Understand Hamster Behavior

Like all animals, hamsters can communicate with one another and with you, the pet owner. Hamsters communicate for various reasons, including saying hello, telling another to back off, or even for finding a boyfriend or girlfriend to mate with. Since they don’t speak words, they have to rely mainly on nonverbal cues to communicate with one another or with you. These nonverbal cues include: sending off chemical messages through their scent glands and displaying different types of body language to non verbally show how they are feeling.

Table of Content
    golden hamster

    Hamster Behaviors and What They Mean

    The following is a list of behaviors and what they mean.

    • Burrowing in bedding: This means a hamster is happy and just digging around playing or searching for a possible snack it may have buried earlier.
    • Watching you with its ears erect: A hamster behavior like this means it is just a bit curious about what is going on and in a calm way.
    • One that is grooming: They are seeking reassurance and are feeling rather content with everything that is going on.
    • Stretching their limbs: They are feeling good and relaxed about their current situation.
    • Ears forward with cheek pouches puffed up and mouth open: It’s frightened. Try to remove the stressors that are causing this behavior.
    • When it empties its cheek pouches quickly: This is a hamster that is insecure about the current situation and is likely to flee and hide.
    • Standing on hind legs with their dukes up: A hamster with this body language is telling you it feels threatened and might get aggressive if you don’t back off.
    • It gets startled when you approach: This is another sign that your pet is feeling insecure and unsure of what is going on at the moment.
    • Ears laid back with narrowed eyes: This is a sign of suspicion, and they think something is up.
    • It is lying on its back with incisors showing: Yet one more sign of a frightened and threatened hamster that doesn’t want to be messed with.
    • It creeps slowly along the sides of its cage: It’s unsure of its surroundings, or it’s trying to find its bearings on where they are at.
    • It freezes in place: When they are afraid, they might playing dead by lying down and freezing in place.
    • When they chatter their teeth: This behavior means they are fearful and ready for aggression. It’s a warning sign to stay away.
    • If they are shy and always hiding: This occurs when it’s stressed by something or someone. (loud noises, aggressive hamsters, over-eager children)
    • When it is squeaking: This can mean it’s doing a mating call, feels uncomfortable, is mad, or even frightened. It can also mean nothing at all.
    • They are unresponsive when you approach: This is often a sign that your has an illness or an injury.
    • When they are lazy or lethargic: Another sign that they might be sick or under the weather.
    • Biting or nipping you or another hamster: This is a sure sign of a hamster that is frightened and defensive. It shows you have not built up enough trust with it yet.
    • Two hamsters are fighting: One or both hamsters are trying to display their dominance or defend their territory. Separate them if they don’t stop fighting.
    • When it repeats a behavior over and over again: If this happens, this is an indicator that it’s not well mentally. A monotonous life causes this mental disorder in an inadequately sized hamster cage. Consider a larger cage or some enrichment toys.
    • When it is shaking: This can be due to several factors. Your hamster could be cold, stressed, it’s old, it’s trying to dry off, or it might have an illness.

    When you learn what all these behaviors mean, you will then be able to better care for your hamster. If you notice your little pet is upset, mad, or sick, you can change the way you care for it by improving its situation. Often, you might just need to build more trust with your pet for it not to act aggressively or get frightened when you put your hands in the cage.

    Related: Aggressive Hamster Behavior

    How Hamsters Uses Their Senses to Communicate


    Hamsters possess a remarkable sense of smell that plays a crucial role in their communication and social interactions. By detecting scents from other hamsters’ scent glands, they can discern crucial information such as gender, relatedness, and individual identity. Mother hamsters can identify their own offspring by their unique scent, and they can even detect if there’s an unfamiliar baby in their litter. Moreover, their scent glands are employed for territorial marking and attracting potential mates during the breeding season. These olfactory behaviors are complemented by visual cues conveyed through body language, as hamsters use a diverse range of expressions to express emotions like happiness, fear, curiosity, aggression, and more. Additionally, they engage in limited forms of sign language when communicating with one another.

    Despite their reliance on scent and visual cues, hamsters are not limited to non-auditory communication. They employ various sounds to convey specific messages. For instance, baby hamsters use ultrasonic sounds to call for their mothers, females have specific mating calls to attract mates, and hamsters can emit high-pitched squeaks when feeling threatened or displaying aggression. Many of these auditory cues are brief and imperceptible to the human ear. These multi-faceted communication methods highlight the complexity and sophistication of hamsters’ social interactions and contribute to their adaptability in various environments.

    holding a golden fluffy hamster

    FAQ

    Why Is My Hamster Shaking?

    • Cold: Hamsters are small animals and can get cold easily. If the room temperature is too low or if your hamster is not warm enough in its cage, it may shake to keep warm.
    • Fear or Stress: Hamsters may shake when they are frightened or stressed. This could be due to loud noises, sudden movements, or other animals in the home.
    • Illness: Some illnesses can cause a hamster to shake, such as infections, neurological disorders, or metabolic problems. If you suspect that your hamster is ill, it’s important to take it to a veterinarian who specializes in small animals.
    • Old age: As hamsters get older, they may develop tremors or shaking due to age-related conditions.
    • Wet fur: If your hamster has wet fur, it may shake to try and dry off. This could be due to bathing or drinking water from a dish.

    Why Is my Hamster Squeaking?

    What does it mean when a hamster squeaks:

    • Communication: Hamsters use a variety of vocalizations to communicate with each other and with their owners. Squeaking can be a sign of excitement or happiness, such as when your hamster is playing or exploring.
    • Distress: If your hamster is in pain or feels threatened, it may make a squeaking noise to signal distress. This could happen if your hamster is handled too roughly, if it is frightened by a loud noise, or if it is injured or sick.
    • Territorial behavior: Hamsters are territorial animals and may squeak to warn other hamsters or pets to stay away from their territory or food.
    • Breeding behavior: If you have a male and female hamster living together, the female may squeak to signal her readiness to mate.
    • Respiratory issues: In some cases, a hamster may make a squeaking noise due to respiratory problems, such as an infection or allergy.

    Why Does My Hamster Bite Me?

    • Fear or Aggression: If your hamster is afraid or feels threatened, it may bite as a form of self-defense. Hamsters can also become aggressive if they feel that their territory is being invaded or if they are in pain or discomfort.
    • Rough Handling: If you handle your hamster too roughly, it may bite as a way to defend itself. Make sure you are holding your hamster gently and supporting its body at all times.
    • Lack of Socialization: Hamsters that have not been handled frequently or properly socialized may be more likely to bite.
    • Food-Related Aggression: Hamsters can become aggressive if they are territorial over their food or treats. Make sure you are not reaching into their cage when they are eating or taking away their food while they are still eating.
    • Scent: If you have handled other animals or eaten certain foods with strong scents, your hamster may bite you because it does not recognize your scent.

    What Does a Hibernating Hamster Look Like?

    Hamsters are not true hibernators, which means that they do not enter a state of true hibernation like some other animals. However, during the winter months or when they experience a change in temperature or light, they may enter a state of torpor, which is a period of decreased metabolic activity.

    During torpor, a hamster may appear to be sleeping more than usual and may be less active. Their breathing and heart rate may slow down, and their body temperature may drop. They may also appear to be in a deep sleep, with their eyes closed and their body curled up.

    If you suspect that your hamster is in torpor, it’s important to monitor their behavior closely and make sure they have access to fresh food and water. If your hamster appears to be in distress or is unresponsive, it’s important to seek veterinary attention right away.

    It’s also important to note that if your hamster is exhibiting symptoms of torpor, it may be a sign of an underlying health issue or environmental problem. Make sure your hamster’s cage is located in a warm, quiet area away from drafts, and consult with a veterinarian if you have any concerns about your hamster’s health.

    Why Is My Hamster Biting the Cage?

    • Dental health: Hamsters have continuously growing teeth, so they need to gnaw on things to keep their teeth from getting too long. Biting on the cage bars or other chew toys helps them maintain their dental health.
    • Boredom: Hamsters are active animals and need plenty of stimulation to keep them entertained. If your hamster is not getting enough exercise or playtime, it may resort to biting the cage out of boredom.
    • Stress: Hamsters can become stressed in certain environments or situations, such as when they feel threatened by other animals or when their cage is too small or cramped. Biting the cage may be a sign of stress or anxiety.
    • Escape attempt: In some cases, a hamster may bite the cage bars in an attempt to escape. This could happen if your hamster is feeling confined or if it smells or hears something outside of the cage that it wants to investigate.

    Solutions

    The most common issues relating to odd behaviors that are not illness-related can be addressed by providing enrichment, a larger habitat, and stress relief.

    Chew Toys

    Larger Habitat

    Stress Relief

    Citations

    1. Johnson, M., & Hubbard, G. (2019). Hamster communication: more than meets the ear. Journal of Ethology, 37(3), 341-347. doi:10.1007/s10164-019-00626-6
    2. Cameron, H. M., & Jennings, M. (2020). Social olfaction in hamsters: from receptors to communication. Physiology & Behavior, 219, 112840. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112840

    Pet Guides
    Hamster Care Guide

    Reviewed By: Tim Winter

    Tim Winter has a strong affection for pets and wildlife. His years of experience caring for various types of pets has led him to share his knowledge with others on the best practices in pet care. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications.

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    500 thoughts on “Understand Hamster Behavior”

    1. My new dwarf hamster keeps nibbling everything and is bar biting I got her more chew toys but she also always comes up to the cage when I walk by and climbs it a little, she also climbs her play pen when I’m around. I’m a bit skiddish when it comes to holding her though because when I do she nibbles on me. Does she like me? Does she want to be held?

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    2. My dwarf hamster keeps. Coming to the cage and climbing it a little when I walk by. She also climbs her little playpen.is that a good sign? Does she want to be held?

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    3. My female Syrian had an accidental litter of pups due to not being separated from her brothers fast enough for backstory. For the first time about a week ago (they where 3 weeks old) I took the pups out to count and look them over. They all hated it and tried everything to get away from me I have a couple battle scar nibbles for proof, I went to pick up another to look him over and I thought he was going in for a nibble but he started licking my fingertips, crawled right into my hands and curled up for a nap. And ever since when it’s desensitization time for the litter the other pups try everything to get out of it but he just crawls right up and takes a nap. I’m scared that maybe he has a neurological issue because he’s not as flighty as he should be. Maybe I’m just looking too much into this and he’s just really snuggly. He’s cleaned and pruned himself in my hands and done lots of stretching and comfort yawning. What is everyone’s opinions on the snuggle bug, which is comically asleep in my arms as I’m typing this out.

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    4. Hello

      I recently upgraded my hamster cage to a larger one as my little hammy has a birth defect with one of her legs. Since upgrading her cage she’s been looking rather lossed, chewing her bars, stearing longing at me and I’m wondering if it’s because she’s gone from a smaller cage to a full blown big cage? Could she be still getting used to the big cage or could she be possibly missing the smaller cage.

      She’s 9 weeks old, her favorite things in her cage are her coconut house, wheel and sand bath.

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      • `It’s been 4 months since your post. I hope your hammy has adapted well to her upgraded cage! I guess, at the start of the transition they will be at a loss and was shy to explore given her age.

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      • I’m no professional, but she may still be adjusting to her cage. She may need more stimulation and could be bored if she’s chewing on the bars and just staring, but it could also be nothing.

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      • My hamster does the same thing that’s good she’s just getting used to her environment

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    5. Hey my hammy just managed to get a button off my shirt and put it her cheeks. I’m scared she’ll eat it , she won’t will she. Should I worry about it, or is it just a chew toy to her.

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    6. My Hamster keeps flicking itself no matter where it is, He Flicks as if he’s having a Chill But its very very warm in our house, he’s a teddy bear hamster. so I’m really confused on what he’s doing, or if somethings wrong?

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    7. First, if my hamster is cold what should I do to get it warm again.

      And second, if my hamster enjoys to crash into things, what could that mean

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      • Mines also does that well used to and also Try placing your hamster somewhere else Where it’s not cold Because Mines used to be in the window but then I moved it. 😀

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      • The biting means she needs a bigger cage and the not wanting to be held means you have not tamed her. Look on YouTube how to tame a hamster

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        • She wants to get out of the cage so that’s why she is biting it and not letting hold her because she is not comfortable with you so you need to take her out more and bond with her and make sure she trusts you

      • Sounds like its cage might be too small. Once she has a larger environment, her own territory, she should start feeling more confident and calm. Be careful how you pick her up too so that you’re not holding her too tight, but it’s normal for them not to want stay still and explore.

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        • What’s your problem like what u got NO heart like wow you must not have any hamster why are you even here if you aren’t gonna help you mean little brat

    8. My friends hamster felt like a rock last night. It that a sign of her being dead? I need to know because she had illness and she had something covering her eye. It was competely covered and my friend Saniya and me, we were putting water and salt on that eye and her other eye was shut all the way. Please I need to know if it is dead, passed out, or going into a hamster stage.

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    9. Hi! I got My Syrian hamster a little more than 2 weeks ago. She’s okay with eating food off of my hand and will sometimes step on my hand also. I also let her out of her enclosure into her playpen everyday. But occasionally she’ll bite me even when she’s smelled me beforehand. She has multiple chews too so can someone explain why this happens? It’s very discouraging to me as an owner as I can’t keep her in my hand without being afraid now.

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      • I just got my Syrian a little over a week ago. He hasn’t bitten me at all and every time i feed him treats from my hand I have washed my hands with antibacterial soap that isnt that smelly (bc they have sensitive noses). Thats the only advice I have is to make sure your hands dont smell like food

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    10. I got my Chinese Darwf hamster like 3 months ago and I try to feed her treats out of my hand and she comes up to my hand and then she walks away. and when I try to get her out she just runs back into her bedding and when she does go into my hand she always wants back into her cage so I just sit with her until she kinda calms down then she’s fine with me holding her. So my question is how do I get her to like me?

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        • He is bored and wants to get out I prefer you should get a ball to put him in and let him roll around if that doesn’t help get him some more guys like a wheel or something

      • You need to let her get used to the space and then slowly introduce her to your hand and then let her climb onto your hand and then she will be comfortable with you present and love you love her (I hope you love her a lot)

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    11. Same here. He was so friendly before and loved to get on my hand…which he still does but after a few secs he goes for the nibble. So far he hasn’t drawn blood but I know its only a matter of time which makes me very skittish to hold or pet him.

      Reply
      • Hamsters use their mouths to move bedding and food. They will also use their mouths to move things that are in their way. My male Syrian uses his mouth and teeth to move my fingers when he’s done being held.
        Make sure to watch body language. If your hamster seems calm and content, it could just be they want to move you out of their way. If it does end up nipping you, remember their body language so you can spot it before getting bitten in the future. The more you handle your hamster in a positive way, the less likely they are to bite. That’s been my experience at least.

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    12. My Syrian hamster keeps on biting it’s cage and squeaking. I only got him a week ago. Does this mean he’s bored, needs a bigger cage etc.

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      • Yes, this means your pet definetly needs a larger cage. For a Syrian hamster I recommend a cage 100cm by 50cm or 775 square inches. They should also have an 11inch or 28cm wheel, and an area with 10 inches of bedding. They need a lot of enrichment to keep them busy, try scatter feeding. Check out hamster care on youtube, forums and Instagram to get more advice.

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      • Hamsters need lots more space than people think. Consider getting a large tank or even storage bins and DIY. I got two 116L bins from Home Depot and connected them and my hammy is happier than ever ! Also lots of bedding and plenty of toys (also consider a 12 inch wheel)

        Reply
      • No, it doesn’t. He is biting on the cage because he is doing something called teething. Hamsters’ teeth are always growing, so the have to teeth their teeth. I would recommend getting chew toys. If he likes biting on metal, get him a metal, get him a pencil shaped metal thing like I did. If he like plastic or wood, do the same. I have a Syrian hamster, and they are rather small. So, this behavior is totally normal. 🙂

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        • No it’s not. Hamster biting cage is not normal… it means he is stressful. But teething is normal too. Really recommend to watch Victoria Rachael for information about hamster. And biting cage usually means he needs a larger cage. And do not let hamster bite metal. It will wear down teeth in a really bad way as metal is too hard.

        • No it’s not. Hamster biting cage is not normal… it means he is stressful. But teething is normal too. Really recommend to watch Victoria Rachael for information about hamster. And biting cage usually means he needs a larger cage. And do not let hamster bite metal. It will wear down teeth in a really bad way as metal is too hard.

        • No, I’m sorry but bar biting and monkey barring are not normal, it is often misunderstood that it’s them just wearing down their teeth but it’s a sign that the enclosure is too small and they’re bored and stressed. Please do not put false information out there. Hamsters use chew toys and wood to wear down their teeth, they also in the wild run miles and miles and have a lot of energy so despite their small size they need a lot of room, they need a lot of bedding to borrow in 9+ inches or more, and they need a proper sized wheel so their back doesn’t curve and other enrichment. Victoria Raechel and ErinsAnimals on youtube are pet youtubers that I highly recommend checking out for hamster care information.

      • Yes this is a sign of stress that is caused by an inadequate amount of space. Do not waste your money on the enclosure attachments that this article suggested, instead look into bin cages which are fairly cheap and easy. You can also upgrade to a larger wire cage but make sure it is above the bare minimum of 450 square inches. Bigger is always better 🙂

        Reply
        • sorry but have to disagree about it being cage size why bite bars. Am sure in some cases this is true, but i have a 3 story 20 ” height 25” legnth cage full of logs buildings and toys and if thats not big enough for a dwarf hamster nothing is lol. In my experience, and i realise not all hamsters are the same, my last 3 hamsters have generally only bitten cage as a sign they want come out into ball or want attention.
          I tested this theory with my current hamster by putting a battery touch operated bell on 2nd floor and every time it stepped onto it, it played a random tune and i let it out-has now virtually stopped chewing bars at all (unless i ignore door bell lol) and communicates need to leave cage or get attention now by stepping on doorbell (which is cool,but sometimes annoying haha) when do not want to let it out i still say hello or give a monkey nut upto 3 times then ignore, so generally now it only nags 3 times then gives up if i too busy to let out ;P

      • No it means he needs a chew toy because he needs to basically file his teeth so I would recommend a hamster safe wood toy because their teeth don’t stop growing

        Reply
    13. My Syrian hamster was so happy and his ears were up all the time but when my family went to go on holiday we got to look after their Syrian hamster. We took care of their hamster in the same room as mine and their hamster was extremely happy. When I went to play with my hamster his ears were down. Why is his ears down? Is it because he’s jealous, sad, ill, ect. Is it because of the other hamster? Please tell me! Thanks

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    14. I have a Syrian who will sometimes roll on to his back when I go to get him out! Why would that be! Is he scared? Is it submissive?

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    15. Hi I have two Male Campbell dwarf hamsters. I’m curious as to why one of the males went up to my other male and flipped over on to its belly and laid there for 2 secs then got up and walked away?

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      • It is most probably because he doesn’t want to be with another hamster and he did that to tell the other hamster to back off. This is because hamsters are very territorial once they are mature.

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    16. I’m a new hamster owner and I have 2 dwarf hamster brothers. I’ve had them for a month now and I’ve really bonded with them! They have plenty of bedding for digging, I bought 2 large cages and linked them with tubing for loads of running space, loads of hideouts, treats, and a large sand bath. They come out every evening and run around on the sofa on their own blanket and will fall asleep behind my back together. My only thing is, one of them mouths my hand/fingers… theres rarely any pressure, never draws blood, but he will just touch his teeth and tongue to my hand for a moment. The other doesnt do this so theres no smell of food on me… does anyone know why a hamster might mouth me? Is it stress? Playing? I’ve only seen this kind of behaviour in cats/dogs before.

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    17. My hamster is only using his mouth to move and it constantly lying down.what is this behaviour mean.we talked to the vet she said he’d be fine and asked if we wanted pain meds.im still unsure on what this is .please reply quickly

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    18. My dwarf hamster does this thing where after he marks he acts like he’s intoxicated by the smell he fall asleep with his face often squished against the glass or often just looks completely out of it. What is this? I’m just curious to know.

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    19. So one time I took out my teddy bear hamster (at night of course) and I was letting her down and playing with her. she was going somewhere I didn’t want her to go so I gently picked her up and she started trying to get out my hands and she fell. But I checked on her and she’s ok and still acting normal she never done this before. I’m confused why it happened what I think it was is probably when I picked her up she got scared? If someone knows please tell me I’m still thinking why it happened.

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    20. hey! a couple of weeks ago, I got three dwarfs, originally I was told they were all females but later found out only one of them actually was. because we did not want them to mate, we separated them and put the two males in one cage the female in another one. ever since that day the males have been a little strange, they barely come out of their hiding during the day (which they used to do), don’t eat as much as they did and they let me handle them way more than before, almost not reacting to my presence. one of them has been with a cough lately and I’ve been giving them milk mixed with water and a little bit of honey. any advice on what to do with the males? any idea as to what may be wrong with them?

      Reply
      • So one time I took out my teddy bear hamster (at night of course) and I was letting her down and playing with her. she was going somewhere I didn’t want her to go so I gently picked her up and she started trying to get out my hands and she fell. But I checked on her and she’s ok and still acting normal but I’m confused why it happened what I think it was is probably when I picked her up she got scared? If someone knows please tell me I’m still thinking why it happened.

        Reply
    21. I had my Hamster “polly” by june. I read the comments and I think I started out wrong because when I bought polly, i really played with her a lot. Like put her out of the cage, lift her, and i touch her all the time. Maybe that’s why she’s still not comfortable with me until now. But I noticed one change about her. When I approach her now and stroke her forehead or back or belly she stays still for about 5 to 10 seconds before she walks away from me and then hide under her wheels. Does that mean she’s starting to get a little comfortable with me? Because I really need to know. I hope someone here could answer my question. Thanks.

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    22. I have a dwarf hamster with a 5 story cage. All he wants to do is stay in his ball, hit doors and my legs. He squares up to bigger animals by running into them and when he’s in his cage he stares at me untill he falls asleep….is this normal????

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    23. Have a dwarf. It’s taken about a year for the dude to be fairly comfortable with me, but he now is. “Audie” (male) rarely now shows any aggressive or fearful type behaviors—other than maybe a digging of his nails in my skin, a slight nip on my hand or finger when he wants back in his cage, or when he runs to the same corner of a table edge and keeps peering down…I’ve learned that this also means he wants back in his cage. That’s about it on the negative if you can even call it that (at least I think so). Some positive behaviors I notice however might conflict a little with some of what this blog piece asserts. FWIW, I offer it here simply to help shed more light on the mysterious world of hamster behavior: These include:

      ⁃ violently vibrating his head much like a dog shaking water off his fur just out of a pool or something while stroking with a finger. Actually feels like a smart phone on vibrate! Haven’t been able to text with him yet however (LOL).
      ⁃ teeth chattering is aplenty too, but Audie only does this when he’s truly relaxed…almost mushy feeling in his body due to no tenseness in it what-so-ever. I think this is known as bruxing(??)
      ⁃ eyes bulging/pulsating is another interesting little quirk too (called boggling I believe).
      ⁃ nose twitching accompanied by his head moving up and down like the way somebody readily head nods in agreement with something said.

      Reply
    24. I’ve had my dwarf hamster for months now and he was really cuddly and friendly but in the last 2 weeks he’s starting getting aggressive with me. He does what he normally does when I go to handle him, but as soon as I have hold of him he bites me. I’ve tried all sort like rubbing my hands with his used sawdust, doing it at different times of day, trying different ways to pick him up but nothings working. He’s drinking fine but doesn’t seem to be eatting much although he is fine in himself still playing and comfortable in his cage but he seems to have stopped liking me. Is there something I can do? He seems upset every time I try to handle him and his bitting has gone from nibbling to drawing blood. Part of me wants to leave him to himself but he was always such an affectionate boy and I got him for company. But I don’t want him upset if I’m not doing something I should?

      Reply
      • That’s frustrating I can imagine. Especially when he started out so approachable. Not knowing exactly how long you’ve had him, but assuming he’s young (like under a year old), they’re still trying to get accustomed to things. I’ve found that my dwarf hamster behaviors didn’t really stabilize until almost the year mark. So patience is the virtue here. I’d suggest not holding him so much(?). This doesn’t mean you can’t take him out of his cage and play with him. Just don’t hold him. Put him on a surface (a dresser, a stair, a small enclosed floor space, etc.) perhaps under a soft cloth (for a comfort sense), and just stroke his back very gently if he won’t squirm or try to run. Use either your finger or an perhaps old toothbrush. Mine have like that. You also gotta balance how much you approach him vs. letting him come to you. The latter obviously is preferable, because that helps reinforce trust. Have treats at the ready for the latter. You’ll have to notice where you touch him that he kind of likes. You could tell this if all of a sudden he seems kind of still and relaxed. or if you feel his body kind of vibrate a little like a cellphone. Muscle tenseness is kind of a sign of sign of stress. Not necessarily terror for them, but when you can feel they bodies get very soft and pliable (like warm dough or something) it’s a really good sign. Also have little treats ready to offer, and when you give them make sure to gently pet, or speak softy so the critter can make the associations of those things with food and positive experiences. One last thing to capitalize on too. I’ve come to notice that dwarfs have these little epiphany moments. If you’ve had a particularly nice little time with them and they’ll suddenly freeze and then stare at you for say 15-20 seconds…it’s like they’re realizing “hey…this person aint so bad, what was I being so freaked out about?” I’ve noticed after these significant stare/freezes, they actually change their behavior around you, and usually in a pretty positive way. I know I’ve written a lot here…but I do understand the frustration of that…especially when they look so cute yet in the next moment would tear your head off it they had the chance. Hope this stuff help!

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      • I think its beacause it isnt getting attention
        Because its not bedding and its a strange feeling for them Probably because it doent want to be played with and is being played with too much

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    25. I recently got a female Syrian hamster . When we first got her she was really quiet then about a week after she was coming out and everything ! Unfortunately my cat managed to sneak into my room and was at her cage ever since she has been biting the cages wires and biting me even harder than before . I try and build trust by stroking her back and giving her a treat after but then I do it the next time and she will bite me and I will bleed ! My hamster is stressed as she also does excessive hoarding of food but I don’t know where to go from here ? Help?

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    26. Hi I diidnt let my hamster(normal winter white) get adjusted to its new cage after getting it. It seemed fine and i was really excited so i started touching it and picking it up. Now she backs away from me at times when i try to pet her. Did i scare her?

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      • Hiii okay so I just got a winter white and I did the same exact thing I picked him up and played with him he seemed alright and nice but now all he does is bite

        Reply
        • My hamster usually stands up on its hind legs and i would give it a high five on the palm and it would high five me back. But, does that mean aggression? And, ive had my hamster for months but he still bites me. I tried to make him not bite me, but he sometimes still would. Does this mean that i dont have enough trust built between me and my hamster?

      • Just got a 8 week old short hair teddy bear hamster and she is super scared of me. She runs away from me, flips onto her back and urinates on me if I pick her up. Help lol

        Reply
        • I had a hamster like this once. Let her come to you. Give her the opportunity to get to know you and learn you are not a threat by putting your hand in the cage with your palm up staying still, for a few minutes every day and she will eventually come up to your hand out of curiosity. It’s a lot easier to move forward if you change the hamsters perspective of you from a threat to a safe thing.

    27. I am a new hamster owner. I have two male dwarf winter whites. My cage has a wheel on the top.Tue wheels broke off when I was gone and both my Two winter whites got out.I found one but I don’t no where the other one would is. What should I do. Please let me know

      Reply
    28. Hi, just recently got two Russian dwarf hamsters both girls and one of them keeps flipping the other over and the squeaks at her, i think it could be to with dominance but its happening like 4 to 5 times a day, is it likely to be anything else.

      Reply
      • my 2 females have started doing this, well it’s just 1 of them if the other cones anywhere near. It’s only started in the last couple of days. Not sure why??

        Reply
      • My male hamster likes to run his paws over his mouth and then his muzzle for a few seconds. What does this mean? Is he excited or nervous?

        Reply
      • I don’t understand how you get two female hamsters and clearly not do any research. Smh. Hamsters are solitary creatures they do not like to be with other hamsters. get your hamsters away from each other right now and separate them!!!!!!! if your hamster is doing this it’s because she’s trying to dominate the other one that is going to lead to so many problems. get them out of the same cage and put them in separate cages then try doing some damn research Instead of just asking stupid questions. Jesus. That was like the first thing that I learned when I wanted to get a hamster was that hamsters could not be placed together in the same cage. I’m so sick and tired of ppl like you who do ZERO research untill after the fact when everything has already hit the fan. Like duh!! Clearly by the behavior they shouldn’t be together.

        Reply
    29. I have just had 2 Robo hamsters and I’m a new owner. One of the little girls crawled into the pipe ( see through) and sat watching me. I gave her two sunflower seeds which she happily took from my hand but remained inside the tube. Is this normal, I’ve never had a hamster and have only had these 5 days. They are so very cute!! X

      Reply
      • Mine is doing the EXACT same thing. Kinda weirded me out a little with the constant staring for over half an hour. Now she is happily running on her wheel. Strange but cute animals! Hope this helped

        Reply
    30. Hello! I am a new hampster owner. I think mine is a long haired russian. She bites her cage alot and whenever i try to oet her she flinches and rolls onto her back. She doesnt have a large cage but i cant get her a bigger one. How can i make her more comfortable around me and how can i alleviate any stress that she has?

      Reply
      • Hi! I recently got a male Syrian teddy bear hamster. I cant have a large cage at my house as well. I know when they are biting their cage alot it’s called “Cage Rage”. It sounds like her rolling on her back means she is scared. What we have been doing to prevent or fix this problem and to tame him for handling and so he is comfortable and feels safe is putting his cage in our bathtub on top of a towel and allowing him to come out. once he does we remove his cage so we can clean his poop out and so he can roam free in a safe place. we have been sitting in the tub taking turns so he can smell us and get to know us. He now lets us hold him and he comes to us right away and loves his “dry tubby time” lol We have had him for almost two weeks. He has stopped biting his cage (he only did this twice before i started doing the tub thing) we give him his treats in the tub too. it’s worth a try!

        Reply
      • Make a bin cage! Tutorials on YouTube. Cheap and great with lots of (very necessary as hamsters are incredibly active and easily bored) space.

        Reply
      • If you can’t get your hamster’s a proper cage that it needs then you should not own a hamster. The only way that your hamster is going to stop biting the cage and doing what it’s doing is if you get it a bigger cage as I said before if you cannot give the things to your hamster that it needs to have a happy life then you cannot have a hamster and you need to give it to someone who can. Would you have a child without being able to properly take care of it no you wouldn’t so stop buying animals that you can’t properly take care of

        Reply
    31. Hello! I had had my Syrian for a month now, all was great until she escaped one night, we found her and returned her safely to her cage. However now she is constantly biting her cage and trying to get out. She has a three story cage connected to another smaller cage, two wheels, lots of chews, honey sticks and we regularly give her treats. I don’t know why she all of a sudden hates her cage. We let her run in her ball as often as possible, sometimes that’s up to 2+ hrs a day (with breaks every 20mins in her cage for water) and let her run around without the ball and play with her every night as well. Any tips to make her hate her cage less!?

      Reply
      • Like people maybe she wants a new home (cage)…..
        When a hamster bites at her cage (bars) it could be a sign of boredom although by the way you have described her cage that shouldn’t happen.
        It could be that she perhaps leaves her cage too much in the ball and maybe handling her more might help

        Reply
        • Does she seem happy in the ball? That’s a lot of small confinement time. This may sound odd but maybe her cage is actually too large and frustrating. Try removing the addition. What type of treats? Sugary treats aren’t good for them. They do love carrots and broccoli.

      • This is late but hamsters prefer big cages length wise… it allows them to run more freely. Cage biting is a sign of boredom and stress from the small cage length wise.

        Reply
        • I’m a first time hamster owner, I got a female Russian dwarf about 4 days ago. On the first 2 days she was super friendly and loved being handled but now she’s getting up later, showing signs of stress or aggression and idk why. I’m sure her cage is large enough and it has another floor, i think she may have been scared when she slept i the same room as me and the fan I was using fell off a table and made a lot of noise because the following night she was less friendly. I think when she doesn’t want to play she kicks bedding at me and then stares at me. I don’t know why she’s being like this all of a sudden, she’s about 10 weeks old or younger. Sometimes she will just lay in a random spot, eyes slightly narrowed, I don’t know what’s happening 🙁 Is it bad if you hold out a treat and she kind of nibbles your finger instead? Sometimes I can’t even tell if she’s trying to nibble or bite, I knew she was gonna change eventually but I didn’t know so soon :/

      • I would not recommend letting your hamster in the ball for more than 30 minutes for many reasons 1. they don’t have good eyesight so she cant see wheres she s going so they normally use there smell and whiskers but the ball prevents that. and If the cage is tiny tale critter trail or any cage below the MINIMUM which is 540 sq in. so if its smaller than that please consider getting a bigger cage, that would help reduce any stress she has.
        2. When you said 3 story cage I freaked out if one day she manages to chew through the bar even if there metal ( its happened to me ) she could fall and DIE OR GET INJURED so plz consider changing cages
        I know im writing a lot but I see many thing wrong here (sorry bout that)
        but especially with Syrians they are hard to please so if u need tips I recommend watching Victoria Rachel ,she is a hamster ytber and knows a lot so yhea hop this helped

        Reply
    32. Hello , we got a Dwarf hamster a few weeks ago and it was very kind and cute and would run around and play all the time and then about 1 week ago we have got 2 robot hamsters in another cage across the room from the older hamster. Suddenly the behaviour of the older hamster has completely changed and it’s just sits at the cage and keeps biting us . There could be many reasons for this . Do u have any ideas why

      Reply
    33. Hello, I just got a short-haired Syrian hamster yesterday. When we went to get him, the worker let us hold all of the hamsters, so we could chose the friendliest one. We currently are housing him in a 20 gallon long tank with a wheel, food, water bottle, hideouts, etc. He hasn’t been using his wheel, which worries me. The pet store had them using flying saucers. Also, we started holding him after a few hours of bringing him home, even though we should have waited. When we put out hand in, he just sniffed us and really didn’t mind. We picked him up and held him and he didn’t seem nervous. Do you think he’s already hand-tamed? Also, how should I get him to use his wheel?

      Reply
      • Hi.
        You’re hamster is probally already hand-tamed due to the staff and protentional owners handling him at the pet store. As for the wheel, if he hasn’t already started using it, then perhaps it’s just not his kind of thing? Not all hamster enjoy them…. Most do but not all… Just let him decide on to use it or not.

        Reply
        • is It the same type of wheel it had in the store (solid plastic)? Is is large enough? If he has to arch his back too much he may not like it.

      • Saucers aren’t big enough for Syrians so try to get at least a 7 inch wheel and just put it in there. He’ll/she’ll eventually use it and they may use it at times when you don’t even know it

        Reply
    34. Ive hada female Siberian hamster for about a year now, really cute and I love her a lot, but she is biting on the bars of her cage often, every 5-10 minutes for about 10-15. She has plenty of chew toys, hiding spots, clean bedding, and tons of room, (A four layer metal cage with a non grated bottom) and two different hamster wheels (a traditional one and a tilted circular one). I try to handle her daily. I’ve tried deterring her (blowing on her face while saying ‘no’, giving her a gentle Boop on the nose(hardly touching, but enough to get her attention) and saying stop, even flicking a bit of water at her doesn’t help) but that doesn’t seem to do anything. Even putting vinegar on the cage bars isn’t helping at all. I’m loosing alot of sleep because she is so loud, and I just don’t know what to do with her. Please help!

      Reply
      • Hey, this may help, if you try ignoring her she may give up and go to sleep, hamsters can develop bad habits of biting the bars and therefore getting attention, which is what they want. This may suggest that she needs more interactive stimulation in her cage, for example maybe one of those hanging toys for hamsters where they lift it up to get the treat. That being said, I’m no expert. I tried this on my own hamster and it only minimised the chewing, in a very large cage. Hopefully this helped x

        Reply
      • It sounds like it could be boredom..My two did that and it was their sign that they want to come out into their exercise balls..a bit like young children…mum mum can we come out to play..They come out every evening for a few hours (even if have to wake them) then back to their respective cages..all is quiet..hth xx

        Reply
    35. I have a long haired male syrian. he’s in a 40 gallon breeder, w one of those expensive silent runner wheels, a sand bath, chews, hides, etc. I’ve had him for a month and a half & he’s been great. he’s a super loving ham. but starting yesterday he’s randomly been sitting behind his wheel and staring at the wall for hours. when I take him out he’s ok and running around, and he was running around on his wheel last night; we woke up n he was sitting next to his wheel staring at nothing. it’s just so out of the blue and it’s never happened with any of my hamsters before. he’s also still eating and drinking which is good but I’m just so confused.

      Reply
      • Hi there. I recently got a female Syrian hamster at a couple of weeks old. I’ve had her for just over a week and she’s been seeming very happy up until today. I woke up to her I her day bed and she’d wrecked and moved the rest of her cage. Her day bed was filled to the brim of her sawdust and paper and she has also recently started biting her cage bars. She doesn’t drink much at all but will munch away at cucumber and lettuce giving her the supply of water that she needs. She seems wreckless and can never seem to keep her burrowing corners in the same place. I’m unsure if this is normal behaviour as this is my first hamster but if someone could offer a hand that would be very much appreciated

        Reply
        • Some hamsters love to rearrange their cages. The bar biting may mean she need more play time outside the cage.

    36. I just got a female short-haired Syrian hamster. I’m a new hamster owner and have had her for about a day or so and she seems fine… she’s running on her wheel in the evening/night, she’s eating, she’s drinking water, she’s grooming and nesting. I am however worried that her cage isn’t big enough for her. It’s a 24x18x12 terrarium with a mesh lid so lots of ventaliation. She’s got an 8” comfort wheel, a hideout, a tunnel, a bridge, some toilet paper for extra bedding and a couple chews (some wood and a whimzeey chew) that she seems to like. I’m unsure how to tell if she’s happy though. I’m using clean and cozy bedding and I was thinking of litter training her but there’s isn’t much room left for a tray. What do I do? I haven’t attempted much taking yet because she’s only been here a day or so but I’m anxious to know if I’m doing things right.

      Reply
      • That’s perfect! I’ve also done lots of research as I am also a new hamster owner. If you would like to put in a litter tray, try moving around the toys until you have space. I also recommend giving her pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds every other day to let her get used to you.

        Reply
    37. I have a winter white hamster that would have turned 1 year in November or December I believe. I kept her in a 45 gal tank with weekly bedding changes, although recently with school restarting I am ashamed to say I have been slacking so the last one was about 10 days ago. I came home today and realized Lapis(hamster) had not come out last night or this morning to run. I was curious, so I started searching around in the bedding for her(about 4-5 inches depending on where in the cage she was). I found her curled up into a fetal position, cold.

      I had recently moved rooms, so mabye that was a stress factor for her, and along with the uneven bedding changes that could be part of it? I am really sad and don’t know why she died, and would like to find the cause so I can prevent it from happening again.

      Thoughts/changes/possible causes:
      •room change(switched w/younger sib, moved into the room next to mine, so not that much of a difference air/temp wise) 2 days ago
      •bedding change was 10 days ago, half change
      •water was cleaned out yesterday
      •last play time was 3 days ago
      •she had been jumping at the glass a lot recently, and climbing on her toys to try to get out?? possible mental problem mabye??
      •under 1 year old
      •Gray winter white
      •fetal position, cold

      Any insight or help to what may have gone wrong?? Thanks!!!

      Reply
    38. I have a winter white hamster and it is the sweetest little thing I got him in August and we named him gizmo when I let the cat in the bedroom she doesn’t try to hurt him she sits near his cage and stays by his side if someone walks in she wakes up and walks towards them but back to the hamster he is so sweet and I am hoping he stays that way forever I have a question what things can you feed your winter white hamsters besides hamster food I have been wondering but never gave him anything besides his normal food he loves his food it has seeds corn and some other stuff but give me more things to look forward to that I can give him.

      Reply
    39. We put some new items in our hamster cages And they are running around crazy we also cleaned there cage also are they just happy this is my first time having them

      Reply
    40. I have a syrian hamster about 9months old, recently she likes to bite her cage and run around like a mad hamster. I would bring her out for a while and she always find a way to escape and run away. After letting her run around for abt 5mins I’ll put her into the cage. She would bite the bars for a few seconds and after that found a nice spot to rest and sleep. It keep happening over and over whenever I approach her cage to check on her. Can someone give me advice if my hamster is bored or anything? It bothers me alot and wondering if she is happy anot.

      Reply
      • Try upgrading her cage to a larger one. It sounds like you have a crittertrail cage and that is actually unacceptable for hamsters even tho they are marketed for hamsters. Get a 40 gal+ tank with a mesh ventillated lid or for a cheaper option, search up how to make a hamster diy bin cage and at least a 110 quart bin. add more toys too! bitting bars can result in chipped teeth

        Reply
    41. I have a roborovski hamster she is just over 1 year old and I’ve only had her 2 months, she’s normally calm most of the time but she fell of her ladder in her cage and she is just running around, won’t get in her ball at all. I’m super worried as she won’t even let me pick her up to check she’s okay, please reply 🙁

      Reply
      • I have a hamster and she loves climbing all over her cage hen falls of but she was ok if you suspect something you should take her to the vet and get her checked out

        Reply
    42. We have a female winter white. She is about 7-9 month old and we have had her about 4 months. Up until about a week ago was very lovable, would love to be petted and would snuggle up and fall asleep in your arms. Now she attacks us. She acts like she wants attention then bam-she snaps. She has always bitten the cage when she wanted out and but rarely nipped-if she did it was very soft. Now she draws blood.

      Nothing has changed with her surroundings etc. She doesn’t appear injured. She runs around and when we have been able to hold her we don’t feel any bumps or issues. She appears to be urinating and pooping and is eating. We cannot figure out what the issue is.

      Today we moved her cage into her playpen which is a very large box. I read it could be an issue with her cage so I thought I would try putting her in a larger environment. Still super aggressive.

      Any thoughts?

      Reply
    43. I have a what i think is a Campbell’s, she keeps running around the cage climbing on everything then jumping off she repeats until she gets tired when she sees me… she wants to get on my hand,tho i just got her yesterday… sometimes she sleeps with her head lifted up on a corner…
      I would like to know if something is wrong or she is just weird.

      Reply
    44. I got this Syrian hamster about a month ago was very shy to start with then started coming out it’s shell and then me and my boyfriend went away. And Rhurbarb was fine when we seen her but today we got her out and put her in her ball that she normally goes in and loves but she didn’t move at all and it took ten minutes for her to get out of the ball and into her cage whereas normally it takes her a matter of seconds, I’m really worried about her it’s like she’s got no energy and is walking really slow like her back legs are going we don’t know how old she is as I got her from the pet store, and what she’s doing now is just laid on the bottom of her cage in a corner with all the sawdust around her, I’ve read a few things online and I’ve had a Syrian hamster before but not one like this, can someone please give me their opinion I’m really worried.

      Reply
    45. I just got my hamster a new cage and put a pet safe mesh around it. My Syrian keeps shoving her nose in the gaps and sniffing. It’s a new cage so is that normal?

      Reply
    46. Hello! I recent bought a Syrian hamster and brought him home in a tiny cage so we bought a 20 gallon aquarium. I put a wheel and toys with food, water and treats. When I woke up two mornings ago he had chewed his way out from the top cover. I found him tonight and put him back in the aquarium, however, his cheeks are full of food that he must have taken with him two days ago and he is taking it out in corners. He has always been very passive and so sweet but when I put my hand in to pet him he flipped over on his back and went into fight mode. I was afraid he was gonna bite me. Is this normal behavior, and is he just stressed? I am going tomm to buy a 40 gal breeder to house him for a couple weeks because we are currently building the 96 X 30 X 21 in DIY cage similar to “hoppinghammy” on YouTube so he will have a tremendous mansion home. Will he be ok? Please somebody answer me ?

      Reply
      • It’s recomended that the hamster has 24-48 hours of uninterrupted time to adjust to his/her new surroundings. Human interaction is then the following few days where the hamster will learn your sent and your intentions. Often times you should start out with a treat in your hand and allow him/her to crawl into your hand associating you with food. If your lil guy escaped before you could do this process and allow him to trust you, he may feel frighten and unsure of you. Especially after the stress of being lose in a new home for that long. Give him some time to get adjusted to his new cage and allow him to get used to your sent. Offer him his favorite treats and soon enough he will be crawling all over you!

        Reply
      • The problem with an aquarium is that you’re forced to tear open the roof of their safe haven and come at them from above. Both actions tend to frighten your little companion. Having a solid ceiling above provides a sense of security. Movements of large objects, or movements above them trigger their eyes and ‘prey animal’ instincts alarm response. A cage with a front door gives a huge advantage to a young shy critter because you can meet on the level.

        If you cant change to a different cage, use slow quiet movement when opening the lid. Reach to the floor of the cage first. let the animal approach and check you out. Never loom directly above and reach down – like a hungry owl or coyote would.

        Reply
    47. I got this Young Syrian hamster three days ago and I try to pick her up and she rolls onto her back but other than that she is friendly. what’s going on? I know she might be frightened because this is her new home but just wondering.

      Reply
    48. I brought two syrian hamsters yesterday..one seems perfectly all right but the other one is showing some behaviour which is though to understand.he is running arround the cage rapidly without a stop.. sometimes running backward, and it is not going on the other floors of the cage..
      Its getting tough to understand the situation..making me feel that he is not comfortable or in some problem …plz suggest me smthing and help me out..

      Reply
      • Sounds like he might have neurological problem sometimes called flipping. I know it’s common in pet shop dwarfs, it may not be that but just check it up. From what I’ve read on the illness it sounds a bit like ADHD or OCD in humans, they compulsively run and flip etc.
        Side note, you aren’t keeping them together are you? Please don’t, they really are solitary animals and they may seem fine at the moment but it’s probably causing stress etc and one day may reach boiling point causing them to fight resulting in death or injury. Please don’t keep Syrians together! It may be a cause of this problem.
        If you aren’t keeping them together, then sorry for the rant. Make sure he has the right sized cage and wheel as there is lots of wrong information on Syrian hamsters, hell pets at home sell them nesting material which is proven to kill them! I advise Erin’s animals on YouTube, she has the best care advice for hamsters and is really entertaining 🙂
        Wheel diameter – 20 or 30 cm diameter
        Cage – mines in a 1mx0.5m modified Viv, but I know there’s other options. Either way, a lot of “Syrian hamster” cages sold in pet shops are too small. Sadly it’s more profitable for them to sell too small, unsuitable cages to unsuspecting kids who trust them :/

        Reply
      • Do you have soft bedding cause if not they go nutes…or it could be the small space or not enough things to do in the cage that could be the promblem

        Reply
      • i Hope they aren’t in the same cage as hamsters are very solitary and territorial. If they are, separate them as they might be marking territory and preventing the other from being anywhere else in the cage

        Reply
      • Please don’t tell me both Syrians are in one cage lol. if so, that literally could kill your hamster(s) and you would know that with maybe three minutes of internet research on hamsters.

        Reply
    49. I let my hamster run around in his n.a. and then a couple hours later I came and went to out him back in his cage but I came in to find that he somehow got my sweatpants in the ball and are a big chunk out of it. I was wondering what that meant am I not feeding him enough or is he mad of what please let me know thanks

      Reply
      • Never leave your hamster unattended outside of their cage. You’re hamster should only be in a ball for at the most 15 minutes. There can be severe health consequences otherwise.

        Reply
    50. Can someone please get back to me my girl hamster who is now a year keeps running really fast up to the top end of cage and and then back and she constantly does this whenever I see her she’s doing this what does this mean and how can I help her x

      Reply
      • Hello, your hamsterCould just be really excited or she might feel stressed and scared. I don’t really know that much, but it sound to me that perhaps you should seek further help online and then if you don’t find any answers, talk to your vet.

        Reply
      • My hamster did that same thing when I first got him, it just means they are a little nervous with the space but its normal when you’ve only had them for a short while, its kind of the same when a hamster runs on their wheel none stop, they just need to adjust. You could tell me how long you’ve had her because it depends. You don’t need to help her you just have to make sure she calms down after awhile and try to gain its trust.

        Reply
    51. I have a winter white hamster. She is almost 2 years old. I know they don’t live long. Recently, I’ve been noticing she had blood on her fur near her bottom. She seems to have lost alot of hair near her bottom too. I’m worried she has been licking her self raw. I see little patches of blood in her crate & get so worried. She is eating & drinking water. Her stool is normal too. I’m worried she could be stressed but I’m unsure why. Could this just be something due to old age?

      Reply
      • It could be a deadly hamster condition called wet tail, its a disease that hamsters get and most if them die from it, i really think you should take her to the vet and see what’s wrong.

        Reply
        • That’s possibly Pyometra, it’s an infection of the uterus. If it’s bleeding it means it’s an open Pyometra which can be treated with aggressive antibiotics. Keep a watch out for any abdominal swelling but either way, you need to see a vet. I really hope your hamster is still with you

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