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Something people don't talk about enough is that hamsters are biologically designed to be prey animals. Thus, they have prey animal reactions-- they dart away when something tries to grab them from the sky, they avoid uncovered areas, and hate a ton of empty open space... this is all to be expected.
So basically, my theory is that hamsters aren't shy by default they're fearful.
But of course, there are ways to reduce this. Your hamster basically needs to rewire their brain to learn that they aren't going to die from being handled and that they are in a safe place.
A hamster might be scared if they:
- Prefer interacting at night only
- Take treats gently but avoid handling
- Hide when startled, then come back out later
- Explore cautiously over time as trust builds
Signs something else may be wrong:
- Suddenly becoming less active than normal
- Refusing favorite foods or treats
- Staying hidden constantly, even at night
- Excessive bar chewing or frantic pacing
- Weight loss, messy fur, squinting eyes, or changes in posture
- Freezing or panicking every time someone approaches
*this is not an exhaustive list, you know you hamster best and can identify the risk signs best!*
If your hamster is show the above signs indicating they are scared, you can usually make adjustments to the following things in their enclosure and in your own behavior.
(This is, however, unless they are showing signs that indicate they have a health issue in which you should call your exotic vet to see what they recommend)
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!!!THIS IS A BIG ONE!!!-- HANDLING: How is your hamster ever supposed to learn that you are safe and are not a predator who is going to eat them, if you never hold them?! One of the biggest pieces of advice that I give to adopters when they get their new young hamsters is to constantly handle them. By "constant" I mean a minimum of 2-3 times a day. (the frequency of holding them during the taming period is more important than how long you hold them each time) Your hamster needs to get used to your smell, and learn that they can associate that smell with safety. Your smell = good things and NOT the end of their existence, which is what a prey species is designed to protect themself from. (the biggest draw back people have with this is: "I don't want to stress out my hamster" I want to encourage you in is this: They are already stressed out. That's why they are running and fearful because they are instinctively created that way in order to survive. When you do this "exposure therapy" you will actually benefit their overall stress levels for the rest of their life (stress lowers the bodies immune system) so helping your hamster overcome their instinctual fear now, will benefit their health, overall life span and allow you to see their true personality bloom!
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Bedding: oftentimes too little bedding can cause stress in your hamster, try adding some more bedding
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Clutter & Hiding Spots: hamsters are prey animals-- even though you do not want to eat your hamster (lol) or attack them, sometimes they don't know that! Having extra hides, tunnels, and clutter to fill up open spaces can help them feel more secure
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Loud environments: having a vacuum constantly running, kids screaming, music, can sometimes stress your hamster out! Making sure that they are in an area that is not near loud noises can help eliminate stress
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Enclosure size: a small, unsuitable enclosure can 100% stress your hamster out, make sure your enclosure meets the recommended ethical minimum for your hamster species is vital
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Cleaning: fully rearranging or CLEANING the enclosures can stress your hamster out-- destroying their burrows, changing out all the bedding... hamsters rely on their sense of smell to get around their enclosure which is why we recommend simply spot cleaning and cleaning hides if they get messy/dirty with warm water and unscented, pet-safe soap as not to mess with their smell pathways
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Temperature: hamsters that are too hot or cold might isolate themselves, I mean... how do YOU feel when you have prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable temperature? Same thing for your hamster!
Don't let your hamster stay fearful, you have options for how to make them more comfortable with their new home and with YOU!
In conclusion, while i do agree that there are some hamster who enjoying being handled more or less than others, I think the hamster community may be too quick to label a hamster as a ghost hamster when in fact that hamster is still dealing with a lot of fears that they have not learned they are actually safe from.
I hope these tips help, and remember you can always call your local exotic vet with any behavior concerns and they will be able to help!
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