Need some advice about my Syrian sleeping alot more...

smidgey · 12-04-2013, 02:45 PM

...Hi everyone, I haven't logged in here for months, but would appreciate some advice about my hamster Smidge. She's about 18 months old now and the last few weeks I see her less and less as she sleeps alot more. Sometimes I don't see her at all when I go to bed at 10-10.30pm. She pops her head out of her bed and has a drink sometimes, but by the time I've got up and opened her cage she's back in her bed again. I know she's getting older but I'm just concerned that she hasn't been out in her ball now for almost 2 weeks as she just doesn't seem interested. I don't want to be a bad hamster mummy, should I be pursuading her to come out, or leave her to it?

TIA x

Pouches · 12-04-2013, 11:15 PM

What kind of hamster is she? 18 months is a pretty ripe age regardless of species. Not to mention that the season changed recently so a slight change in routine is to be expected. If it were me, I wouldn't force the issue of letting her run in her ball. If she wants to run she will, if not well then enjoy some cuddle time.

smidgey · 12-05-2013, 02:08 PM

She's a Syrian. She doesn't even want cuddles though

Other than coming out for a drink sometimes I don't see her. I know she is up in the night, I've seen her in her wheel if I've got up in the night. Just upsets me that I don't get cuddles and she doesn't come out to play anymore

**DrKMcK** · 12-07-2013, 06:37 AM

Hello Smidgy. You can "accidently" bump and jostle around her cage and apologize when she wakes up to see what's going on. Hammy's will go back to sleep after you check them out and have a visit with them. If I didn't "encourage" Patches, my 2 year old Syrian, to come out to see me, I would forget what she looks like

All my hams have started sleeping a bit longer and a bit later since the days are getting colder and shorter, so the only way you'll get to play with hammy is to wake her. It won't hurt her. Just be sure she's completely awake before you touch her. That's the only way I got a bite from a Syrian, I woke him and touched him before he was really awake. My fault!!! Hope this helps

Nush · 12-09-2013, 07:30 AM

Also may be try to put the central heating a while before the time you want her to wake up or if you have heating pads, you can put one under her cage. I've found there is a direct link between the cold and hamster activity

smidgey · 12-11-2013, 12:02 AM

Thank you, I was worried she was getting ill or something but it's good to know other people's hamster's are sleeping more!