed to stroke his neck a few times. But am not sure lifting the lid of his house is a good thing to do on a regular basis? He seemed fine with it but I also knew that he was awake.
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elusive
Really good to hear you got him out & lovely to see him.
Maybe see how he reacts after this, getting him out when he’s awake seems to have worked well but I would be a bit wary of doing it if you’re not sure if he is or if he’s asleep.
It’s a good start anyway.
Maybe see how he reacts after this, getting him out when he’s awake seems to have worked well but I would be a bit wary of doing it if you’re not sure if he is or if he’s asleep.
It’s a good start anyway.
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Frida
Lovely to see Clover out and about 
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RainbowBrite
Aw, I am very happy you got to see Clover.
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Lovely he had some time out of the cage. He may feel a bit more reassured by your presence now after his changes recently.
If he walked into a tube then you could try that again but putting the tube over the house door, because yes it’s not great to regularly take the house roof off.
It’s tricky when you see them and they’ve gone by the time the playpen is up! Is there some kind of tall sided box you could keep on the floor next to the cage, so if that happens again, you can put the tube on straight away before he disappears? Then when he’s in it, put the tube down in the box while you put the playpen up. He’ll still have the tube in there as a hidey place and probably be nomming the treat.
I am also relieved you and we have seen him!
If he walked into a tube then you could try that again but putting the tube over the house door, because yes it’s not great to regularly take the house roof off.
It’s tricky when you see them and they’ve gone by the time the playpen is up! Is there some kind of tall sided box you could keep on the floor next to the cage, so if that happens again, you can put the tube on straight away before he disappears? Then when he’s in it, put the tube down in the box while you put the playpen up. He’ll still have the tube in there as a hidey place and probably be nomming the treat.
I am also relieved you and we have seen him!
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I think a few sessions of rebonding and things will be easier. But maybe every couple of days rather than every day - unless he shows signs of wanting to come out . The tube over the house entrance works well as the smell draws them out without you having to lift the roof.
. The tube over the house entrance works well as the smell draws them out without you having to lift the roof.
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I tried the tube over the house entrance but it is very tricky as the entrance is under one of the shelves and buried quite deep under substrate, plus he shoved all sorts of toys in that corner. Also he just doesn’t seem to be very tempted by smells, it has never worked so far. But I’ll try again tonight (just putting the tube there).
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I wouldn’t worry too much if he wasn’t fazed by you lifting the roof, as long as it’s not every day . Syrians are usually awake in there at night. I’ve had to occasionally do it if needing to get a hamster out to go the vet and they seem more curious than anything.
. Syrians are usually awake in there at night. I’ve had to occasionally do it if needing to get a hamster out to go the vet and they seem more curious than anything.
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Glad he finally had his adventure, it sounds like he's doing really good the past few days. You could try rustling the bedding near his box to tempt him out too, some hams can't resist investigating that noise in their enclosure
So I didn’t see Clover again since Saturday but probably because I went to bed every night before 11. Tonight I lifted the lid of his house again around 10.30 because I had to clean his litter tray which is inside the house (I’m going away for a few days so needed to do this before I leave). He seemed a bit more sleepy than last time but took the treat and climbed into the tube, though it took him longer than last time. He seems happy in the playpen but not as lively as last time, a bit more reluctant. So my guess is that it’s just too early for him unfortunately… as said before I cannot really stay up until after 11pm during the week as I have to get up at 6.30 but will try to get him out when he’s actually properly awake at least once a week. I really hope he will change his routine again… I’ve tried all tricks (rustling the bedding, regular feeding time, smelly treat) but nothing has worked. So I guess I just need to be patient.