u/Brave-Notice-4101

Hello,

I recently got a dwarf hamster and it seems like he’s very shy. He is always hiding inside his house, and I have never seen him using the wheel. I stay up pretty late (past 3 AM) and rarely notice him outside.

Am I doing something wrong? Should I force interaction or just leave him be? I’m afraid he’ll never lose his fear of me if I don’t do something, but I’m also afraid of stressing him out.

His setup follows all the standard recommendations (100x50, deep bedding, plenty of hides, 20 cm wheel, etc.).

My university (one of the eligible ones) announced the internal process, and it seems way more complicated than I expected.

It’s not just eligibility. There’s document screening, supervisor recommendation, and even interviews with a committee. In the end, seems like only a few people get the letter.

On paper it sounds simple, but in reality it feels very competitive and unclear.

Has anyone gone through this?