Change in Behaviour

[RubyDG]

I'm a little concerned over my Syrian boy Spike. He is 5 months old and was pretty much tame from day 1. He has always been a barely restrained bundle of energy and constantly demanding attention. I usually give him about 2 hours free range play time a day and even then he still throws a little strop when I put him back in his cage. For about the last two weeks (roughly) his behavior has changed. At first I thought maybe it was the weather because it's gotten colder (although the room he is in is usually heated). I've also just had surgery so for the last week and a bit he's been somewhat ignored. He's had his food and water changed obviously and my husband's taken him out for brief periods but he's not had the kind of attention he's used to. He is eating and drinking normally and using his wheel. I've given him more than one health check and all the boxes are ticked, I even checked his weight and it's the same'ish (2 grams less but the scale is finicky and tends to give different readings - I've ordered a new one). The thing is he just seems to have less energy - not lethargic by any means just not interested in running around like a maniac. He has also been reluctant to come out his cage and is essentially ignoring us. Usually I barely have time to get the cage door open before he's jumping into my hand but now I'm having to coax him out with food. I just took him out for play time now because he was running on his wheel and he wandered around the room for a few minutes and then just came and sat by my feet (he will usually sit on my foot with his paws on my leg when he wants to either be picked up or go in his cage for a water/food/potty break). He just doesn't seem to be himself. My husband thinks it's just the weather and because he was ignored for a little while or even that he's just moving out of the 'baby' stage. I'm worried enough that I'm contemplating taking him to the vet but as there is nothing obviously wrong I think he'll probably just tell me to keep an eye on him. I don't know if I'm being paranoid because I've never had a hamster before but I can't shake this feeling that something isn't right. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance and wondering if anyone has had this happen or has any ideas if something is wrong or not?

[cypher]

I don't think you're being paranoid, we all worry about our hams!
I do think pretty much what your husband is saying, the weather, changes in his routine & just growing up a bit can all make a difference to behaviour & if there's nothing obviously wrong a vet probably wouldn't be able to help much. I would just keep a very close eye on him as you are doing now & try to encourage him to come out & play when you can.
Lots of hams go through phases of activity & different behaviours so I don't think you have too much cause for concern, you know your ham best though so if you continue to feel there is something worrying going on a vet check certainly wouldn't do any harm, see how he goes for a little longer.

[RubyDG]

Thanks! I think it must be the change in routine and I'm now trying to play when he's still sleepy. When I took him out in the early hours of the morning today, when I saw him on his wheel, he wasn't interested but because I couldn't sleep I stayed up and then this morning at 7am he was still up and lo and behold he made a huge fuss about coming out to play! He seemed completely back to 'normal'. Of course he also managed to get himself behind the blocked off radiator and disappear into the wall for a few hours as well. I swear I've aged a few years today, thank heavens that naughty little b$%%&* came back back for his lunch!

Today's drama aside I'm still going to keep a close eye on him. I am starting to think though that it's probably because we've severely upset his routine and his 'play time mode' is now much later than before. I would still appreciate any thoughts everyone has about it though

[Gatsby]

Yeah a couple of my wee hams have done the same lately, the weather turned and now its bitterly cold and snowing, it just shows you are observant and care about your hamster, just spoil it when it eventually comes out.
Gatsby is one of my most social hamsters, he runs out to see you and sits beside you in the cage and dozes off, I miss it when he hides in his bed

[Thin Lizzy]

My 2 have gone through the same phase as Spike.
The last couple of days Twinkle was glued to her saucer (not real glue) lol! She just wanted to spin and spin and I almost changed her name to Kylie ha-ha!
Today, the saucer is her enemy.
We get so use to seeing them being active and when they go all quiet and seem uninterested we worry.
The joys of being a hammie mum!
Like Cypher said, they go through phases and all we can do is keep an eye on them.

[RubyDG]

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

My 2 have gone through the same phase as Spike.
The last couple of days Twinkle was glued to her saucer (not real glue) lol! She just wanted to spin and spin and I almost changed her name to Kylie ha-ha!
Today, the saucer is her enemy.
We get so use to seeing them being active and when they go all quiet and seem uninterested we worry.
The joys of being a hammie mum!
Like Cypher said, they go through phases and all we can do is keep an eye on them.

True. I was just freaking out for nothing but it's important to take note of any changes since they can't speak and tell us when something's wrong. They can be strange little beings sometimes though . Sometimes I wish I could hear what he's thinking! Spike's behavior is pretty much back to normal now that playtime is a little later on. He still has the occasional day though when he kind of just looks at me and goes 'Meh' and toddles off back to bed . Since it's just every now and then I think it's just a combination of him getting older and the colder weather - I have days when I just want to stay in bed too

[Thin Lizzy]

I totally agree about taking notice when there's changes in our furry friends, it would be so great if we could understand the hamster language.
Since the weather has gotten colder, my 2 aren't as active, they still come out and play but they also love the fact that I've been giving them loads more extra bedding, when I lifted Archie's igloo up, all I could see was his cute little nose. I kid you not, he could be the star of andrex toilet paper. lol!

[Gatsby]

I would also add to the rest that he's now 5 months old you say? He could be just going through a different phase like we do....stroppy teenager maybe lol

[Thin Lizzy]

Gatsby's got a point, Spike's almost an adult - growing pains! A lot of responsibility when you become an adult lol!

[RubyDG]

They grow up so fast don't they? . I can't believe my baby is no longer a baby anymore, silly but true. My husband was saying the same thing that he is just being a typical teenager and that as long as he doesn't get a bunch of piercings and knock up some poor hamster girl I shouldn't worry about it .

I would love to see a picture of your Andrex poster hammy Thin Lizzy. Seriously. The puppy thing for their Ads are cute but a hamster as a mascot would totally make more sense! Spike's been stock piling his bedding too, some days I feel like he goes through more loo roll than we do! He has a labyrinth style house and I thought I was going overboard with the bedding but it was all disappearing - then I saw that he had completely blocked the entrance to his bedroom section and just has the top entrance open on the other side to use. I've left him to it though, it's his room after all - I'm just the maid