Is he hibernating? and why?

PNH · 01-04-2014, 11:43 AM

I've had my Syrian hamster for about 7 months and he has generally been settled and happy. Lately he has begun to scare me senseless! He has a tube that runs outside his main cage and he used to sleep in it and make his bed in it. That stopped and he now makes an impressive burrow in a corner of his cage. However...last week I found him in his tube and I thought he was dead! He was cold and unresponsive when I eventually got him out of the tube but just as I was about to give up all hope. I touched his foot and felt it slightly recoil. Anyway...45 minutes later being held in my warm hands he was more awake and like an alive hamster so I put him in his burrow. Next day he was as if nothing had happened. I thought he'd got stuck in his tube, got cold and gone into hibernation. But he has now done it 3 times in the space of 2 weeks!! I've covered his cage with a towel and moved it to a warmer part of the house but he still did it again. Why does he keep doing this? What can I do to stop it happening?

souffle · 01-04-2014, 01:22 PM

It does run in some lines and once they have gone in to hibernation they will keep doing it. Each time you have to wake them up puts a stain on the system so it is important you try and stop him getting cool enough to go in. This can happen as high as 16C in some sensitive hamsters.
Do you have an airing cupboard or similar? Failing this you may need a reptile heat pad you can put UNDER the cage to keep it warm enough in his sleeping area.

Cheetobandito · 01-04-2014, 01:57 PM

I think taking a thermometer and assessing the temperature of the cage area is important. It should be at least 20 degrees Celsius, (excuse my Canadian) or about 70 Fahrenheit. if not, make it warmer somehow. Hope this helps!

Sanctuary · 01-04-2014, 05:47 PM

It is not called hybernation as hamsters do not ever hybernate. When they get too cold and stop moving they have gone into shock. You need to keep the room in which your hamster is in warm.
I would suggest removing the tube your hammy keeps trying to sleep in as the temp drops after your ham is asleep. This will force them to sleep more in thier nest where they should have plenty of soft toilet roll bedding

LucyNorbs · 01-04-2014, 05:51 PM

This happened to my first Hamster Tilly. I was only young and my Dad nearly buried her! Normally they go into 'shut down mode' when there is a sudden drop in temprature. Its not actually hibernation its a coping method to stay alive. They shut down everything in their body and their heartbeat is so shallow that they appear to be dead! So maybe place him a warmer spot and keep an eye on him.

Hope this helps!

PNH · 01-05-2014, 04:08 AM

Thank you for all your advice! Ive been trying to order things to seal off the tube but the manufacture company's website doesn't appear to let you order it and no shop stocks them...help! I have moved him to a warmer spot and we'll keep our fingers crossed he doesn't do it again.

souffle · 01-05-2014, 05:02 AM

You can stuff the tube with something then cut a piece of plastic from a folder to shape and tape it over using strong duck tape as a temporary measure.

racinghamster · 01-05-2014, 05:32 AM

Hi PNH, can you give the name of the cage he is in? Maybe members will be able to say whether the tube can be removed altogether or give some ideas as to block it?

Using a cardboard box like a shoe box with a door cut into it would make a cosy sleeping house. Just remove the box lid and turn the box upside down so the box has no floor in it as hamsters prefer to feel the substrate under them and dig down. x