New hamster adopted 3 weeks ago.

[Annette22]

Hi there. Posting because I feel so guilty tonight after spot cleaning and think I have went a few steps back on any progress I’ve made.

My girl seemed to have moved her burrows to other side she is in Bucastate 3.0. With 10 inches bedding. I thought his would be a good opportunity to clean some soiled areas from burrow she wasn’t in. She is still so shy and runs away a lot so I was worried about cleaning out when she doesn’t like to come out when we are there just now’s Unfortunately I didn’t realise she had made a tunnel between 2. She was very upset- I had to removed corner chamber to clean I didn’t know she was going to come back to this bit and she started screeching and making distressed noises. I had to just replace wheel as quickly as possible and just leave her with large multi chamber at other side not corner one where her first burrow was.

I just feel so bad for causing her discomfort or stress I was just worried about the soiled bedding. She is clever tho and did push some to top let week for me to clean.

I just feel I’ve rushed and undone any good work.

Any help reassurance or how to approach this situation in the future would be appreciated.

 

[Annette22]

For context she is a rescue hamster adopted 3 weeks ago. She was put up for adoption for being too feisty. It was support adoption section from at home. Usually ones returned to store or ones who bite or are returned to store. Our last girl was similar but didn’t show any of these signs. Sorry for long post or if it doesn’t make sense I just feel so stressed and guilty.

 

[Annette22]

I did the whole leaving her for 3 weeks thing but I just worry any security she has is gone. It was also 12am at night so she was awake she got up for a snack but just at other side of enclosure.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Welcome to the forum You are obviously quite an experienced hammy owner and are doing all the right things. It may be that if her set up is tweaked a tiny bit there may be a way to spot clean more easily. She is in an excellent cage with plenty of bedding. It's good that she doesn't mind telling you that she is cross with you Would she use a corner toilet with sand in it? Sometimes that can help reduce the amount of wee in tunnels. The multi chamber houses are excellent. It might be possible to put a corner hamster loo in one of the chambers? Trixie sells them on Amazon.

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome I know the feeling! We feel so bad if we think we've upset them But don't worry, it's early days. Three weeks is not very long and she had probably only just adjusted to her new environment. And sometimes we do need to spot clean! But really you almost have to laugh at her screeching at you. That told you

Seriously though she's just being a bit territorial - she'll have forgotten about it in the next couple of days. So it won't be a setback. Just take it slowly.

I sometimes think rescue hamsters take a bit longer to get used to you/tame. On the other hand they have often developed quite tidy independent habits for some reason.

She is clever tho and did push some to top let week for me to clean.

This is why you don't need to worry too much about cleaning her out - I reckon you could leave it a month now. With that much bedding, it won't smell and she'll keep her pee away from things important to her - and probably chuck more soiled bedding out for you to take away.

What I tend to do after something like this is just talk through the cage or enclosure in my most contrite voice and say how sorry I am and explain why I needed to do it but I didn't mean to destroy your tunnels - silly me - and just keep talking! I swear they listen and they respond to tone of voice. You will be forgiven quickly

 

[Annette22]

Thank you so much guys I appreciate it. I feel a bit better this morning. After she was upset she got up and went on her wheel eat and drank. When I put the corner chamber back in will try sandbath on top as this side of enclosure def seems to be toilet area. I have still left it out for moment as I’m not sure how to replace it without upsetting her and moving more burrow so will leave out until next check say 4 weeks you advised? She still has her large one at the other side and such. Sandbath wise she has small one on middle platform and large one at other side but she doesn’t pee in them yet. Glad she made you laugh this has made me feel a bit more lighthearted about it you gotta love Syrian females. Yep territorial is prob a good shout as I’ve noticed the few times she has interacted it has been when we are at door of enclosure and not interfering or putting our hand in to let her sniff. She prefers to sniff at the door.

 

[Maz]

Aw I'm sure she'll settle down. It can take them at least two weeks to fully feel at home in their new enclosure and scent mark everything and make it their own. And she is not quite used to you yet either. Some hamsters just hate having a hand in the cage. Yes I'd give her a bit more time and not worry about where she's peeing just yet. If she comes to the door and sniffs you then she may be ready for some out of cage time soon Handling and socialising tends to be best done out of the cage - they behave differently out of the cage than in it. Do you have a playpen? Or you could use the dry bathtub with a blanket on the bottom and maybe two or three hides and a spare wheel if you have one (I wouldn't take her main wheel out of the cage though). I find the carrot cottages are good in playpens - it distracts them and they like nibbling at them.

Maybe give her a few days and then try offering her a tube to walk into at the cage front and use that as a "taxi" to take her to the playpen area. If she walks in, you can have a hand over either end while transporting her, but if you have to transport her somewhere not near the cage, then it would be better to put the tube down into a large box near the cage or something and carry the box.

She may not be handleable at first but she may let you give her the occasional stroke while she's out of the cage and it starts getting her into a familiar out of cage routine and more familiar with you and your scent and voice

 

[Maz]

Thank you so much guys I appreciate it. I feel a bit better this morning. After she was upset she got up and went on her wheel eat and drank. When I put the corner chamber back in will try sandbath on top as this side of enclosure def seems to be toilet area. I have still left it out for moment as I’m not sure how to replace it without upsetting her and moving more burrow so will leave out until next check say 4 weeks you advised? She still has her large one at the other side and such. Sandbath wise she has small one on middle platform and large one at other side but she doesn’t pee in them yet. Glad she made you laugh this has made me feel a bit more lighthearted about it you gotta love Syrian females. Yep territorial is prob a good shout as I’ve noticed the few times she has interacted it has been when we are at door of enclosure and not interfering or putting our hand in to let her sniff. She prefers to sniff at the door.

Female syrians are notorious!

 

[Annette22]

Thanks for the tip with the carrot hide that’s a good shout for outside time. I do have playpen but not been able to coax her into ‘taxi’ have a tube but she sniffs but doesn’t go in even with a tasty meal worm available. Even thought I haven’t been able to handle her or see her much the tapo camera had been great for this without freaking her out. I love her already even though she hasn’t interacted much. It’s so endearing seeing her doing her wee hamster things

 

[Maz]

Maybe it's still a bit soon then Try cucumber in the tube next time - I tend to find they can't resist that!

 

[Annette22]

Will post photo soon

 

[Maz]

When she lets you ha ha. Some of my hamsters, I've only been able to post nightcam videos for the first few weeks due to them either hiding away or just not being able to get a photo. It would be lovely to see what she gets up to at night!

Also some of us have a hamster's own thread, to update with their progress, antics, photos, videos etc - under the species section. So if you want you could maybe start a thread for her in the syrian section. You can call it whatever you want - eg Mindy's adventures, or All about Mindy - or just Mindy's thread

Syrian Hamsters

www.thehamsterforum.com