Hi. We are 3 weeks into owning a hamster and he’s still very very shy - he burrowed into his bedding and rarely comes out. I’m sure he’s living his best life and running about overnight but we’d love to build a better connection with him - without upsetting him. Any tips on how to persuade him to be more sociable?
Hiding hamster
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Hello. This can be a common issue especially with deep bedding and a baby hamster
First thing to try maybe is feeding time. What time do you put his food out? If you put it out say 9pm and make a bit of cage noise at the time, so they wake up, and also give fresh veg daily, they can start getting up at that time (mainly because they can't resist the smell of the veg). They start to associate the bit of noise, whether it's opening the door, tapping a dish down on a platform etc - with food/veg and get in the routine of waking about the same time for it.I also put the bit of veg on a separate dish at the opposite end of the enclosure to where they sleep (or just on a platform if you don't know where he sleeps!). Just a very small amount, no bigger than his ear. Cucumber and broccoli are popular (and the smell of cucumber can be very tempting) but there are other safe veg as well - but cucumber is a good start.
Then if/when he gets in the habit of waking and crossing the cage to get the cucumber, you can offer a tube (taxi) on his way back from getting the veg. Then lift him out in the tube to a playpen area or the dry bathtub for some initial taming sessions. Maybe do that 2 or 3 times a week max at first. Once they get used to coming out and are more familiar with you, they start asking to come out more so appear more
Let us know if that helps at all!
Thanks so much - all sounds like great advice. We haven’t been removing his food - just topping it up when it gets low. This is what we were told to do - but I’ll try removing and establishing a ‘dinner’ time. Ideally we’d like to hang out with him at 7/8pm so my son can bond with him.
We’ll also try the cucumber
We’re happy to play the long game - it just feels a bit like we’re ignoring him! Although he doesn’t seem to mind
We’ll also try the cucumber
We’re happy to play the long game - it just feels a bit like we’re ignoring him! Although he doesn’t seem to mind
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Yes you could try a 7pm routine Putting new hamster mix out each day is quite important as they strangely seem to ignore food unless it's freshly put out. So they will leave food in a bowl once it's been there for a day. They won't starve as they have a hoard to snack from. But I'm guessing it's part of the foraging instinct, to "forage" the new food each day and ignore anything that isn't new. What I tend to do is empty the bowl every couple of days but always put a new heaped dessertspoonful out each day (on top of the old food one day then empty the bowl the next day - if you use a bowl). Or scatterfeed half of it and put half in the bowl.
It seems like a waste of food, but they don't eat that much and hamster food isn't massively expensive As it's been three weeks then yes I would start trying to tempt him out. It can take a lot of patience at first though as it could take another few weeks of gentle taming before he can actually be handled! But you can start with a stroke now and then which is something. Have linked the taming article below
Also do you have a photo of his set up? We might be able to suggest the odd tweak that might encourage him out more.
www.thehamsterforum.com
Putting new hamster mix out each day is quite important as they strangely seem to ignore food unless it's freshly put out. So they will leave food in a bowl once it's been there for a day. They won't starve as they have a hoard to snack from. But I'm guessing it's part of the foraging instinct, to "forage" the new food each day and ignore anything that isn't new. What I tend to do is empty the bowl every couple of days but always put a new heaped dessertspoonful out each day (on top of the old food one day then empty the bowl the next day - if you use a bowl). Or scatterfeed half of it and put half in the bowl.It seems like a waste of food, but they don't eat that much and hamster food isn't massively expensive
As it's been three weeks then yes I would start trying to tempt him out. It can take a lot of patience at first though as it could take another few weeks of gentle taming before he can actually be handled! But you can start with a stroke now and then which is something. Have linked the taming article below Also do you have a photo of his set up? We might be able to suggest the odd tweak that might encourage him out more.
How to tame a hamster
Hand taming a hamster can make life with your hamster very rewarding. Suddenly they will sit on you to be stroked or even go to sleep on you, and will be very easy to handle. It can take a bit of time and patience initially.
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My dwarf hamster Cindy liked to be up later, once the lights went out but now I feed her at 7pm every day and she has got used to that routine and comes out for a good old nosh. I put food in lots of little dishes around her cage and give her a forage dish which is a bit larger that the others and has torn up bits of cardboard in it. She climbs in and has a good old rummage!
Thanks so much - here is his set up… any suggestions welcome!Yes you could try a 7pm routine
It seems like a waste of food, but they don't eat that much and hamster food isn't massively expensive
Also do you have a photo of his set up? We might be able to suggest the odd tweak that might encourage him out more.
How to tame a hamster
Hand taming a hamster can make life with your hamster very rewarding. Suddenly they will sit on you to be stroked or even go to sleep on you, and will be very easy to handle. It can take a bit of time and patience initially.
Thanks! Love the idea of the forage dish - fab tip thank you
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She has lots to do in there I'd suggest the odd tweak regarding ladders. The tall long one leading up is maybe a bit of a fall risk - hamsters don't balance that well. But maybe she doesn't use it and it provides some coverage under it? Would suggest having the top part a bit lower though. And the ladder up to the little front ledge is one with gaps in. Hamsters do much better with solid ramps or their legs can slip through the gaps - it might make them feel insecure trying to climb it if their legs keep slipping through and would be hard for the hamster to get down again so they'd probably just jump off the ledge.
What you could do is get a nice large cork log - it makes an interesting texture, something to climb over at low level and a big tunnel to run through - and it can also double up as a ramp. So if you place it alongside the small front ledge (at whatever angle works) that could be a route up there instead of the ladder with holes in They just run up the side of the log.
Adding more bedding would help as well and maybe you could do that at one end - eg the end opposite the wheel. The way to keep the bedding in without it falling out of the bars, is to put cardboard or grass mats inside the bars in that area. You can attach the grass mats with sisal string (not cotton string) or, if using cardboard, I sometimes just use plastic cable ties. They are fastened on the outside of the cage with just a very small loop, pulled tight, on the inside part of the cardboard. I'm sure she'd enjoy digging and rummaging at that end and under the large and small shelves
It will make it feel a bit less exposed as well. So she might feel more confident to come out. Where is she nesting at the moment?
You could add some sprays as well, as they also make it cosier and give coverage and some hamsters enjoy nibbling at them as natural forage.
But she has a lovely large cage there and lots to do. I bet she loves her wheel.
I'd suggest the odd tweak regarding ladders. The tall long one leading up is maybe a bit of a fall risk - hamsters don't balance that well. But maybe she doesn't use it and it provides some coverage under it? Would suggest having the top part a bit lower though. And the ladder up to the little front ledge is one with gaps in. Hamsters do much better with solid ramps or their legs can slip through the gaps - it might make them feel insecure trying to climb it if their legs keep slipping through and would be hard for the hamster to get down again so they'd probably just jump off the ledge.What you could do is get a nice large cork log - it makes an interesting texture, something to climb over at low level and a big tunnel to run through - and it can also double up as a ramp. So if you place it alongside the small front ledge (at whatever angle works) that could be a route up there instead of the ladder with holes in
They just run up the side of the log.Adding more bedding would help as well and maybe you could do that at one end - eg the end opposite the wheel. The way to keep the bedding in without it falling out of the bars, is to put cardboard or grass mats inside the bars in that area. You can attach the grass mats with sisal string (not cotton string) or, if using cardboard, I sometimes just use plastic cable ties. They are fastened on the outside of the cage with just a very small loop, pulled tight, on the inside part of the cardboard. I'm sure she'd enjoy digging and rummaging at that end and under the large and small shelves
It will make it feel a bit less exposed as well. So she might feel more confident to come out. Where is she nesting at the moment?
You could add some sprays as well, as they also make it cosier and give coverage and some hamsters enjoy nibbling at them as natural forage.
But she has a lovely large cage there and lots to do. I bet she loves her wheel.
Thanks Maz - really appreciate all your ideas - they make great senseShe has lots to do in there
What you could do is get a nice large cork log - it makes an interesting texture, something to climb over at low level and a big tunnel to run through - and it can also double up as a ramp. So if you place it alongside the small front ledge (at whatever angle works) that could be a route up there instead of the ladder with holes in
Adding more bedding would help as well and maybe you could do that at one end - eg the end opposite the wheel. The way to keep the bedding in without it falling out of the bars, is to put cardboard or grass mats inside the bars in that area. You can attach the grass mats with sisal string (not cotton string) or, if using cardboard, I sometimes just use plastic cable ties. They are fastened on the outside of the cage with just a very small loop, pulled tight, on the inside part of the cardboard. I'm sure she'd enjoy digging and rummaging at that end and under the large and small shelves
It will make it feel a bit less exposed as well. So she might feel more confident to come out. Where is she nesting at the moment?
You could add some sprays as well, as they also make it cosier and give coverage and some hamsters enjoy nibbling at them as natural forage.
But she has a lovely large cage there and lots to do. I bet she loves her wheel.
My next dilemma is how to do a full cage clean. I’ve been spot cleaning until now so his scent is everywhere..: but I presume I need to do a proper clean? Ron is in his tunnels under his bedding so how do I go about getting him out?
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To be honest, I wouldn't do a full cage clean after 3 to 4 weeks. Partial cleaning is better and less stressful for them. You can carry on with spot cleaning mainly - it's only their pee that is unhygienic. I've added our cage cleaning tips below - I hope that helps. It's a balance between extreme stress and hygiene
As and when it does need a substrate change, most people do a "third" or "half" clean - ie just one section of the cage at a time. It's important to always leave something smelling familiar and not clean everything at the same time as it removes all their familiar scent and they can get quite frantic - feeling like it's not their territory any more.Hamster cage cleaning
Tips on how to clean your hamster cage and avoid causing stress to your hamster. It's best to have plenty of depth of substrate and mainly spot clean your hamster cage. Avoid disturbing your hamster's nest and hoard.
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Aw it's really hard when you haven't found their pee. If you think he's peeing in his burrow then that area could be good for a spot clean on it's own - but then you might not find anything! Sometimes they pee in a completely different area to the burrow! Good that you can't smell anything yet. Does he pee in his sand at all?
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Ditto to this! I never do a full cage clean, because lots of the hamster's cage never needs it. It is hard though when you can't find where they're peeing. I have a hamster currently who likes to keep her potty near where she sleeps, so if you know where the sleep spot is underground (and this can change from time to time), it is probably nearby. You'll either be able to feel a damp space, OR take a handful of bedding and give it a sniff- once you find it it's unmistakable. Then you can just scoop out the soiled bedding and replace that. If you want to wipe down the floor or wall in that area you can. It sounds like your hamster is still being hidey, but if you can get him out one night and put him in a safe area to explore (even if it's just a bathtub or a large box), then you can do it with less stress because he won't be in the cage.when it happens.To be honest, I wouldn't do a full cage clean after 3 to 4 weeks. Partial cleaning is better and less stressful for them. You can carry on with spot cleaning mainly - it's only their pee that is unhygienic. I've added our cage cleaning tips below - I hope that helps. It's a balance between extreme stress and hygiene
Hamster cage cleaning
Tips on how to clean your hamster cage and avoid causing stress to your hamster. It's best to have plenty of depth of substrate and mainly spot clean your hamster cage. Avoid disturbing your hamster's nest and hoard.