Strange or normal?!?

[lightswitch]

Hello,

I have just got a new hamster, (sat 11th Feb), which is settling in well. But could use some advice as Im not sure that some of the things that he is doing are normal!?

1/ Is 5 hours too long on an exercise wheel?!

2/ He takes poo from his bum with his mouth and spits it into the corner! :o

3/ He falls asleep in the middle of doing things! He fell asleep half on and half off the wheel! kinda upside down hanging off it?!

4/ He also fell asleep after climbing quite a high tube, and fell off?

5/ At night he will often just nap here and there, not in his house?

But I am pleased to say that he has started to walk over my hand and take food from me, in or out of his cage! Yay! :D

[PetLuver21257]

1. No, 5 hours is not too long on the exercise wheel.

2. That's ok! :D My old hamster did that too! I guess they just have to get it off of them! ;)

3. I am not sure if that is okay.... But as long as he didn't get hurt than it might be fine.

4. Same as the above answer.

5. That's okay too.

Good Luck I wish you well! :)

[Moosley]

They are all normal for a crazzzzzy young hammy :)

[lightswitch]

Excellent, thanks alot!

He is still a bit jumpy, but curiosity always gets the better of him! :D

[PetLuver21257]

Happy he is okay! :)

[animalmagic]

Aww yeah I think it's all normal! My hamster used to fall asleep randomly as well, like half on the wheel etc, or just on the floor of his cage lol. Now he doesn't really do that anymore. Do you have any pics of your little guy? :)

[lightswitch]

No piccy's yet, but will get some on here soon. I am starting to wonder what other people do with their hammy's when letting them out. Do you just hold him or let him run around? My Harry dissapeared under the tele the first time, and under the bed last night?! I think I'm scared of him as much as he is of me!!

[dog mad]

No piccy's yet, but will get some on here soon. I am starting to wonder what other people do with their hammy's when letting them out. Do you just hold him or let him run around? My Harry dissapeared under the tele the first time, and under the bed last night?! I think I'm scared of him as much as he is of me!!

I now what you mean i bough my hamster out of the cage last night and she ran under the bed. I didnt want to move the bed incase id hurt her. Anyway after 2 and a half hours she came out.

I think its just in the hamsters nature to want to find dark places to hide. And if your hamsters young hes probably not use to alot of handeling so hes probably a bit frightened.The more you spend time with your hamster the more hell get use to you.Dont take him out all the time. This maybe really stupid but i dont care sometimes i like to sit and talk to my hamster weird i now but i enjoy it.

[lightswitch]

Definately not wierd! I have got into talking to my hammy too! He sometimes looks at me like I am insane though!!

Luckily I only had to wait about 15 mins for him to come out from under the bed before he climbed on my boyfriends hand and was safely returned to his cage!!

Yay for small hairy creatures! :D

[flopsymopsy]

he sounds fine put 5 HOURS in a wheel is way to long for a hammy lol but he sounds great hope you enjoy him

[PetLuver21257]

5 hours on a wheel is not way too long. Some hamsters run 5 MILES every night... 5 hours is not too long at all. But he definately wasn't on it for 5 hours straight right?

[lightswitch]

Well I sat down at around 7pm and he was still going at midnight. He ran for around ten mins then stops for 30 seconds ish. I think he only stopped for about 10 mins once, then carried on. It was his first night with me and he hasn't been that energetic since!

In fact last night he didn't come out of his house at all! He slept all day and then didn't get up at night. I checked in his house and he was ok, but he didn't come out!? I got up in the middle of the night and still no sign either!?

I think that maybe he is settling in and hasn't found his routine yet. Hopefully! :confused:

[dwankrista]

change in behavior and especially lethargy are cause for concern. keep an eye on him as you may need a vet visit.

[lightswitch]

Yea I just said that a vet visit would be a good idea. I came home tonight and he still wont come out of his house, and he hasnt eaten for nearly 2 days. He's drinking though, but not too much or anything.

I took the roof off his house, and he sniffed me and seemed ok, came out for a few mins for a drink, but then went back into his house and just tried to bury himself, even with no roof on. :no:

He seems to have no interest in the outside world and I am really worried about him, even though he looks healthy and quite bright. :(

[lightswitch]

Sorry....I said about the vet visit to my boyfriend, that didn't read write!! :o

[dwankrista]

you really should get him to a vet. the no eating part tells me something is definitely wrong, as small critters are prey animals and hide their symptoms to the fullest extent. when we do see symptoms it usually means something is terribly wrong.

[hamham20006]

some times if they don't eat they could have wet tail so sorry bout ur hammy thou(sp):sorry:

[flopsymopsy]

dat is way to long though i would get some advice from a vet