Bored hamster

RainbowBrite

RainbowBrite

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Sprite is showing signs of being bored lately. He is not really interested in the cardboard boredom breakers I make him any more. He wants to go in his playpen every morning but will go in for a few minutes, back to his cage, then back to the playpen. In his playpen he only wants to dig in his dig boxes for food and mainly uses his coco soil ignoring the coco bark and beech chips.

He just wanted to come out now and spent a few minutes in his playpen. This is very unusual as he never wants interaction in the evening. I am not sure what I can do because there is no way he can free roam here. I will buy him another playpen to give him another area but I cannot leave this up all the time as there is no space.

I just want him to be happy.
 
Could it just be a phase? We do go through it with ours, where she doesn't play much, and wants out of the cage, then doesn't want the playpen.
Is it possible to swap out some toys in the playpen?
From all the videos and pictures of Sprite, he looks like a very happy hamster. It sounds like your are doing everything you can.
 
Maybe he is happy not sure how old he is but it could be that he likes his more sedate routine I used to love to go out every Saturday night but I'm quite content now watching tv with just the occasional night socialising I'm not bored just content. I'm not sure how a bored hamster portrays boredom but change in his routine dosent sound too concerning maybe he just can't be bothered and happy with less in life or maybe I'm just humanising him too much. Wishing you well because Sprite really is a little sweetie and I know how much you love him
 
Hank said:
Could it just be a phase? We do go through it with ours, where she doesn't play much, and wants out of the cage, then doesn't want the playpen.
Is it possible to swap out some toys in the playpen?
From all the videos and pictures of Sprite, he looks like a very happy hamster. It sounds like your are doing everything you can.
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Thank you for your reply. It could be a phase. I recently added different items to his playpen thinking that may help but they were all ignored.
 
Jain said:
Maybe he is happy not sure how old he is but it could be that he likes his more sedate routine I used to love to go out every Saturday night but I'm quite content now watching tv with just the occasional night socialising I'm not bored just content. I'm not sure how a bored hamster portrays boredom but change in his routine dosent sound too concerning maybe he just can't be bothered and happy with less in life or maybe I'm just humanising him too much. Wishing you well because Sprite really is a little sweetie and I know how much you love him
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Thank you. He is only 8 months old. He actually is the one who asks to come out then go back and we go through this a few times every morning. I would not say he is quiet ready to settle as he is so full of beans. :)
 
I think a lot of hamsters are like this - they spend half their time trying to get out of the playpen and even if they do they then spend haif the time trying to escape the room.

But I’m sure Sprite is happy with his routine and habits in his cage.

I feel a bit the same with Molly, although it’s early days. She comes out, gets bored quickly, wants to go back again then wants to come out again.

But it is all interacting and they are getting attention.
 
Maz said:
I think a lot of hamsters are like this - they spend half their time trying to get out of the playpen and even if they do they then spend haif the time trying to escape the room.

But I’m sure Sprite is happy with his routine and habits in his cage.

I feel a bit the same with Molly, although it’s early days. She comes out, gets bored quickly, wants to go back again then wants to come out again.

But it is all interacting and they are getting attention.
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Thank you. I feel he is trying to tell me something but I am not sure what. He appears healthy otherwise.
 
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Does Sprite have a wheel in his playpen ? I think he does doesn’t he.
 
Maz said:
Does Sprite have a wheel in his playpen ? I think he does doesn’t he.
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Yes he does. He does not like me to see him use a wheel so he rarely uses it. He only runs in his wheel when he knows I am asleep. :)
 
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RainbowBrite said:
Thank you. I feel he is trying to tell me something but I am not sure what. He appears healthy otherwise.
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Maybe you just need to find a favourite thing for him. Does he have a snooze cube? I think dwarf hamsters seem particularly active and maybe don’t know what to do. Most of my Syrians, when out - would keep retreating to a cosy hide or try to escape the sofa in between. Raffy is the exception but because he free roams he seems quite happy doing his own thing.
 
Maz said:
Maybe you just need to find a favourite thing for him. Does he have a snooze cube? I think dwarf hamsters seem particularly active and maybe don’t know what to do. Most of my Syrians, when out - would keep retreating to a cosy hide or try to escape the sofa in between. Raffy is the exception but because he free roams he seems quite happy doing his own thing.
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No but he has a snuggle sack and various hides in his playpen.
 
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How about a maze of tunnels? Or teach him some tricks? I'm sure he's quite happy though.
 
RainbowBrite said:
Thank you. He is only 8 months old. He actually is the one who asks to come out then go back and we go through this a few times every morning. I would not say he is quiet ready to settle as he is so full of beans. :)
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Roughly same age as Pete and he goes through phrases whereas he used to be regular in his routine now he can vary from one day to the next but he is still fine happy as a sand boy doing his own thing
 
You could try giving him a different layout, mix seeds into his bedding, give him more to explore. Maybe he's just getting a bit to dependent on you, and he wants you all the time. Or maybe he needs a cage upgrade. It might be just a phase. Who knows.
 
He has a lovely, huge cage! I think it's 150cm x 60cm isn't it Rainbow? So I don't think it's that :-) Although sometimes hamsters just want to be out of the cage or any enclosure.
 
Maz said:
He has a lovely, huge cage! I think it's 150cm x 60cm isn't it Rainbow? So I don't think it's that :) Although sometimes hamsters just want to be out of the cage or any enclosure.
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Yes that is the cage size. :)
 
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Hammie Heart said:
You could try giving him a different layout, mix seeds into his bedding, give him more to explore. Maybe he's just getting a bit to dependent on you, and he wants you all the time. Or maybe he needs a cage upgrade. It might be just a phase. Who knows.
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Thank you. I do scatter feed. He recently had a set up change as I bought him a bigger sand bath. :)
 
I agree with Hank that it’s most probably a phase he’s going through, their behaviour isn’t always consistent & he’ll probably get more interested & active again.
He has everything he needs, I’m not sure another playpen would really make that much difference but adding or changing a few things might, try hiding a few treats in places it’s a bit harder for him to fine to keep him a bit more occupied.
I wouldn’t worry anyway he always seems happy.
 
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