Syrian hamster making strange noises

Question
Hi, I have just bought a syrian hamster and when I went to change the water during the day I could hear some very strange aggressive squaking noises coming the bed room part of the cage.
Everything else seems normal, are these kind of noises normal for a hamster?

Answer
Hi Mike,



First, make sure you are using Carefresh or Aspen bedding, as Cedar and Pine cause respiratory infections.  (One of the first signs of respiratory problems is squeaking because the hamster's nose is irritated.)  If you have Carefresh or Aspen bedding and your hamster is squeaking, your hamster may just be frustrated.  When hamsters enter a new environment, they are often upset and disoriented - thus, the squeaking out of frustration, which is quite normal.  Or, if your new hamster is male, and you have a female somewhere near his cage, he would squeak to let his presence be known.

Also, make sure there are no loud noises around your hamster, or household pets such as dogs or cats that would cause your hamster to squeak out of fear.



If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.



Kelly