I’m worried

[soaringtacocat123]

It’s officially been 6 days of owning my first female Syrian. She has been settling in nicely from what I can tell, and she’s absolutely darling. Shes been getting a lot more active and she tends to wake up at about 8pm, and then again at around 12 whenever I turn the lights off.

But the past couple nights she’s been making a lot of noise, and curiosity did get the better of me. I checked on her just to see what was the cause. And I can’t help but notice that she’s been exhibiting stressed behaviors. I’m trying to provide for her the best I can (I’ll provide details down below) but I genuinely don’t know what to do. I don’t want to panic- but I’m honestly kind of sort of panicking.

The cage I have has these sort of holes in the back that go up and down for air to get in. She’s been continuously climbing on her hideouts and jumping for them while also trying to chew them. She’s doing this nightly and for hours on end. Shes obviously stressed out and it makes me sick just thinking about it. I knew that having a female would be difficult, but I definitely underestimated how much so. And now I’m stuck.

I have a 42x21x21” cage. It’s a vista style cage and when I’d originally bought it before getting her, I blew a lot of money on it thinking it would suffice. Now I’m entirely unsure what to do. Is it the cage size? I now know that females require something bigger, but I’m not in a position where I can afford to upgrade. I’ve only had her for a little under a week. I don’t know how to make her happier. It’s not that I’m not financially well off, it’s just the fact that my mother can’t afford an upgrade for something I already have and neither can I.

I’m going to start free roaming her in the next week or so, but what if that’s not enough? I’m so entirely worried. I’m trying my best but I’m so open to suggestions. All she does at night is run on her wheel and constantly try to escape. I have a lot of enrichment in her cage that she shows disinterest in besides for the other substrates and the sand bath. I’m mostly just asking for help here since I don’t know what else to do and I feel ashamed that there’s an off chance it’s just all not enough. I want my hamster to be happy.

This is the basis of my current cage. She doesn’t show interest in chewing up cardboard so I’ve been trying to provide some wood items and hamster safe chew toys as well. She does seem to enjoy that stuff- but mostly during the day as far as I can tell.

Please help and reply with suggestions if you have any experience with this stuff. I’m asking as a first time hamster owner who just wants to do what’s best. Constructive criticism is always great and I’ll try my best to reply to everyone!

 

[Socks' Mum]

It is quite normal to worry when you get a new hammy, and females can be quite a learning curve when you get them Your cage is the right minimum size and is barless, which is good Could you move things away from the air vents to make it more difficult for her to reach them? Females have a need to make deep, secluded nests in preparation for pups, even if they never actually have any. Does she have about 6" or more of bedding in some or all of her cage? They like to nest at the back in a really dark place. What is her name? Congratulations on becoming a hamster parent

 

[Amy]

Congratulations on being a new hamster mum
It’s normal to feel worried and I went through the same (and still do occasionally) especially when you are new to owning hamsters.
I think she still needs to settle down and feel home and safe in her new environment
The chewing of the vents is definitely a problem, I have heard of that from other owners. Maybe it would be best to slightly rearrange her house so she can’t reach them anymore.
Do you have a sand bath in her house? Also various logs can help for them to chew on. I have a grapevine which I bought in a pet store. Dried dandelion roots are also great for chewing.
I hope she settles in and try not to upset yourself worrying.

 

[soaringtacocat123]

It is quite normal to worry when you get a new hammy, and females can be quite a learning curve when you get them Your cage is the right minimum size and is barless, which is good Could you move things away from the air vents to make it more difficult for her to reach them? Females have a need to make deep, secluded nests in preparation for pups, even if they never actually have any. Does she have about 6" or more of bedding in some or all of her cage? They like to nest at the back in a really dark place. What is her name? Congratulations on becoming a hamster parent

Yes! She has about 8” of bedding or so and she’s already made herself a burrow underneath the little cardboard multi chamber hideout I made her. The only reason I’m not sure I’d be able to move that is mainly because of that. I don’t wanna scare her and stress her out more by taking away her privacy. I could probably move the corner hide though, which has definitely been the main issue so far with her climbing. Her name is Yolandi and thank you for the suggestions!

 

[soaringtacocat123]

Congratulations on being a new hamster mum
It’s normal to feel worried and I went through the same (and still do occasionally) especially when you are new to owning hamsters.
I think she still needs to settle down and feel home and safe in her new environment
The chewing of the vents is definitely a problem, I have heard of that from other owners. Maybe it would be best to slightly rearrange her house so she can’t reach them anymore.
Do you have a sand bath in her house? Also various logs can help for them to chew on. I have a grapevine which I bought in a pet store. Dried dandelion roots are also great for chewing.
I hope she settles in and try not to upset yourself worrying.

I agree that’s it’s an issue and I think I could probably move her little corner hideout which is seemingly the biggest issue regarding her trying to get up to the vents. Otherwise she occasionally climbs on top of her multi chamber cardboard hideout (which she has made her burrow underneath) so sadly I don’t think I can do anything about that/move it because it would just stress her out more. Also yes, she does have a sand bath! She absolutely loves it! That’s another way I find her occupying herself at night which is pretty relieving. She also has another space with cocoa fiber that she absolutely adores playing in.

I have dried dandelion root forage I’ve yet to open but I’ve had for a little while. She doesn’t show any interest in actual dandelions or flowers as far as I can tell, but I’ll try that and see if she likes them!

I’ll definitely try to get grapevine or some kind of wood soon as well. When I went through and ordered everything for her at first, I only really had the funds for the necessities until I could get to a pet store and get everything else in person. She definitely had everything she needs, but I think that the wood would be really nice since she does show atleast a little interest in chewing stuff up. I’ve recently gotten her an applewood chew toy that she seems to love and I’ve also added a cork flat and some sphagnum moss around her cage which she’s shown mild interest in.

Thank you for all the suggestions!!yolandi will most definitely appreciate the help.

 

[Amy]

I can understand your worries and concerns I have grey hairs for worrying about my fluff ball it gets better the longer you have them. I found out the most helpful thing is routine. I feed veggies in the evening at around seven. At nine Nibbles gets up for playtime. Only since I have had a playpen with a wheel he loves. It’s a cheap wheel you can buy on Amazon or TEMU but it’s excellent and he loves it. This routine has really helped. I have a small side lamp on and when I switch it on at nine and pull the blinds down if it’s still too light outside, he comes up immediately. I also have to close the window so the birds outside are not too loud. At eleven I get him out of the playpen and put him back in his enclosure. He usually stays up for a bit then when the lights are out he goes in his house. He gets up again around three until five. ( I bought a camera so that’s how I found out )
Maybe if you find a routine things will improve. And a playpen is a good way to give them mental stimulation that’s what my vet says
I hope you feel a bit more confident, enjoy your little friend and don’t worry too much

 

[Maz]

Hi. She's a female syrian . Sometimes no cage is big enough for them. I think the one you have is fine, and I don't think she sounds stressed - she's just doing what they do - they always look for a way out or chewing at something. Looking at the photo I can see a large house back left under the vent holes. Is that the multiroom house you said she is nesting under? If so then there are a couple of alternatives: 1) Move it (she might be slightly miffed but it won't affect her burrow underneath or 2) Bury it. As in bury/push it down in the substrate so the top is almost level with the substrate - so it;s a kind of underground hide. If it's cardboard you can make an entrance hole on the top. That way it's still over her burrow and she can't use it as a ramp to hurl herself at the sides. She'll no doubt stop then.

I had a very active male hamster and kept hearing these thumps when he was in the playpen - he had climbed on top of a hide in the middle of the playpen and was hurling himself at the sides, in an attempt to get over the top. And then he did! He managed to cling on to the top with his paws on one landing and pulled himself over. Popped him back again. Next thing I saw him wandering off behind the playpen - he had got out the other side! The only solution was to remove his launching pad hide in the middle of the playpen! He stopped doing it then a) because he couldn't and b) because they are easily distracted into something else.

It can take them a good 10 days to fully settle and adjust in a new cage, and she maybe does want to come out. But she has a nice set up, plenty to do, a wheel (what size is the wheel?). So can I ask one thing? Is her cage in your bedroom or elsewhere? When they know you're in the room they can play up more. When you're not they just settle into a hamstery routine at night - wheeling, foraging and so on.

It might be that she is ready for some out of cage time. I'd maybe try some bathtub socialising before free roaming.

 

[soaringtacocat123]

Hi. She's a female syrian . Sometimes no cage is big enough for them. I think the one you have is fine, and I don't think she sounds stressed - she's just doing what they do - they always look for a way out or chewing at something. Looking at the photo I can see a large house back left under the vent holes. Is that the multiroom house you said she is nesting under? If so then there are a couple of alternatives: 1) Move it (she might be slightly miffed but it won't affect her burrow underneath or 2) Bury it. As in bury/push it down in the substrate so the top is almost level with the substrate - so it;s a kind of underground hide. If it's cardboard you can make an entrance hole on the top. That way it's still over her burrow and she can't use it as a ramp to hurl herself at the sides. She'll no doubt stop then.

I had a very active male hamster and kept hearing these thumps when he was in the playpen - he had climbed on top of a hide in the middle of the playpen and was hurling himself at the sides, in an attempt to get over the top. And then he did! He managed to cling on to the top with his paws on one landing and pulled himself over. Popped him back again. Next thing I saw him wandering off behind the playpen - he had got out the other side! The only solution was to remove his launching pad hide in the middle of the playpen! He stopped doing it then a) because he couldn't and b) because they are easily distracted into something else.

It can take them a good 10 days to fully settle and adjust in a new cage, and she maybe does want to come out. But she has a nice set up, plenty to do, a wheel (what size is the wheel?). So can I ask one thing? Is her cage in your bedroom or elsewhere? When they know you're in the room they can play up more. When you're not they just settle into a hamstery routine at night - wheeling, foraging and so on.

It might be that she is ready for some out of cage time. I'd maybe try some bathtub socialising before free roaming.

Thank you maz!! My worries are easing a little reading this. Her wheel is an 11/12 inch wheel from niteangel and I’ve watched her run on it. Her back is entirely straight and I’ve made sure of it because I worry sick hearing about the things that small wheels can cause.

Also yes, her wheel is in my bedroom. She comes out anywhere from 8-9 and she tends to only come out when I’m in the room and just quietly sitting in bed. Sometimes she’ll come out when I’m not, like tonight, but she definitely does seem to have an idea of when I’m in the room.

I also would like to try bathtub socializing!! I’m a bit unsure about the details of it, but I’ve seen multiple people online do it and I think it would benefit her (I’m definitely going to have a lot of research to do tonight LOL) and I’ll definitely look into it. I have a two bathrooms in my house and one of them we don’t use the bathtub/shower, so I think it would be perfect for her.

And also there is a hole at the top, and it’s the only one she comes out of. She has this habit of stuffing entryways to hides and stuff with bedding (which I’m not really sure if there’s a reason for that?) but she has yet to bury the top entry. If she continues chewing at the bars via access from her cardboard hide, I’ll definitely push it down which should hopefully be okay for her. She hasn’t jumped at it much today, so I’m hoping maybe it won’t be too much of a worry from here on out.

(Bonus picture of her since I’m entirely convinced she’s the cutest hamster ever!)

 

[Maz]

Some tips here

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.

www.thehamsterforum.com