What are stress behaviors?

[Kikya]

In practical terms, it’s an outwardly showing repetitive behavior that an animal does in response to high cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is considered one of the stress hormones and how we measure stress in animals. In hamsters, this can show up as a number of different behaviors.

What are examples of stress behaviors?
Cage Climbing – This is when the hamster repeatedly climbs up to the tallest part of the cage to escape. In the case of a barred cage (You’ll hear the term monkey-barring), they will climb the bars of the cage until they get to the top and can no longer hold on. While it may look cute, hamsters are burrowers, not climbers and will hurt themselves by continuously falling.
Bar-biting/wire-chewing – This behavior is when your hamster will continuously chew on the bars or in the case of a solid cage, the corners of its cage. Even if the hamster cannot escape, he will continue to try because of lack of stimulation inside the cage or because of a biological drive to explore.
Pacing – This behavior shows as up repetitive running back and forth, usually along the walls of the cage or a specific path. While you may think this is good exercise for the hamster, it’s actually increasing their stress levels.
Lethargy – This is when a hamster (with no health issues) will sit around the cage and only get up to occasionally get food or water. Some people might interpret this as a lazy hamster. However, when provided with a more enriching environment, the hamster perks up and starts to explore and dig. This is usually reserved for very small cages or neglect.
***Cage Aggression*** – Presents as a hamster that rushes or lunges towards or chases a hand in the cage. They are generally agitated about a human in, or sometimes even near, their enclosure. It's unclear if this is a stress-related behavior or just exacerbated by stress. However, some owners have reported seeing a decrease in the frequency of the behavior once moved to a larger cage. (added by Daisy)

Why should I be concerned about these behaviors?
As the caretaker of your pet, it’s your responsibility to ensure the safety, health, and happiness of your pet. When a hamster is stressed daily, there can be health consequences as well as behavioral consequences. An unhappy hamster is much likely to be affected by diseases and age more quickly, just like human beings. It can also cause hamsters to display more aggression.

What can I do if I see my hamster display these signs?
Most of the time these behaviors are due to either too small of a cage or too little enrichment. It’s hard to know which to start improving first. I think it depends on what your current cage size is. I think if you are under 800 sq inches and have the ability to upgrade cages, this would be a good starting point. If you have a cage that is already 800+ sq inches, you may need more enrichment. Working on these two items isn’t guaranteed to solve all of your issues but it can help decrease the frequency. If you are still having issues feel free to post on the Handling, Taming, & Behavior forum with questions.

[daisy]

I would add to this cage aggression. Dwarf hamsters can become aggressive in very small cages, especially if there aren't enough places for them to hide and they feel exposed.

Cage aggression presents as a hamster that rushes or lunges towards or chases a hand in the cage. They are generally agitated about a human in, or sometimes even near, their enclosure.

Cage aggression will often resolve or partially resolve when the hamster is moved to a properly sized and enriched enclosure but can become an ingrained behaviour.

[Kikya]

I would add to this cage aggression. Dwarf hamsters can become aggressive in very small cages, especially if there aren't enough places for them to hide and they feel exposed.

Cage aggression presents as a hamster that rushes or lunges towards or chases a hand in the cage. They are generally agitated about a human in, or sometimes even near, their enclosure.

Cage aggression will often resolve or partially resolve when the hamster is moved to a properly sized and enriched enclosure but can become an ingrained behaviour.

I thought about adding it, but I haven't seen any evidence that cage aggression is related to small cages or that it resolves once an appropriate cage has been acquired. It definitely could be exacerbated by it. I'm of the mind that it is more a territorial behavior (possibly because of the natural tendencies to live in groups in the wild) rather than stress induced or possibly as a learned defense mechanism to annoying people sticking their hands where it doesn't belong lol (quite understandable) A fear response rather than a stress response.

Also if it was stress induced why would it only effect one species? RCD/RCD hybrids. I think in order to put it on the list, we would need to be able to say we know why this happens. Most of the things that I have read is basically, dealing with the aggression rather then being able to correct it, even when they start with an appropriate sized cage. I feel like this topic needs a lot more research or discussion. If anyone has more evidence to share, I am all ears! I definitely could be wrong!

edit: I went ahead and added to the list (with credit to Daisy!) I would very much like to research this topic more and see if there was a way to really change the behavior or to prove or disprove it is stress related. Appa actually seems more defensive of his cage now that he likes it hahahaha (NiteAngel)

[daisy]

Aggression can definitely be caused or exacerbated by small cages in some cases. There are also cases of aggressive dwarf hamsters where cage size doesn't seem to be a factor.

I adopted a dwarf hamster, Athena. She arrived in a tiny cage in which she was very cage aggressive. She not only would attack a hand inside the cage but seemed agitated if someone was even near the cage. After moving her to a 600 sq in cage, she calmed down immediately and was able to tolerate a hand in her cage. She never liked to be touched or picked up from her cage (but was fine outside the cage) so there was a little bit of cage aggression left but it was 90% better.

[Kikya]

Aggression can definitely be caused or exacerbated by small cages in some cases. There are also cases of aggressive dwarf hamsters where cage size doesn't seem to be a factor.

I adopted a dwarf hamster, Athena. She arrived in a tiny cage in which she was very cage aggressive. She not only would attack a hand inside the cage but seemed agitated if someone was even near the cage. After moving her to a 600 sq in cage, she calmed down immediately and was able to tolerate a hand in her cage. She never liked to be touched or picked up from her cage (but was fine outside the cage) so there was a little bit of cage aggression left but it was 90% better.

Awww, that's cute. I wonder if it's a male/female thing. Have you have had a male dwarf that calmed down after being moved to a larger cage? Appa's cage is quite large and it hasn't change his behavior a bit. Appa definitely has the chase your hand and lunging thing going on. He's definitely being territorial and "cage aggressive" He's like the perfect trap so soft and cute but deadly LOL Perhaps since male RCDs are more involved in parenting the pups, the aggression levels are higher in the males. Nature's protectors.

[daisy]

Aggression can definitely be caused or exacerbated by small cages in some cases. There are also cases of aggressive dwarf hamsters where cage size doesn't seem to be a factor.

I adopted a dwarf hamster, Athena. She arrived in a tiny cage in which she was very cage aggressive. She not only would attack a hand inside the cage but seemed agitated if someone was even near the cage. After moving her to a 600 sq in cage, she calmed down immediately and was able to tolerate a hand in her cage. She never liked to be touched or picked up from her cage (but was fine outside the cage) so there was a little bit of cage aggression left but it was 90% better.

Awww, that's cute. I wonder if it's a male/female thing. Have you have had a male dwarf that calmed down after being moved to a larger cage? Appa's cage is quite large and it hasn't change his behavior a bit. Appa definitely has the chase your hand and lunging thing going on. He's definitely being territorial and "cage aggressive" He's like the perfect trap so soft and cute but deadly LOL Perhaps since male RCDs are more involved in parenting the pups, the aggression levels are higher in the males. Nature's protectors.

I believe it might be more common in females? I've never met a male dwarf who was aggressive due to a small cage but I have known one who was aggressive in the way you describe, despite a large cage and even in his playpen. He just couldn't see a hand without lunging for it. He was a real trap too, just like you describe! He looked so cute and inviting I'd keep thinking "maybe you've outgrown your aggression, maybe I should hold my hand near you, maybe I should offer you a treat". I was wrong every time! He wasn't my hamster but he belonged to one of my boarding customers.

[Luvashh]

Aggression can definitely be caused or exacerbated by small cages in some cases. There are also cases of aggressive dwarf hamsters where cage size doesn't seem to be a factor.

I adopted a dwarf hamster, Athena. She arrived in a tiny cage in which she was very cage aggressive. She not only would attack a hand inside the cage but seemed agitated if someone was even near the cage. After moving her to a 600 sq in cage, she calmed down immediately and was able to tolerate a hand in her cage. She never liked to be touched or picked up from her cage (but was fine outside the cage) so there was a little bit of cage aggression left but it was 90% better.

Awww, that's cute. I wonder if it's a male/female thing. Have you have had a male dwarf that calmed down after being moved to a larger cage? Appa's cage is quite large and it hasn't change his behavior a bit. Appa definitely has the chase your hand and lunging thing going on. He's definitely being territorial and "cage aggressive" He's like the perfect trap so soft and cute but deadly LOL Perhaps since male RCDs are more involved in parenting the pups, the aggression levels are higher in the males. Nature's protectors.

I believe it might be more common in females? I've never met a male dwarf who was aggressive due to a small cage but I have known one who was aggressive in the way you describe, despite a large cage and even in his playpen. He just couldn't see a hand without lunging for it. He was a real trap too, just like you describe! He looked so cute and inviting I'd keep thinking "maybe you've outgrown your aggression, maybe I should hold my hand near you, maybe I should offer you a treat". I was wrong every time! He wasn't my hamster but he belonged to one of my boarding customers.

Yeah I’m pretty sure it might only be in females, when I first met one of my friends she had the smallest cage ever for a female and then she had the same one for a male, The mail was obviously very stressed and showed signs but the female was just absolutely crazy lol
She has two detolfs for both of them now tho!
I’m sure a male could show it to though

[Kikya]

I believe it might be more common in females? I've never met a male dwarf who was aggressive due to a small cage but I have known one who was aggressive in the way you describe, despite a large cage and even in his playpen. He just couldn't see a hand without lunging for it. He was a real trap too, just like you describe! He looked so cute and inviting I'd keep thinking "maybe you've outgrown your aggression, maybe I should hold my hand near you, maybe I should offer you a treat". I was wrong every time! He wasn't my hamster but he belonged to one of my boarding customers.

Omg I died laughing because everyday I look in Appa's cage and maybe today I will offer you a seed and you won't try to take my hand off. Everyday I am wrong.

However, we have sort of progressed to the point where he won't turn around and slap me if I stroke him while he's eating.

[UyezixoJuy]

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