My hamster suddenly doesn’t want to go on my hands

[Nikaaa]

Hi, I have a 3 or 3 and a half ish month old Syrian hamster, after a week and a half he has already trusted me to go in my hand. Ever since he would always come out to play and wait for me at his hour to come in my hands. Since yesterday (Saturday) he hasn’t wanted to come out on my hands like usual. He also slept past his awake time. Today after he came out again he has not wanted to climb on my hands neither waited for me.
I have on Thursday cleaned out a section of his bedding, sadly it was the one where he has his hideout because he pees there. I tried my best to gently clean it but after 3 months weeks I had to change it all. On Friday he has still been curious to come out but the day after this he just stopped being interested. I am very worried about him. If this will continue I want to take him to the vets but I wanted some answers if anyone understands it better than me… ( I have gotten into the community and how to properly take care of a hamster for a month only so i apologise if I’m blind to a possibly obvious answer)

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome. It does sound like maybe the cage clean has made him a bit more reclusive. Have you been able to see him at all to check he's ok?

One way I always feel reassured they are ok is if their piece of vegetable is gone in the morning Do you give him fresh veg each day? They only need a tiny piece, no bigger than their ear. Eg a tiny floret of broccoli, or a small cube of cucumber or carrot. I have never known a hamster not eat their veg!

So if their veg is gone next day, you know he's ok.

 

[Nikaaa]

Hello and welcome. It does sound like maybe the cage clean has made him a bit more reclusive. Have you been able to see him at all to check he's ok?

One way I always feel reassured they are ok is if their piece of vegetable is gone in the morning Do you give him fresh veg each day? They only need a tiny piece, no bigger than their ear. Eg a tiny floret of broccoli, or a small cube of cucumber or carrot. I have never known a hamster not eat their veg!

So if their veg is gone next day, you know he's ok.

 

[Nikaaa]

Hi! I have fed him tiny pieces of vegetables before, cucumber is his favourite. I know he comes out because he demolished his sprays, and I saw him today but he wasn’t interested like usual and avoided me and went back to his hide. I am still quite new and learning so any small things freaks me out and believes something is wrong (my mum tells me to chill)

I was thinking it could be the change of bedding under his hideout. I just wanted good for him because I was worried about him sleeping close to all the pee after three weeks of slightly taking it out I thought it was best time

 

[Maz]

I think he sounds like he just needs some time to get over the change. It's difficult if they pee in their nesting area as then you do have to change the bedding.

Does he use a litter tray at all? Most Syrian hamsters will use a corner litter tray with sand in. If you put it in the right place! You could try a corner of his cage. Or if he has a large house you could put it inside the house. If they use a litter tray it's much easier as you just empty that every few days and the rest of the cage stays clean and dry, so you don't need to change everything for quite a long time. You can just "spot clean" mostly. Which is take out the odd handful of soiled bedding and replace it with a new handful.

He's probably upset if his hoard was removed. When cleaning out again, it's better to leave a little bit of the hoard left (if it's pee'd on) - maybe a dry bit - and then add a handful of new food in the same place too.

 

[Nikaaa]

I have one and he soemtomes poops and pees they (I clean out the dirty parts only) but he still continues to do it there. I could try about putting his corner toilet (I got him one of those but didn’t think of placing it inside I’ll try that out) i haven’t removed his hoard as I felt bad, I removed a bit of it that seemed like it had to go but left most of it.

I am trying my best to learn and want the best for my little guy (i took extra shifts at work to get him a bigger enclosure) so I really am grateful for the replies! Thank you!! I will give him a few days!

 

[Maz]

That's great you managed to leave most of his hoards. Sometimes we do have to clean out the sleeping area if they pee in it. Do you have a large house for him? ie would there still be enough room in it if you put the toilet inside?

I'm sure he'll come round in a few days. If you see him, you could maybe offer him a tube or similar to walk into - maybe with a smelly treat at the end and he might walk into it so you can have some interaction with him out of the cage again.

I've sometimes found they don't want to come out after a clean because they are "guarding" everything! But I'm sure he'll soon relax.

 

[Nikaaa]

I am trying to upgrade it into a chamber hideout, it is quite large for the space but I heard chamber ones seem to do better as it reminds them of burrows. But I do believe it will fit in judging from my eye of respective. It’s nighttime so I am letting him be for now. That seems like a great idea I will try that out after I give him some space! Your reply helped me relax more, I will Uptade if there is progress!!

 

[Maz]

Yes keep us posted! Is that him in your avatar? It's a gorgeous photo

 

[Nikaaa]

Yes that is him! He is a white Syrian hamster ! I absolutely love him to bits for some reason he really loved sitting in that Easter basket and chilling hahahaha

 

[elusive]

Hello & welcome to the forum.
I don’t have anything to add to what Maz has already said but I’m sure things will settle down soon & your ham will be back to his more interactive self.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Your little hammy is so cute!

 

[Nikaaa]

Hi guys! Thank you so much for the support! Today George was eager to come out and play and I let him free roam (my room is safe proofed and I watch him all the time) and he was full of energy! I made him some boredom breakers and is doing better :’) I panicked too soon! Also thank you ! George is great

 

[Maz]

Aw he's forgiven you He sounds adorable. Looking forward to seeing photos of him! You could start a "diary" thread for him if you like under the Syrian hamster section. Then he has his own thread you could update now and then with what he's been up to and any photos

 

[Nikaaa]

Aw he's forgiven you He sounds adorable. Looking forward to seeing photos of him! You could start a "diary" thread for him if you like under the Syrian hamster section. Then he has his own thread you could update now and then with what he's been up to and any photos

He forgiven me quite fast I am glad - when I tried to put him back to his enclosure to see if he wants to drink he climbed my arm to go free roam some more and I was super happy to do so!

I would love to! Thank you for the help!