R
RainbowBrite
Aw, it must have been very special for you and your daughter to watch him. 
E
elusive
Great to have an update & hear how Xolo is doing.
Was it still hot when he was sleeping out in the open? It must have been lovely to see, the only time I’ve seen one of my Chineseys sleeping in the open was Zak when he was very old.
They do seem to go through this kind of pattern, the first few days to a week everything is so exciting they tend to be out quite a lot but then they make themselves at home & get a bit nervous of us being around their territory but that phase doesn’t usually last so long & they begin to get braver & more interactive after a little while.
They are quite easy to spook but usually get over it quickly.
I expect Xolo will begin to be out when you’re there more often now.
Was it still hot when he was sleeping out in the open? It must have been lovely to see, the only time I’ve seen one of my Chineseys sleeping in the open was Zak when he was very old.
They do seem to go through this kind of pattern, the first few days to a week everything is so exciting they tend to be out quite a lot but then they make themselves at home & get a bit nervous of us being around their territory but that phase doesn’t usually last so long & they begin to get braver & more interactive after a little while.
They are quite easy to spook but usually get over it quickly.
I expect Xolo will begin to be out when you’re there more often now.
M
MacKyen
It was really lovely RB. Chineseys are very specialAw, it must have been very special for you and your daughter to watch him.
M
MacKyen
It was really lovely to see him and you’re probably right, it’s got so cold the last few days he probably needs a warmer place to sleep.
Thats really encouraging to hear elusive. We just have to be patient. It was really funny to see him inspect his veg dish and wonder why there was nothing there?? So I think he’s getting used to the routine
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elusive
Aww they do very quickly learn to look out for veggies so I’m sure that will help get him into a routine.
M
Member ID2
Great update and good to hear that Xolo is starting to feel comfortable around you. Hamsters spook easily and sometimes i have no idea what spooked them. It really does pay off in the end to be guided by the hamster and go at their pace. Took one of mine 6 weeks until he started to trust me but we ended up with a very close bond.
M
MacKyen
Thanks very much Beryl, that’s great to hear. I think it is going to take longer than normal but like you say they have a way of letting us know when they’re ready
M
MacKyen
Xolo is taking a very long time to tame… I think one of the problems is when I open the door one of the hinges squeaks and that seems to spook him
However I did manage to feed him a pumpkin seed yesterday so hopefully we’re making progress
However I did manage to feed him a pumpkin seed yesterday so hopefully we’re making progress
R
RainbowBrite
I think it is wonderful you can feed him a pumpkin seed.
Is it possible to oil the hinge to make it quieter?
Is it possible to oil the hinge to make it quieter?
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elusive
That is a shame about the hinge, I can imagine that would spook him a bit, hope you can sort that somehow.
It’s lovely that he took a pumpkin seed from you though, they usually love those so he’ll probably be your friend for life now!
It often is slow going with Chinese I find, it is with Liriél too, even though we got off to a great start I don’t expect progress to be speedy but they do suddenly seem to corner at some. point & all the patience was worth it.
It’s lovely that he took a pumpkin seed from you though, they usually love those so he’ll probably be your friend for life now!
It often is slow going with Chinese I find, it is with Liriél too, even though we got off to a great start I don’t expect progress to be speedy but they do suddenly seem to corner at some. point & all the patience was worth it.
M
MacKyen
Oh yes thank you RB and Maz.
It’s only getting worse and it does make him flinch so I’ll try that. I had to clean his wheel this weekend which I don’t think he liked and this morning it’s absolutely filthy again
It’s only getting worse and it does make him flinch so I’ll try that. I had to clean his wheel this weekend which I don’t think he liked and this morning it’s absolutely filthy again
M
MacKyen
Thanks elusive… Liriél looks very brave but Xolo is definitely taking his time.
His favourite spot at the moment is the very bottom right hand corner where’s he’s created a big cave and he watches us from there. When he’s at the top of the cage he’s much more nervous but you’re right, with patience I’m hoping he’ll get braver
His favourite spot at the moment is the very bottom right hand corner where’s he’s created a big cave and he watches us from there. When he’s at the top of the cage he’s much more nervous but you’re right, with patience I’m hoping he’ll get braver
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I was thinking the same thing! Looks like a great cage!
M
MacKyen
Thank you clacombe! He does seem happy there and it’s great to be able to see him burrowing. I’ll try to get a picture of him in his cave he created, he looks very proud of himself
M
MacKyen
A quick update on Xolo…
We’ve been doing really well getting into a routine with Xolo - he wakes up late evening when everything is nice and dark and quiet and I give him a pumpkin seed or a few sunflower seeds. He’s been getting braver and braver and Monday evening he stayed very close to me and kept coming back to our spot for more treats. So… I thought Tuesday I’d try to get a picture of him but then I dropped my phone onto a hard floor making an almighty bang and the poor little fella got such a fright.
Last night I thought I’d leave him be and put a camera so I could check on him and he didn’t come out at all until the early hours maybe 2am at the earliest.
It’s such a shame but do you think I should leave him be for a few days, or a week. Really want him to feel safe again
We’ve been doing really well getting into a routine with Xolo - he wakes up late evening when everything is nice and dark and quiet and I give him a pumpkin seed or a few sunflower seeds. He’s been getting braver and braver and Monday evening he stayed very close to me and kept coming back to our spot for more treats. So… I thought Tuesday I’d try to get a picture of him but then I dropped my phone onto a hard floor making an almighty bang and the poor little fella got such a fright.
Last night I thought I’d leave him be and put a camera so I could check on him and he didn’t come out at all until the early hours maybe 2am at the earliest.
It’s such a shame but do you think I should leave him be for a few days, or a week. Really want him to feel safe again
R
RainbowBrite
How lovely he will take treats from you! Your patience has really helped him to feel safe.
Hopefully in a few days he will feel okay after being spooked. Please do not feel bad. My hamster was spooked today just by my partner getting things out the freezer noisily.
Hopefully in a few days he will feel okay after being spooked. Please do not feel bad. My hamster was spooked today just by my partner getting things out the freezer noisily.
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It sounds like great progress. I am sure he will come out of it soon. They seem to get more immune to noises as they get older. I find they jump even when the door closes at first, but soon get used to it 
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elusive
That’s a shame when you & Xolo were doing so well & he’s been enjoying treats & time with you but we’ve all done things like that & they do usually get over it fairly quickly.
I would just let him guide you, if he comes out in the evening then offer him his treat as usual & he’ll probably be fine & forget all about it.
I did something similar yesterday, Liriél is always keen to see me in the morning but just as I was going to do her water before going to the cage I dropped something on the draining board with an almighty crash & she was gone before I got to the cage, I didn’t see her all day but this morning she was running to the door as usual & I expect Xolo will get over it just the same.
I would just let him guide you, if he comes out in the evening then offer him his treat as usual & he’ll probably be fine & forget all about it.
I did something similar yesterday, Liriél is always keen to see me in the morning but just as I was going to do her water before going to the cage I dropped something on the draining board with an almighty crash & she was gone before I got to the cage, I didn’t see her all day but this morning she was running to the door as usual & I expect Xolo will get over it just the same.