Hamster is scared of everything

[pumpkinthehamster]

Hi,

Would really appreciate some help here as I’m freaking out a bit I got my hamster pumpkin over a week ago, he’s a male Syrian. I went to a small family pet store who promote great care, and when I saw him I fell in love, I held him there and he seemed calm and sweet except a nibble on my finger haha.

When we got him home he did a tentative SMALL explore and sat in his cork log for ages then decided under his wheel platform was where he was going to sleep. Then next couple of days I noticed nothing in the enclosure was touched, treats I’d left on the other side, the sand bath hadn’t been walk in, the soil etc hadn’t been touched (it still basically hasn’t)!! I observed he just runs on his wheel all night, that’s it. He will go to his food bowl and water which is next to the wheel but only after walking so slowly and twitching the whole time making noises like he’s terrified.

Then about 5 days in I was in bed and heard this racket and it was him just absolutely freaking out, he bolted to the other side of the enclosure then started jumping up at the side of the enclosure. Then when he calmed down he wouldn’t move more than a cm at a time and was twitching back every time he sniffed something. He then crawled very slowly into his sand bath and I’ll attach the video of him in the sand bath hide and then nothing happened but he darted all the way back to the other side of the enclosure then didn’t leave there the rest of the night. I’ll attach photos of the enclosure too.

He did the same thing tonight ( and basically every other night) he panicked for no reason and dashed to the other side, then very very very slowly made his way back to his wheel, only on the outside of the enclosure he even went behind his flax seeds and over the coconut hide rather than just walking round them so he was flat against the side of the enclosure.

I’ve had many hamsters, some rescues from bad situations and I’ve never seen this behaviour before.

If you’re wondering if he’s scared of me, not really he will take treats out my hand and isn’t bothered by me putting my hand In unless I brush against something in the enclosure and it startles him. He jumped out of his skin earlier because I sniffled.

I don’t think he’s even touched the centre of the enclosure, I’ve scatter fed there spread out treats and yet he doesn’t leave his wheel / food bowl area. And if he does (not by choice, because he freaked out) he acts like he’s never been outside before and like he’s on a mine field.. he either completely freaks out or is just like he’s so so scared of everything except his wheel!!

Please any advice? He’s got so many places to hide and shelter, his enclosure is 120 x 60 x 60, 10 inches of bedding
Just seen I can’t attach videos, the picture in the hide is right before he darted.

 

[Maz]

He's gorgeous To attach videos you paste a youtube link into the post and it embeds and the video can be watched on the site in your post

He has an amazing home! I'm guessing he's still a baby and they do startle easily and do mad funny things - I'll wait to see the video before commenting further So if you upload it to youtube - then if you don't want it public, select "unlisted" - then it only shows wherever you post the link (ie here).

 

[Lovelyness]

The photo in the pumpkin hide is so cute

 

[Socks' Mum]

Pumpkin is absolutely gorgeous and has a lovely home, lucky little ham. He might be more confident at night, especially after 10pm and say about 4am, but I don't know if you're a night owl. It's good that he is using his wheel. Perhaps try to keep the room as dark and quiet as possible and play soft music in the background. Some hammy like classical music. It's great that he is taking treats from you. Talking to him might help. Katy Clean and Cosy is very soft and he might make a nest in it and be comforted by that. I hope he becomes more confident soon

 

[pumpkinthehamster]

Pumpkin is absolutely gorgeous and has a lovely home, lucky little ham. He might be more confident at night, especially after 10pm and say about 4am, but I don't know if you're a night owl. It's good that he is using his wheel. Perhaps try to keep the room as dark and quiet as possible and play soft music in the background. Some hammy like classical music. It's great that he is taking treats from you. Talking to him might help. Katy Clean and Cosy is very soft and he might make a nest in it and be comforted by that. I hope he becomes more confident soon

Thank you! Yeah I did notice when I was away for the night he seemed to venture a tiny bit further. He has care fresh at the moment, definitely want to swap out to kaytee, it’s been out of stock everywhere I’ve ordered from!! Yeah I just feel really guilty that he’s clearly very anxious to the point he can’t even walk around his enclosure I did think fingers crossed it’s because he’s a baby and still growing, I just worry he will have a miserable life if he doesn’t grow out of it?

 

[pumpkinthehamster]

He's gorgeous To attach videos you paste a youtube link into the post and it embeds and the video can be watched on the site in your post

He has an amazing home! I'm guessing he's still a baby and they do startle easily and do mad funny things - I'll wait to see the video before commenting further So if you upload it to youtube - then if you don't want it public, select "unlisted" - then it only shows wherever you post the link (ie here).

Hi thank you he is gorgeous! Okay I think my plan is to take another video tonight so I can show his general behaviour when coming out / in his enclosure and how nervous he is (not just the dashing across the cage like he’s on fire) I’m just worried he’ll be unhappy! Then I’ll upload both in one video hopefully tomorrow thanks!!!

 

[Maz]

I suspect he's just being a baby hamster And building up his courage. He can maybe hear something we can't hear as well. They all vary in personality. Sometimes the most sensitive ones become the most feisty or loving ones

 

[pumpkinthehamster]

I suspect he's just being a baby hamster And building up his courage. He can maybe hear something we can't hear as well. They all vary in personality. Sometimes the most sensitive ones become the most feisty or loving ones

I hope so not sure whether to change his enclosure to be a bit more simple / less intimidating with lots of places to hide still so it’s not as overwhelming. I think it’s just thrown me off as all my previous hamsters although wary of me at the start have never been wary of their enclosure!

 

[Socks' Mum]

I wonder if wild caught hamsters are sometimes introduced, not necessarily by your pet shop but possibly by other breeders and some genetic strains are found in some areas. It is an intriguing possibility. Hamsters could still be friendly pets, but possibly more predator aware than others.

 

[pumpkinthehamster]

Definitely think it could be something genetic, and partly his personality I’ve never seen it before where a hamster isn’t wary of humans but is scared of a sand bath he didn’t leave his wheel at all last night, slept in it, peed in it then 7am grabbed some food and went back under the wheel. Gotta laugh at this point haha

 

[Maz]

I think you do have to laugh yes I have seen similar things, and they can be so funny when they do this whizzing scared thing.