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Small pets

Hamster behaviour

32 replies

LittleWhiteMice · 05/07/2012 11:51

I have a hamster (its lovely :)) its seems to have settled ok, if i put my sleeve into the cage it climbs on and waits o be transported into my arms

Its runs around on me, sniffing and investigating, it also tryies to find a way off the sofa.

there have been two occassions where it has been on me and i stroked it and it went longish and stayed there for 15 mins while i stroke it. it isnt shaking, it just stays there.

I thought at first it might be because it likes it, but dp says its more likely very scared.
i would like to add that it goes to the same place on its cage and waits to be let out too, if that means anything.

Does it like me or is it just scared shitless of me?

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weaselm4 · 05/07/2012 11:55

It sounds to me as though it might have heard a noise/seen a movement - they freeze to make themselves less visible to predators. I doubt it was you it was scared of - our little chap won't climb on our hands to come out yet, so you sound like you're doing a great job at taming it!

(If they're really really scared they squeak).

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Toughasoldboots · 05/07/2012 11:56

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custardismyhamster · 05/07/2012 12:00

Mine used to come to the cage door to be let out, too. Usually climbed on the door and chewed and rattled until I gave in and let her out :o little sod.

If hammy is coming to the door wanting you to get him/her out, then it likes you.

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LittleWhiteMice · 05/07/2012 12:00

it did it once in its cage too, its eyes closed slightly as i stroked it.

my dp keeps making really innappropriate comments about whats its little tail looks like. stupid man.

I really hope it isnt frightened of me, I do love it.
it sniffed my nose the other day and it cleans itself in my hand.
its never squeaked. (although im sure its squeak would be very sweet)

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throckenholt · 05/07/2012 12:00

male or female ?

If female when they are in season (every 3-4 days I think) they will freeze if you stroke them on their back - ready for mating.

Otherwise, hamsters are prey animals - prone to being eaten - I think they may have a survival mechanism of freezing when they think they are in danger.

I would just put it back in its cage and let it settle down again.

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LittleWhiteMice · 05/07/2012 12:02

i dont know, it may be female as its last name was charlotte but no ones really sure.

oh my god i hope im not seducing my hamster. my responsibilities as a pet owner do not reach that far.

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throckenholt · 05/07/2012 12:05

What type of hamster ? Syrian or Russian ?

Syrians - if it is male you often see its testicles when hot - and generally pointy back end compared to the female which is much more rounded. The females also tend to be a bit smelly when on heat.

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LittleWhiteMice · 05/07/2012 12:08

syrian, how do you have a look for testes?

It also dashes around madly when it first wakes up, before stretching alot.

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weaselm4 · 05/07/2012 12:52

You can't miss the testicles if it's a Syrian - very elongated at the rear end if male!

I'm a bit jealous he/she sounds like a sweetie and DP sounds a bit jealous too, but for different reasons Grin

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throckenholt · 05/07/2012 12:55

If you haven't noticed them then I am tempted to say it is a female Grin. Testes are very prominent on male syrian hamsters

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=syrian+hamster+male&um=1&hl=en&biw=1042&bih=741&tbm=isch&tbnid=jnp7dsHIe8VOAM:&imgrefurl=www.olx.com.sg/pictures/syrian-hamsters-for-adoption-iid-251041264&docid=dlhbHCiIvAq4xM&imgurl=images04.olx.com.sg/ui/15/16/64/1316018193_251041264_2-Syrian-Hamsters-for-adoption-Animals.jpg&w=469&h=625&ei=iID1T4HRNorD0QWOiuStBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=389&sig=109307937739064832902&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=96&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0,i:123&tx=37&ty=93" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">here

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throckenholt · 05/07/2012 12:58

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=syrian+hamster+female&start=179&um=1&hl=en&biw=1042&bih=741&addh=36&tbm=isch&tbnid=tqXcCylP3PyeHM:&imgrefurl=spacemonkey.hubpages.com/hub/Breeding-Syrian-Hamsters&docid=iSJQxTkwPeLcNM&imgurl=s1.hubimg.com/u/288044_f520.jpg&w=520&h=378&ei=GYH1T6GvHMnJ0QWW_bSABw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=350&sig=109307937739064832902&page=12&tbnh=161&tbnw=215&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:179,i:290&tx=92&ty=98" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank"> female

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MarigoldsInTheWindow · 05/07/2012 13:18

ah, mines a girl!

wow they are large in comparison to its body. imagie if human men were like that

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throckenholt · 05/07/2012 14:05

They are hugely disproportionate to the rest of their body, and stick out even further when they are hot.

I don't want to imagine how the human male would act if he was built in the same proportions Grin

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throckenholt · 05/07/2012 14:07

dashes around madly when it first wakes up, before stretching alot

that sums up hamsters my experience.

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Toughasoldboots · 05/07/2012 14:38

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MarigoldsInTheWindow · 06/07/2012 09:36

awww i love them more if they are rejects!

now i have a hamster after all these years not having a pet, i know il never be without one again.

I forgot the joy they bring! who needs children when you can have rodents?
(not broody anymore yay!)

i am aware i may sound slightly mad. il be the old lady with cats. but instead of cats itl be hamsters or guinea pigs

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Toughasoldboots · 06/07/2012 09:40

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MarigoldsInTheWindow · 06/07/2012 09:58

whats wrong with being white? id be having words, racism you know?

im joking, but what an odd reason for no one wanting him. poor thing.

pics?

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Toughasoldboots · 06/07/2012 10:02

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MarigoldsInTheWindow · 06/07/2012 10:59

aww, sounds lovely! when mine awakes I will photgraph her.

Dont you love the smell of them? fur and fluff, a good combination!

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cormsilkye · 06/07/2012 11:04

we have a new hamster and he/she runs about like a rocket. He got out last night (dh noticed him perched on top of the bedding box in our bedroom at 3a.m.) and we couldn't catch the bugger. Had to lure him with a pile of food and throw a t-shirt over him. Have had hamsters before but they've never been this fast and wriggly. ds tried to hold him yesterday and he flung himself across the room out of his hand. He's crazy

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MarigoldsInTheWindow · 06/07/2012 11:07

is it a syrian?
i think we should all post pics of our hamsters.

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cormsilkye · 06/07/2012 11:24

yes it's a syrian but is quite a bit smaller than the last one we had...I'm worried he's a mutant mouse

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MarigoldsInTheWindow · 06/07/2012 11:36

maybe just too young or the runt?

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cormsilkye · 06/07/2012 12:59

yes I think he's too young - he's very little
we haven't been handling him that much really as we were worried about wet tail so hopefully he'll calm down
our last hamster was absolutely delightful and loved being handled - so he has a lot to live up to poor thing! The ds's expect nothing less!

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