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 Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:41 am
Hey,
Thanks for checking out this post. I hope someone can help me or give me some advice. I'm getting really worried and concerned.
I'm having problems with my new hamster, Teddie.
First, let me give you some background about me:
I've had hamsters nearly my whole life! Sometimes I would even have multiple hamsters (in seperate cages, of course.) I have done a lot of research over the years and I am a good 'animal person' so usually I have no problem getting close to my pets with a little bit of time and love. So I'm not a new pet owner. That's whats starting to worry me. I've never had this trouble before...
Second, here's a little info about Teddie:
We bought him from a pet store as we always do. The pet store clerk told us he was a 3-month old female bear hamster. From what I have gathered based on size and on photos of bear hamsters at 3 months- Teddie was NOT 3 months. I think he was about 1 month old, because he was not even fully developed 'down there' when we got him! Yea, he turned out to be a boy and he was in a tank WITH 6 OTHER FULL GROWN (at least 6 months or older) FEMALE BEAR HAMSTERS. When I took him home he had scratches, bites or other injuries in several places and small bite mark is missing from one ear. (I was hoping to rescue him, give him a better quality of life) So I'm guessing that because he was the odd-man out he was getting abused, by the hamsters or maybe even by the pet store clerks too.
OKAY, with all that being said....
I have now had Teddie for over a month. Teddie's tank is in the living room. I have been patient with him, never distrubing him, waking him or handling him roughly. I take him out for small visits, and I only take him out if he seems trusting for the moment. I give him treats out of my hand and he takes them, though sometimes he seems scared to take them and other times he's fine with coming up to me and taking them. He doesn't run when I put my hand in the cage to take him out. So he has been handled, often enough not to be scared of us, I think.
BUT he very often won't come out of his house if he knows we're in the room. He seems to be afraid to be out and about on the wheel or running around in the cage if we're around. He comes out for a drink and a snack and that's it. I know he uses the wheel (I can see that he went to the bathroom on the wheel when we aren't around, either because we're sleeping or we went out and returned,) but he won't do it if we're around. Sometimes I'm up all night (I go through bouts of insomnia) and I won't see him. If I do, he takes his drink and food (and I don't bother him, so he can see it's safe to run around and play) but he goes back inside right away.
Sometimes I can see him stick his head out of his house, but he's afraid to leave his home.
I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure if it's just because he's very young for a store bought hamster and maybe he's just not used to being around people as much as most hamsters.. or if there is a more serious trust issue going on.
Please, any advice you can give will be a big help.
And thanks for reading this long post!
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:56 am
Well, its always difficult when you've rescued an abused animal. it sounds like your hamster is so scared of people he doesn't have the guts to be social. and because you mentioned that he was so young he wasn't fully developed and he was in a (tank) with other female hamsters, I can understand how hard that must of been for him, hamsters should never live together. they can fight (and sometimes kill each other, so thats why the females where biting him)
I think that if you give him more time, and keep showing him you're not scary, then he will feel better about playing. It could be because he is still so young, and needs to be a little older to trust people. sometimes I find that if I put my hand in my hamsters cage, and just leave my hand next to her, she will come over to me and smell my hand, then after that she looks alot more relaxed around me. maybe that helps?
as for the store which you bought your hamster from, I think the best thing to do is report the store for not keeping their hamsters in separate cages, and letting them hurt each other like that. and for the possible abuse of your hamster by those store clerks. Good Luck! smile
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:33 pm
Yea, that is what I was thinking too. But I was starting to worry, thinking that I did something wrong to make the Hammi hate me. I tend to think I make everything go wrong. So having another opinion helps. Thanks. I'll try not to fuss about it or let the situation hurt my feelings. I do leave my hand in the tank sometimes. He will come out to smell. Some days he is okay with me being there, some days when he realizes it's a human in the tank, he will run right back in his house, scared to death. I can't make sense of it. If he was scared all the time, I would understand.. But sometimes he has no problem with me, my hand in his tank or even picking him up...
But I will continue to be patient and give him space. crying Hopefully he'll come around. I can just really use some Hammi cuddle-time, I wish he could see that.
Thanks again for the advice.
Oh and I did report this situation to the corporate branch... and they really didn't seem to care, they said it happens. It's a shame that people could be so uncaring about other lives. You're not selling movies or books! You're selling pets!! evil
Maybe I should take it one further and report them to animal care services...
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:46 pm
Emmi Dreamstar Yea, that is what I was thinking too. But I was starting to worry, thinking that I did something wrong to make the Hammi hate me. I tend to think I make everything go wrong. So having another opinion helps. Thanks. I'll try not to fuss about it or let the situation hurt my feelings. I do leave my hand in the tank sometimes. He will come out to smell. Some days he is okay with me being there, some days when he realizes it's a human in the tank, he will run right back in his house, scared to death. I can't make sense of it. If he was scared all the time, I would understand.. But sometimes he has no problem with me, my hand in his tank or even picking him up... But I will continue to be patient and give him space. crying Hopefully he'll come around. I can just really use some Hammi cuddle-time, I wish he could see that. Thanks again for the advice. Oh and I did report this situation to the corporate branch... and they really didn't seem to care, they said it happens. It's a shame that people could be so uncaring about other lives. You're not selling movies or books! You're selling pets!! evil Maybe I should take it one further and report them to animal care services...
Your very welcome, and dont worry, I understand how hard that can be. I'm sure that in time he will realise that all you want is a nice cuddle lol, good luck. xD
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:35 am
Do you have any idea why he is okay with me sometimes, nice and calm.. and then other times he totally runs for the hills?
I really don't get that..
Thanks again, for whatever insight you can give me.
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:22 am
Emmi Dreamstar Do you have any idea why he is okay with me sometimes, nice and calm.. and then other times he totally runs for the hills? I really don't get that.. Thanks again, for whatever insight you can give me.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 5:08 pm
Scorpiomarie Emmi Dreamstar Do you have any idea why he is okay with me sometimes, nice and calm.. and then other times he totally runs for the hills? I really don't get that.. Thanks again, for whatever insight you can give me. Yea, I was kinda thinking that too. lol The little guy fits right in with me then... He's seems to be making some kind of progress. Like now when I take him out for a visit (still only small vists, so he doesn't get scared) when I put him back in his tank, he will stay out for a bit, run on the wheel for a minute before running back inside his house/nesting spot. When I first posted this thread, he would typically run straight into his house as soon as I would put him down in his tank, So maybe thats a good sign?
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 1:26 pm
Emmi Dreamstar Scorpiomarie Emmi Dreamstar Do you have any idea why he is okay with me sometimes, nice and calm.. and then other times he totally runs for the hills? I really don't get that.. Thanks again, for whatever insight you can give me. Yea, I was kinda thinking that too. lol The little guy fits right in with me then... He's seems to be making some kind of progress. Like now when I take him out for a visit (still only small vists, so he doesn't get scared) when I put him back in his tank, he will stay out for a bit, run on the wheel for a minute before running back inside his house/nesting spot. When I first posted this thread, he would typically run straight into his house as soon as I would put him down in his tank, So maybe thats a good sign?
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 10:39 pm
Teddie got his finger caught in the water bottle the other day. I helped him out of the situation the moment I noticed, of course... I was really afraid that he was going to get even more anit-social because he was really nerved up during the incident and wouldn't let me near him... BUT ever since then (once he got over the shock of it I think..) his behavior has actually gotten better and he's much more social!
I think he understood I helped him. He was so sweet and cuddly tonight. I put my hand in the cage to give him a little pet, he didn't back away... he actually climbed on top of my hand and waited for me to take him out for a visit!! AND everytime I put him back in the tank, he would stand on his hind legs begging to come back out!!!! I couldn't believe it! I hope it stays this way! I was so happy I could cry! I'm so glad he's trusting me some more!
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 3:09 pm
Emmi Dreamstar Teddie got his finger caught in the water bottle the other day. I helped him out of the situation the moment I noticed, of course... I was really afraid that he was going to get even more anit-social because he was really nerved up during the incident and wouldn't let me near him... BUT ever since then (once he got over the shock of it I think..) his behavior has actually gotten better and he's much more social! I think he understood I helped him. He was so sweet and cuddly tonight. I put my hand in the cage to give him a little pet, he didn't back away... he actually climbed on top of my hand and waited for me to take him out for a visit!! AND everytime I put him back in the tank, he would stand on his hind legs begging to come back out!!!! I couldn't believe it! I hope it stays this way! I was so happy I could cry! I'm so glad he's trusting me some more!
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 12:01 pm
He comes out daily now, and he likes it. I don't know if it is because he hurt his finger and I helped him... or if he was just finally getting to trust me... but things seem much better. He's really sweet and has soo much energy! He loves running in his ball! I have a hard time getting him out of it sometimes! smile
And he's tripled in size since he came home with us. I'll take a picture and post it up! smile
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:51 pm
Emmi Dreamstar He comes out daily now, and he likes it. I don't know if it is because he hurt his finger and I helped him... or if he was just finally getting to trust me... but things seem much better. He's really sweet and has soo much energy! He loves running in his ball! I have a hard time getting him out of it sometimes! smile And he's tripled in size since he came home with us. I'll take a picture and post it up! smile
I'm looking forwould to seeing the picture xD
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:40 pm
Emmi Dreamstar He comes out daily now, and he likes it. I don't know if it is because he hurt his finger and I helped him... or if he was just finally getting to trust me... but things seem much better. He's really sweet and has soo much energy! He loves running in his ball! I have a hard time getting him out of it sometimes! smile And he's tripled in size since he came home with us. I'll take a picture and post it up! smile Hey! What great news!!!! I am so glad to hear that things are going well with your little guy.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 3:23 am
Ya everything is going real nice with him. He's still a bit of a scaredy when he wants to be but overall he's very sweet and affectionate! And his paw is all better now too! smile
And I have to get some new batteries for the camera, as soon as I do I will take some pics! lol
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:51 am
Emmi Dreamstar Ya everything is going real nice with him. He's still a bit of a scaredy when he wants to be but overall he's very sweet and affectionate! And his paw is all better now too! smile And I have to get some new batteries for the camera, as soon as I do I will take some pics! lol
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