Maybe I Went Too Far?

[Zenshii]

Last night, I decided to take Dango out of his cage and into a hamster-safe room. I made some fun cardboard play things such as tunnels and little rooms and hides.

I thought it would be alright since Dango has been really tame with me so far... He has been letting me stroke him and pick him up ( very briefly ), and he takes treats from me.

I transported him to the hamster-safe room via a measuring cup taxi, and I let him loose. He was exploring and sniffing everything, running around a lot. He seemed a bit frantic, but I can't tell if it was scaring him or not, or he was just really stimulated. ( I don't understand all Hamster behaviors yet. ) He had plenty of places to hide, but he just kept exploring. He didn't use the tubes or the cardboard very much, and he ate a little bit. He even climbed up me once, which made me happy, and he let me help him with my hand whenever he couldn't reach something.

I'm so scared I traumatized him, though. He seemed scared, but I just couldn't tell... Sometimes, he would stand up on his hind legs and paw at the wall, I was worried that was a sign he wanted to get out of there. When I put him back in his enclosure he went and hid...I felt so sad that I was really upset for the rest of the night...feeling as though I really scared him and made him distrust me.

Have I ruined my chance at bonding with him? Am I worrying over nothing?

I know I pushed him too soon...and I'm really sorry it was a dumb move, please don't be angry with me for doing that...I just wanted to know what the best thing to do is, maybe just leave him alone completely for a while? Or am I worrying over nothing?

Thank you...I'm really depressed over this to be honest...I feel so bad about it.

 

[Maz]

Aw it sounds like it was a big change for him but I'm sure he'll come round. How long has he been in his cage now? They sometimes need a bit of settling in time in the cage before they can enjoy taming sessions. But it sounds positive that he climbed on your hand. He might hide away for a day or two but they are very forgiving. He just needs a bit of time to start feeling more confident by the sound of it. Just keep talking to him gently.

I would leave it for another few days at least now before giving him some out of cage time. Next, time, maybe take a video while he's out and we can comment whether it's just normal hamstery behaviour or not. They often do scrabble at walls. It can be best to start with a taming area that isn't too large - so they don't get too overwhelmed.

 

[Zenshii]

Thank you Maz I know I did this too soon and I was really dumb...I just was too excited and wanted to interact with him more.

He's been home for about 5 days. Not enough time probably.

Would it be best to completely leave him alone for a while? Like not even give him treats in his enclosure? I won't take him out of his enclosure for a good long while for sure, I just wanted to know what you thought.

 

[Zenshii]

Also yes, I wish I had gotten a video...sadly I didn't have my phone with me at the time.

 

[Maz]

Five days isn't so bad. It can take them a good two weeks to fully settle into a cage and feel confident. During that time, hamsters vary as to whether they show interest in coming out or not. If he's not showing interest in coming out I would maybe leave it another week and he should start to get more confident about his surroundings. You could still try offering him the odd treat when he's in his enclosure, but I would wait a couple of days and just talk to him gently when you see him and then start offering him treats

It's always difficult videoing them when they're out as it's hard to both video and give attention to the hamster - unless you have someone else doing the videoing or the phone propped up or on a tripod. I find if I'm pointing the camera at them it can lessen the personal interaction a bit.

 

[Zenshii]

Thank you so much! I'm going to try that. I don't want to overwhelm him...Thank you for being so kind to me and helping me!

 

[RainbowBrite]

Zenshii, please stop beating yourself up. You have not harmed Dango. It may have been a little soon but what a positive sign he climbed on you! He clearly trusts you.

Perhaps next time you could try it in a smaller space just until he is used to being out his cage.

You must never think members will be angry with you. This is a place for support. We are all learning.

 

[Maz]

I know the feeling though, with a first hamster - you worry about everything! Don't worry - we have all been there I made quite a few mistakes with our first hamster, but he forgave me and was a lovely tame boy (after being a nervous wreck at first).

 

[Hank]

This is the best place for advice and help, I know everyone has helped me so much.
I did try my hamster in a room and she seemed on the move constantly, I think my partner and I got more exercise than the hamster following her around. I got a playpen and she was much happier in it, maybe that could help to begin with, when he's ready?

 

[Member ID2]

Did you read my post from last night about Davy in my thread Second chance hamsters?
The situation is almost identical. I was a bit hasty, he run around in the hall, pawed the sides and then i couldn't catch him because i had never handled him before. And what did i say in the end? I said that i should have known better.
You are new to hamsters and i've kept them since March 2019 but we do the same thing.
Difference is i don't get upset because i know that we have done no harm to our hamsters. All that happened was that they got a taste of freedom a bit early and now need time to process it.
Try not to worry. This little outing is not going to change anything. It won't change the growing bond between you and Dango.

There have been quite a few occasions when i felt bad and mad with myself because i thought i had done the wrong thing or upset a hamster. It's all part of learning and getting to know each other.

 

[Zenshii]

Thank you all so much.... Thank you for understanding how I feel and for encouraging me. It is hard when I'm new at this I guess...

Maz - Thank you for all the advice and for helping me figure out what the right thing to do is! I would honestly be so scared I traumatized Dango without meaning to. I am glad I am not alone in this experience!!

RainbowBrite - Yes you're right...I didn't mean to beat myself up too much, I just couldn't help feeling bad. But you are right, everything will be okay and I should focus on the positives! Thank you for reminding me of how Dango climbed on me and such, as that is a great thing and I shouldn't be too worried.

Hank - I think you could be right about that! I will try a playpen next time, maybe in the same room but just in that smaller space. I'm glad you understand what I went through! Thank you for sharing your experience!

Beryl - Thank you for sharing your story about Davy, it helps me feel better that I'm not alone in the excitment of wanting to interact with a hamster right away! I'm going to read your whole story. I guess I was a little scared since I don't know how hamsters feel fully, and I don't always know what the right thing to do is. You're completely right though...I should stay calm and remember that we all make mistakes and rush things! Thank you for such kind and gentle encouragement. ♡

 

[Maz]

I'm sure Dango will be popping his head out again soon Maybe put a special treat in his wheel and he'll forget everything.

 

[Zenshii]

What do you guys suggest for a playpen? I'm looking on Amazon and a lot of them say Hamsters chew out of them or squeeze through bars if there are any. Would a large cardboard box be a good option to try?

 

[Maz]

It depends how large the cardboard box is. A few people use those pop up playpens. I'm not sure how big they are but it's nice if it's big enough you can be in the playpen as well and they can walk all over you. Although it's not essential to do that. Care is needed there as well - so you're in the playpen before letting the hamster out of the taxi.

Another option is just section off a part of the room as a playpen if you have some kind of barrier you can put up. Which isn't always easy.

 

[Hank]

I had a pop up playpen, but she did get very interested in the walls, my hamsters chews everything, but strangely didn't chew the playpen. I had to watch her all the time. I've upgraded mine, to one with higher sides, that is bigger, she does still go through moments of looking for an exit, but I think most do.
As Maz said if you have a suitable room, maybe try sectioning off a bit, just to reduce the size.
I'll see if I can work out how to add links, as I used some suggestions from here

 

[Hank]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FB6MTJ9/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=A3W1YAJZVE78ZY&th=1

This is the playpen I have now

 

[albert's owner]

I have a playpen for Albert and he doesn't try to chew out or anything. it's a pop up one. Just make sure to supervise Dango even in the playpen if you do get one.

 

[Hamster Haven]

Last night, I decided to take Dango out of his cage and into a hamster-safe room. I made some fun cardboard play things such as tunnels and little rooms and hides.

I thought it would be alright since Dango has been really tame with me so far... He has been letting me stroke him and pick him up ( very briefly ), and he takes treats from me.

I transported him to the hamster-safe room via a measuring cup taxi, and I let him loose. He was exploring and sniffing everything, running around a lot. He seemed a bit frantic, but I can't tell if it was scaring him or not, or he was just really stimulated. ( I don't understand all Hamster behaviors yet. ) He had plenty of places to hide, but he just kept exploring. He didn't use the tubes or the cardboard very much, and he ate a little bit. He even climbed up me once, which made me happy, and he let me help him with my hand whenever he couldn't reach something.

I'm so scared I traumatized him, though. He seemed scared, but I just couldn't tell... Sometimes, he would stand up on his hind legs and paw at the wall, I was worried that was a sign he wanted to get out of there. When I put him back in his enclosure he went and hid...I felt so sad that I was really upset for the rest of the night...feeling as though I really scared him and made him distrust me.

Have I ruined my chance at bonding with him? Am I worrying over nothing?

I know I pushed him too soon...and I'm really sorry it was a dumb move, please don't be angry with me for doing that...I just wanted to know what the best thing to do is, maybe just leave him alone completely for a while? Or am I worrying over nothing?

Thank you...I'm really depressed over this to be honest...I feel so bad about it.

I definitely wouldn't worry unless there are more details that verify that he was scared. Pawing at the wall could have just been him exploring a new texture and curious to test it out, or see if there was a climbing point, especially if most of the time he was acting curious and relaxed. If you had him out for awhile, he may have hid upon going back in his cage simply because he was tired out after all of the exploring.

With my 2 Syrians, when they were first taken out they would often go back into their chambers upon return, often to deposit snacks they'd pouched, but also perhaps because they'd expended a lot of extra energy exploring. Now, after a few weeks, my current Syrian won't often go straight back into his chamber, but he doesn't stay out for that long after playing either. He'll usually search around his cage for any food that I replaced, take what he wants, and then go into his hideaway for awhile before coming back out to use his wheel or forage some more.