At some point, I was looking for ground corn cob as a medium, and ran across a post on justanswer.com, where the responder indicated that aspergillus fungus (condition known as aspergillosis) can result from damp shavings, esp corn cob, etc. Actually not a bacteria, but a fungus. Sounds real.
New rescue hamster... is this normal behavior?
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At some point, I was looking for ground corn cob as a medium, and ran across a post on justanswer.com, where the responder indicated that aspergillus fungus (condition known as aspergillosis) can result from damp shavings, esp corn cob, etc. Actually not a bacteria, but a fungus. Sounds real.
We were considering corncob as a dig box medium, but ultimately went with cork granules. She seems to enjoy digging in there to find a few seeds mixed in daily.
Now, have another situation going on I'm hoping someone can shed some light on. This is a bit long - apologies in advance. To give some background, she first started being more interactive maybe 8-10 days ago. For 3-4 days she was coming up every day at feeding time and letting us pet her, maybe a little lifting, but she didn't want to stay in your hand for more than a couple seconds, squirming out. Not very keen on being turned on her back, while in hand, either (as we've seen in some videos). She'd still hang out on the 'top floor', letting us pet her. Then a few days of avoiding us, sometime after me vibrating the cage a little as she was incessantly trying to chew through the stilts for the multi-chamber (she's about 1/2 way through a 1-1/4" stilt, and so I'll have to wrap in metal or similar).
Anyhow then she was out again for a few days, and another day or two hiding after some spot cleaning (we're not sure where she is sleeping now, and haven't found her recent pee cache) and after offering her a tube and bringing her to a 'playpen' box (maybe 30" x 24") with some obstacles and treats (she definitely got nervous being there and we need to add more to the box). But, we haven't really had her out on the floor or anything... house is currently being rebuilt, and there's all kinds of trouble to get in for permanently being lost. But, we will setup some barrier system and do that.
The last few days that she's been out of burrow and up-top, my daughter and I would open the cage lid, and pet her a little. She then started going to the two corners where the top opens - where the multi-chamber lid is (5" from lip of open cage) or where the sand box with lid is (about 6.5" from lip of open cage). And of course she proceeds to try to climb out. Her little paws over the lip of the perplex, and lifting herself up. So I grab her and reset her elsewhere in the cage. She runs back and does it again. And again, and again. Tonight, she was quite fast. She even climbed up my arm, thinking it was a ramp out of the cage. Then I gave her the tube and put her in the playpen, and she got nervous, looking for a way out. BTW, she doesn't have a problem doing full body weight pull-ups, even off my arm
Of course, if we take our eyes off her for a minute, she could be up and over the lip of the cage, and down about 4' to the ground, which wouldn't be good. On some of these nights, after attempting to 'escape', she just sits and stares intently at me, 25' away.I can't figure out if it's just a game to her or if she genuinely wants to escape. Today when I shut the lid, she did a chew or two on the 23ga stainless hardware cloth that I installed on the lid (she can just reach it on her hind legs from the top of the multi-chamber). Of course, I told her multiple times 'no', and blew some air at her each time. Eventually she stopped. Maybe she just wants out of the cage for playtime without a playpen. Or, maybe she will chew through the stainless wire and escape overnight.
Anyhow does any of this sound familiar/expected/concerning? Any input is great.
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It is a sign of good health and vigour. Yes, she wants to show some exploring, but of course you have to set limits as the outside world can be dangerous for a small hamster. I think dwarfies enjoy flax seed sprays particularly and Lil Guy, Henry's dad has some great hamster toys. I love the thought of her doing little pull ups 
It's also super that she lets you pick her up and pet her a little bit. She sounds to be quite a sweet hammy 
It's also super that she lets you pick her up and pet her a little bit. She sounds to be quite a sweet hammy 
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She sounds wonderful And a fairly typical, cheeky, maverick female syrian. It sounds like she trusts you and is comfortable with you which is great and yes their raison d'etre is to "get to the other side" 
. Even if she had a 20 metre room to live in she would be pestering at the door to the next room. ie not just escape but roam widely. Which of course isn't safe. Considering they can run up to 10 miles a night in the wild, it's not surprising they want to roam. Running in a wheel deals with the energy side of running but not the instinct to roam and forage widely.
"Not very keen on being turned on her back, while in hand, either (as we've seen in some videos)". Absolutely hamsters generally don't like that at all - even if it's necessary for a health check. They feel vulnerable, out of control and try and wriggle free. There are videos on various social media of that kind of thing and some of them are very suspicious IMO - there have been pet videos where its clear pets have been drugged to make them compliant - I saw one with various different animals all placed together, snuggled up and sleeping - which isn't normal. Almost certainly drugged. It all looks very cute but it's not normal behaviour.
So in terms of handling, starting with stroking on the back is a good start, then stepping on your hand. The fact you can pick her up and move her back away from the door (repeatedly lol and yes it's a bit of a game!) is really positive and she's already accepting beind handled. The playpen is not a bad size - having a spare wheel in it might help. A larger one can help too. The Omlet large one is a really good size and folds up and down quickly and easy. It's also escape-proof as long as you keep any items that can be climbed on well away from the sides Also something edible in a playpen helps. Mine all love their carrot cottages (I'll link them - there might be something similar available in the US). A chew stick maybe. Something to distract and keep them occupied. But eventually they will spend time trying to dig out of the playpen and want to be on "the other side". One of mine was like that. Happy in the playpen initially then vigorously trying to get out of it by digging the floor in one corner. He was fairly tame by then so I started letting him free roam in that one room (which is hamsterproofed) and he was happy with that for ages - until one day the barrier between the living room and kitchen hadn't been put up properly, he found a little gap, managed to push it open a bit and got into the kitchen. While I did get him back quite quickly, he now spends quite a bit of time trying to dig a hole in the wall to try and get past this barrier again ha ha - because he now knows there's something interesting on the other side and somewhere else to go.
Female Syrians are notoriously active and she probably will need regular out of cage time. As and when you can, hamsterproofing one room for her to free roam in might help - but I usually wait until I've trained them to walk into a tube taxi before letting them free roam - to make sure I can get them back easily and without stressing them out chasing and grabbing! Most hamsters will usually walk into a tube with a bit of nice smelling cucumber at the far end. By doing that regularly, eg to and from the playpen, it trains them that an offered tube is for walking into.
I did laugh when you said she ran up your arm - they are so determined and cheeky (and quite clever in sneaky ways!). One of my lazy males also chewed through one of the stilts on his house - I assume he decided it was in the way! If they are digging under the house. That's not crucial - the house usually stays standing up on three stilts anyway and with plenty of bedding under it I'd be a bit cautious about covering a stilt with metal in case there are any edges top and bottom, or joins that she might end up injuring herself on.
Do you have a nightcam/hamstercam at all? You might find that she stops chewing the roof etc once the lights are out and everyone has gone to bed and that she's doing it to get your attention to basically say "I want out". One of mine only did it when he saw me and stopped as soon as the lights were out and everyone went to bed. He was my maverick male who was more like a female and he did want to be out every single night for a fair period of time. Eventually I felt I was living in his house ha ha.
And a fairly typical, cheeky, maverick female syrian. It sounds like she trusts you and is comfortable with you which is great and yes their raison d'etre is to "get to the other side" . Even if she had a 20 metre room to live in she would be pestering at the door to the next room. ie not just escape but roam widely. Which of course isn't safe. Considering they can run up to 10 miles a night in the wild, it's not surprising they want to roam. Running in a wheel deals with the energy side of running but not the instinct to roam and forage widely."Not very keen on being turned on her back, while in hand, either (as we've seen in some videos)". Absolutely hamsters generally don't like that at all - even if it's necessary for a health check. They feel vulnerable, out of control and try and wriggle free. There are videos on various social media of that kind of thing and some of them are very suspicious IMO - there have been pet videos where its clear pets have been drugged to make them compliant - I saw one with various different animals all placed together, snuggled up and sleeping - which isn't normal. Almost certainly drugged. It all looks very cute but it's not normal behaviour.
So in terms of handling, starting with stroking on the back is a good start, then stepping on your hand. The fact you can pick her up and move her back away from the door (repeatedly lol and yes it's a bit of a game!) is really positive and she's already accepting beind handled. The playpen is not a bad size - having a spare wheel in it might help. A larger one can help too. The Omlet large one is a really good size and folds up and down quickly and easy. It's also escape-proof as long as you keep any items that can be climbed on well away from the sides
Also something edible in a playpen helps. Mine all love their carrot cottages (I'll link them - there might be something similar available in the US). A chew stick maybe. Something to distract and keep them occupied. But eventually they will spend time trying to dig out of the playpen and want to be on "the other side". One of mine was like that. Happy in the playpen initially then vigorously trying to get out of it by digging the floor in one corner. He was fairly tame by then so I started letting him free roam in that one room (which is hamsterproofed) and he was happy with that for ages - until one day the barrier between the living room and kitchen hadn't been put up properly, he found a little gap, managed to push it open a bit and got into the kitchen. While I did get him back quite quickly, he now spends quite a bit of time trying to dig a hole in the wall to try and get past this barrier again ha ha - because he now knows there's something interesting on the other side and somewhere else to go.Female Syrians are notoriously active and she probably will need regular out of cage time. As and when you can, hamsterproofing one room for her to free roam in might help - but I usually wait until I've trained them to walk into a tube taxi before letting them free roam - to make sure I can get them back easily and without stressing them out chasing and grabbing! Most hamsters will usually walk into a tube with a bit of nice smelling cucumber at the far end. By doing that regularly, eg to and from the playpen, it trains them that an offered tube is for walking into.
I did laugh when you said she ran up your arm - they are so determined and cheeky (and quite clever in sneaky ways!). One of my lazy males also chewed through one of the stilts on his house - I assume he decided it was in the way! If they are digging under the house. That's not crucial - the house usually stays standing up on three stilts anyway and with plenty of bedding under it
I'd be a bit cautious about covering a stilt with metal in case there are any edges top and bottom, or joins that she might end up injuring herself on.Do you have a nightcam/hamstercam at all? You might find that she stops chewing the roof etc once the lights are out and everyone has gone to bed and that she's doing it to get your attention to basically say "I want out". One of mine only did it when he saw me and stopped as soon as the lights were out and everyone went to bed. He was my maverick male who was more like a female and he did want to be out every single night for a fair period of time. Eventually I felt I was living in his house ha ha.
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Sorry, my mistake, your little hammy is a Syrian 