Mr Nibbles Diary

[Amy]

Nibbles seemed to really enjoy his free roaming, he wasn’t shy. He cleaned himself and didn’t hide although he had enough places where he could hide. So it’s all the more upsetting to see him change the next day. He’s completely frightened, hides and avoids contact in any form. I just left him in peace thinking maybe today he will be better. I just changed the water and put some hay and herbs out and his veggies also two small peace’s of cooked unsalted spaghetti (my bolognaise has never before been so tasteless ). He was awake but didn’t come out, not even to peek around the corner. I am very concerned, I know you have back and fourth moments, but this seems very strange. Why does he act like this? He really enjoyed his out of the house, and kept coming to the door for more, only to act completely the opposite the next day!? I spend my afternoons in the bedroom to give him as much peace as posdible. I only cook quick no smelly meals, tiptoe around. I feel like a guest in my own home

 

[Vanessa1]

I feel he's just playing you up, he's almost acting like a spoiled child, as a mother of three I recognise the sign's. Just act normal life your not bothered he'll soon try to get your attention . I'm sure things will be back to normal tomorrow.Ness

 

[Amy]

I feel he's just playing you up, he's almost acting like a spoiled child, as a mother of three I recognise the sign's. Just act normal life your not bothered he'll soon try to get your attention . I'm sure things will be back to normal tomorrow.Ness

I hope you are right… I would hate to think he’s frightened. But he has not really got any reason to be

 

[Socks' Mum]

Early in the evening their behaviour can be very wary. Then later towards midnight they alter completely and become really confident. Maz described their eye structure, which makes their eye sight much better in low light, and they may be almost disabled until it is darker. But Socks was definitely very wary until about at least 10pm, literally creeping around and moving one limb at a time to remain inconspicuous. Then at midnight he would be climbing bars, chewing cardboard noisily and completely oblivious to the dangers he had been looking out for earlier. It was like having two hamsters

 

[Amy]

i went to see him last night at around 11;00 pm he was already in his wheel. But his behaviour has completely changed he doesn’t come up for his veggies when I am there. He freaked out when he saw me, and I heard him freaking out in the morning when I wasn’t in the room. I can hear it when he leaps out of the wheel. I don’t understand it at all. He runs like lightning struck him in the wheel, so he’s not hurt. I can hear his little paws tapping like a sewing machine

 

[Vanessa1]

I never see Teddy before 10.30pm , I hope things sort themselves out for you soon Ness

 

[Amy]

I saw him tonight, I left the dim side light on and waited he came out eventually. He took a snack from me and now he’s in the wheel. At least I could check to see if he’s okay. He looked rather confused that I was ignoring him and kept watching me. Better than yesterday at least. His house is starting to stink again, I do wish he wouldn’t pee in his bed. Maybe that’s why he slept in the wheel last night….

 

[Amy]

I had a conversation with my vet friend Thomas today. He’s currently on holiday and a bit bored i assume
He asked how I was getting on with Nibbles I explained the current situation. He said it may take a long time to build up trust with him, as I bought him from the pet shop and most likely he’s bred in a rodent farm
He says the first contact will have been at roughly 4 weeks old when someone grabs them to check their sex and separate them accordingly. Then at roughly six weeks then get caught but into boxes and transferred to the pet shop. There he only occasionally will have been checked and then caught to be put in a carrier for me to take him home. So naturally he will not have the best impression of humans. He told me to he patient and keep offering him a free roam if he shows interest. Eventually he should build up trust as he is a confident little fellow. I was very sad to think of all the poor little souls bred in these rodent farms so I do have a better understanding of his behaviour. I thought they bought them from local breeders.

 

[Maz]

Actually, depending on how long they have been in the pet shop, some pet shop hamsters get used to human interaction and can be a bit tamer than breeder hamsters sometimes. They may be picked up daily when their enclosures are cleaned out and be used to being handled.

Not sure if you've seen the taming guide, but a few sessions in a smaller area like the bathtub, can help them get used to hands and being handled. It can be a bit harder to do in a playpen, but then on the other hand with a playpen, you can sit in it with the hamster and they run all over you (keep in the middle away from the sides or the can run up your arm and use it as a way to jump out!). Your hands will then also be on a level with him so you can gradually get used to stroking/handling while he's in there or sitting on you. But it can be a slow process. They have much more room to run around in a playpen so he might not sit still as much.

 

[Amy]

I wish I had a bathtub (I love a hot bath myself). It would have been easier. Actually he’s not afraid of my hands at all. He just keeps getting set backs occasionally. I think it may be my neighbours from downstairs. They have been doing some work in their kitchen for the past four weeks! They used an impact drill when they started it was awfully loud. I asked them how long the renovation would take and they were supposed to have finished three weeks ago. But yesterday and today I heard them drilling a couple of times. Maybe that upset him. It’s hard to figure out. He was fully okay thus morning and had slept in his wheel again. That’s new that he sleeps there during the night. So he must feel homely

 

[Amy]

Finally it’s Friday I decided to treat myself to cauliflower cheese. I boiled the cauliflower in non salted water so that I could later offer some to Nibbles. Well would you believe it! It’s way too early for him but his little nose was twitching 90 to the dozen deep down in his nest… he came up to see where the smell was coming from. I put a small piece on his veggie dish, he looked so exited after sniffing it and snatched it up and took it in his houses. I can hear him munching. Thanks Ness for giving me this idea.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Bon appetit Nibbles

 

[Amy]

Bon appetit Nibbles

Can you tell mum to give me more cauliflower

 

[Vanessa1]

Your very welcome, I'm so glad Nibbles enjoy it Ness

 

[Amy]

Second time free roaming went much better, he climbed all over me, peed on the carpet and stole a treat out of his cupboard. But he enjoyed it

 

[Vanessa1]

Oh that's wonderful, I'm really pleased for you. Let's hope this is the start of many happy play times Ness

 

[Socks' Mum]

Can you tell mum to give me more cauliflower

Mum... Pleeze

 

[Socks' Mum]

Second time free roaming went much better, he climbed all over me, peed on the carpet and stole a treat out of his cupboard. But he enjoyed it

Excellent

 

[Amy]

To be truthful I would rather have had him in the playpen. I wasn’t expecting him to want to come out put he climbed in his veggie dish as I was just about to take it out. I have bought some rodent wire for a tiny little gap where he could climb behind the kitchen and I had not fixed it yet since it didn’t look like he wanted to come out. His built in “hamster gap detector” didn’t fail and as he tried to open the kitchen doors and failed before I could blink an eye, he swooshed through the gap!!! I panicked and tapped on the board, he came straight back out full of dust lesson learnt! That gap will be closed asap
He is not in the least bit frightened of me, comes running up and climbs all over me. He is just so energetic, he hasn’t got much time for a cuddle he certainly has an attitude. He cleaned himself in between and had a few stretches, so I guess he feels confident. Oh and as Maz wrote: he knows where the door is too

 

[Vanessa1]

How wonderful Ness