Hi,

I bought a hampster about 3 weeks ago, the young girl in the shop said that the other female's in the cage attacked her (my hampster) and thought she wouldnt survive, wel she did and i felt sorry for her to brought her home. she was very jumpy so i thought like most animals if you handle them alot then it might calm her down a bit.

Well i went to clean out her cage for the first time and she went nuts not for me just jumping round the cage like a mad hampster it scared the hell out of me, i thought it was just because i scared her but shes done it a couple of times, also she goes on her back legs and looks like she has something stuck in her mouth rubbing her cheeks and stuff she kept rolling around the cage after doing the about 4 times but after shes ok.

Please help im so worried about her and ive already had 5 mice and they all got ill this year i dont want to lose another pet.

thanks for any replies

It might be worth taking your hamster to a vet for a check up if you're worried.
Some hamsters are just very nervous and can remain this way for the remainder of their lifes

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I think your new hamster is probably just scared.....I assume she's a Syrian ?

It's advisable to put your new ham in it's new ready set-up home and then let them alone for a couple of days to adjust to their new cage and surroundings. When a hamster is very afraid it may well do what I think you are describing - Roll onto its back with it's teeth bared sometimes making awful noises at you too.....just afraid and 'defending' itself best it can is all.

I'm sure your hamster will come around - will just take time and patience to build up her trust and get used to you and her new home....slow and steady wins over most hamsters in the end.

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hi

Thank you for your help, my fiance said that it could be her being scared, but it could also be where the other females attcked her when she was asleep as she only does this when she wakes up, some time si can walk into a room with her doign this so i didnt think it was me i have woken up in the middle of the nite with her doing this. but i thinkk i may have to take a trip to the vets

she doesnt make any noises in which i have noticed

yes she is a syrain (cant spell)

thanks again

my syrian gets mad if you aproach her cage to suddenly. She is jumpy too. But she will come out for a treat and she is lovely to handle. It does sound like it's trauma from being attacked by the others. But if you are worried then a trip to the vets might set your mind at rest.

okay what you describe is her blowing out her cheeks

this means she is very frightend, be very gentle no sudden movements or
big sudden noises.

approach the cage and tell her in a whispery voice she'll be okay and just tell her random stuff.

When you have cleanded the cage out , rub some of the used dirty woodshavings on your hands, so it smells like her,

Try offering her treats, mabey out her in an empty bath with you sitting in ther and see if she responds to that, if she seems distressed take her out and put her in her cage.

What cage have you got??

Where abouts do you live??

Xx

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Hamters - Millie & Princess.Gerbil-Drexel Mice-Salazar, Chocolate-drop, Snowflake, Monty, The Twins. Rat-Walter Goldfish-Orange Horses- Sinbad, Pinkie & Jasper Dogs- Freddie, Charlie, Suzie & Tacco 60+ CockRoaches, 13 Giant african land snails and 22 Stick insects! R.I.P TO ALL MY BABIES OVER RAINBOW BRIDGE <3

Ive got the habitrail OVO the link below shows the cage which i have

Habitrail OVO - Products

Ive also noticed that she will fall asleep where ever she drops this includes the tube with her arse end stickin out and her head up the tube.

Blowing out her cheeks? she only does this when she wakes up and not always when im in the room.

I had her in her ball and she was quite happy running round in the bed room but all of a sudden she went mad i hadnt moved and there was no noises either.

she will take treats from my hand if i offer them to her in the cage but she wont come out, i do wisper to her and make hushing sounds which seem to work when she does the cheek thing.

okay well you are doing great so far

That cage is awful i wouldnt recomend it atall!!
hamsters have died from sleeping in the tubes

it may be cage agression.

i would strongly recomend a cage like the savic cambridge or large westminister cage.

these are great cages , it might be worth a try!

Defo try rubbing your hands in shavings ,mabey try the 'fully clothed approach'

have no skin showing apart from face, so long sleeved t-shirt, gloves...

this might work!
Xx

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My Zoo!
Hamters - Millie & Princess.Gerbil-Drexel Mice-Salazar, Chocolate-drop, Snowflake, Monty, The Twins. Rat-Walter Goldfish-Orange Horses- Sinbad, Pinkie & Jasper Dogs- Freddie, Charlie, Suzie & Tacco 60+ CockRoaches, 13 Giant african land snails and 22 Stick insects! R.I.P TO ALL MY BABIES OVER RAINBOW BRIDGE <3

see i went for it as i had the old style with my other hampster and as i was able to add tubes and make it bigger she loved it, but im currently stayin at my friends house and theres not alot of room in the room im in so im not able to make the cage big but im hoping to get extra bits when i move in june.

but being a student its hard trying to get a cage which comes with everything.

uve been a big help thank u sooooo much, i might go with the full clothes look lol. never thought about it as im nto scared about getting bit (even tho shes never bit)

but really thank u
o and i live in welwyn garden city
xx

okay thats great !!

it might be worth having a look on ebay for a second hand cage really cheap.

check out the hamster bargins thread

one more thing

Dont be nervous , be confident hamsters pick up on that and if your nervous she will bite.

nd let her come to you, dont grab her.

let us know how you got on okay Xx

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My Zoo!
Hamters - Millie & Princess.Gerbil-Drexel Mice-Salazar, Chocolate-drop, Snowflake, Monty, The Twins. Rat-Walter Goldfish-Orange Horses- Sinbad, Pinkie & Jasper Dogs- Freddie, Charlie, Suzie & Tacco 60+ CockRoaches, 13 Giant african land snails and 22 Stick insects! R.I.P TO ALL MY BABIES OVER RAINBOW BRIDGE <3