how many hours doea a hamster sleep?

[channeltool]

We just got our longhaired hamster and he sleeps alot. He is sleeping when I wake up in the morning at 4:40am and when I come home at 1pm. Sometimes he is up for about 15 minutes around 2pm but then he is still sleeping when my husband goes to bed around midnight. I wake him up sometimes around 5pm so he can go out in his play area which is connected to his cage but he only stays their for about 10 minutes then goes back to sleep. Also what are the best chews for them and can they chew on lava bites. I give them to my chins but they do not eat them and I am afraid the hamster will chew the lava bites and store them in his pouch. This is our first hamster since childhood and any other advice will be appreciated. One more question, do hamsters need dust baths? thanks

[TiaMaria]

Hamsters sleeping that long is normal and nothing to worry about. I just give mine chewing blocks, they love chewing blocks! Do not give them anything that could get stuck in their cheek pouches, that is a major no no. NO DO NOT give your hamster dust baths, dust is very bad for them and causes upper respitory infections, please use chinchilla SAND. There is a HUGE difference between sand and dust and using dust could cause harm of death. They do not "need" to have sand baths but they love to have that option available and play around in it.

[ilovepink]

Hiya.And welcome to petshub.Yes its normal for hamsters to sleep for long,mainly up at nights and sleep throughout the day.Yes chinchilla sand is whats best,i use it for my robo's one seems to enjoy it and the other dont hehehe.
Tia's given you alot of good advice.Ya so clever if i ever need advice ill be pming you straight away.:D

[PetLuver21257]

Yeah, Tia, umm, speaking of Chinchilla Sand, my mom got me Chinchilla Sand for my B-Day (July 16) and it was the same box/design as my old dust free one. It also said, "Chinchilla Sand: Naturally Dust Free" Or something like that...

Anyways, it is DEFINITELY NOT dust free. Whenever I go to pick up Opie, I feel around on his wood house and there is a layer of dust there, on Opie, on the water bottle, and on the paper tube! I just hope it's okay! :undecided:

I think this is what it looks like...:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p_12746_20363D.jpg

[TiaMaria]

Oh, that sucks PL!! I'd suggest trying another brand out.