Lazy Hamster

MandyP · 09-23-2010, 09:11 AM

Hi everyone Sorry i havent been on for ages, i have been really ill

I need some help with Dexter, he doesnt seem to want to come out and play. Last weekend i was up till 1 am and he was still asleep. I have had him for about 5 - 6 weeks now but all he wants to do is sleep. We have bought him new toys, lots of tubes and a treat stick. He ignores his toys and doesnt like his treat stick. I put him out in his ball and he rolls off to the corner of the room and sleeps. I have also got him out to run around on me and he does for about 5 minutes then curls up to go to sleep. When we bought him they said he was born in April but he was full size. Does anyone know what i can do to help Dexter get active? I am worried he is alot older than 6 months and thats why he is a lazy hamster. x

annie81 · 09-23-2010, 09:31 AM

hi...i hope you are feeling better now...

i have a really lazy hamster at home as well....and he was lazy from the first minute i got him. if your hammie eats, drinks, poops and pees normally you shouldnt worry about him. although i know its very disappointing for you

you should be persistant and maybe always take him out of the cage at the same time each day so that he can develop a routine...

i have noticed that my lazy ham actually gets active sometimes in the middle of the night...but as soon as i switch on the light he will stop and go to sleep again. maybe your hamster is the same as mine

as i said before...check he is eating and drinking ok (and pooping and peeing)...monitor his weight as well (losing weight might be an indication of illness)

good luck

chavers · 09-23-2010, 09:39 AM

I hope he is doing all the things Annie suggested and is ok. Sometimes I wish my baby was a bit more lazy so I could actually have a little cuddle once in a while!

mangoandmimi · 09-23-2010, 09:58 AM

i do tend to notice that males are less active than females... but yeah - new hamss are alot less actve at first x obiously you want a more active one but i cant say mangos that active now lol maybe i'm jsut comparing him to mimi the hyper bomb tho lol, hope he stats coming out more x

MandyP · 09-23-2010, 10:09 AM

He is eating, drinking, pooping and peeing fine

My step kids are a bit disappointed as they never get to see him. I am thinking of making him a bin cage and see if having more room will help

mangoandmimi · 09-23-2010, 10:22 AM

i dont know if its really worth it, i tried my *laid back* robos in a igger cage and if anything it made them worse than ever! i dont know if thats just me and pi and pop or if its generally like that x

fluffymunchkins · 09-23-2010, 12:17 PM

hello again, glad to hear your better!
Like said, some hamsters are generally really lazy unfortunately.
You can try stimulating him by giving him a cage change or a toy change around, but it might not make a difference.
As long as hes not showing any signs of illness you may just have to deal with a lazy bum

annie81 · 09-23-2010, 12:20 PM

my solution was to just buy another hamster

i dont think you can do much if a hamster is lazy...unfortunately

SarahJ · 09-24-2010, 01:22 AM

Ive got a lazy ham and hes been like it all his life and hes 18months now.

The one thing he loves which gets him really active is free roaming, he loves it and will voom round the place. Maybe worth a try with your ham?

**Hope** · 09-24-2010, 04:08 AM

Hi Mandy - sorry to hear that you have been unwell, but glad to hear that you are feeling better now.

Your ham soundsl ike a right lazy bum

, but as the others have siad as long as he is not showing any signs of being unwell, thats probably just how he is.

Maybe try free roam as Sarah as suggested, in a hammy proofed room if you can, shove boxes, books, old clothes etc in to any gaps! and just let him have a run about. If you are a bit afraid to do this, maybe try him in an empty bath with some toys and a wheel etc he wont be able to escape as the sides are so slippy!