Teddie

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Skeever

Given a two year life span on average, and let's assume that's a decent age of mid seventies to eighty years old? One year is literally midlife....do the math. Ziggy's about a year now and he's clearly 45-50 in behavoir, speed , attitude and how much he wants things his way. He can steal run off steam and explore and play 'wreck the hotel room/cage' when the mood strikes him. But he likes to jog in a ball or wheel, wander through his cage and organize and reorganize his preciouseseses, sleep alot, chew more on toys, rest, and lounge about. When he comes out he can go on a run or two but is equally interested in walking around and meerkating a the sights and sounds of the outside world.

Full thick hair, a decent bit of weight, robust health overall, and he even started to squeak a bit to answer Pook when Pook starts chattering for no reason. Last time I was trying to find him in his nest and didn't know the end I was poking was the head end . I felt two sets of incissors clamp down slowly and firmly on my fingers....but lightly. Hold. Release. He's settled in his ways, and has slowed down, and doesn't need to freak out when a quick 'you like this finger, homez? stop poking me in the head, k? Thanks' will get his point across I like middle aged Pook. Which more often than not is a polite term for getting old faster each day or year, depending on what species you are ...... No problems with hams imo around the age of Brad Pitt, Jodie Foster, Johnny Dep, Ellen DeGereres, Louis CK, in the meda, or others in whatever field. They still got plenty of life left in them.....They just start preferring nightclubs to playgrounds and theme parks

Sounds like Teddie... It's a change for me to see, because she was very hyper..

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Willow Wisp

I would say they grow up The bonkers baby full of madness and mischief becomes a responsible adult
I wouldn't class 1 as old, let's just say she's responsible and I personally don't think you need to worry about changing anything for a while yet I also agree with Cypher, it's possibly the cooler weather making a difference to her behaviour too

Yes.. Great analogy.. Xx

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Pygmypuff

I'm not sure if you knew this, but hamsters age 1 year every 10 human days, so that means that 1 human year is roughly 36 hamster years. So it's no wonder they seem to age quickly!! If a hamster lives to 4 years, they have lived an incredible 144 hamster years.

So yes, she could be slowing down with age. It may also be the season; in winter, when the days are shorter and the weather gets colder, hamsters are likely to slow down a bit. I definitely slow down a bit during winter!

If your hamsters still seems fit, healthy and well, I see no reason to limit her climbing the tube to get to her large cage. However, if she ever falls, or you see her start to really take a bad turn, then you could limit her usage of them. I suppose it depends entirely on Teddie.

Thank you, Pyg

Think she has turned " middle aged." No problems with falling, and appears to be very healthy. Just think she's moved into another stage life..

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Skeever

1 year old is not old Teddy. They do "mature" and they aren't as frantic...although I have had some hams who were speedy nearly all their lives. Ted E. Bear really didn't wind down until the last 2 weeks of his life. In fact, he was the only hammy I ever had who still used his wheel the day before he passed away.
They really are all different, but I really don't consider a hammy as "old" until getting close to 2 years old. I know some hams can make it to 3 and even beyond, although I haven't been lucky enough to have a hammy reach 3. I just know from experience that hammies lifespans range from 1 1/2 - 3 years old, for the most part. I believe that genetics can play a significant part in longevity, so a store-bought hammy is guess as guess can. But even well bred hams can have serious problems and not be long lived. So really, I just love 'em as long as I have 'em. And I enjoy all the stages they go through...from crazy babies to meandering seniors.
And it is very true that hammies will change their behavior when the seasons change.

Thanks, DK..
I'm glad Teddie's not " old". I was concerned but now understand she's just aging naturally

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by cypher

Hams are like us & age differently, some fast & some slow but 1 year isn't what I'd normally think of as getting old really, I was wondering if it might just be a touch of winter laziness too!
I'd just keep a close eye on Teddie & see how she's doing with those tubes but unless she seems to be struggling I wouldn't worry just yet.

Thanks, Cypher,

It appears she's okay, just going through another stage of hammy life

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

Pygmypuff where did you hear that?
I read in the hammie book that 1 human year is 25 hamster years.
I agree with cypher and willow wisp that one year for a syrian isn't old.
I agree with everyone about it being a touch of winter laziness.
Hammies slow down, they sleep more, hoard more food and less active during the winter period.
I hate waking up in the dark mornings. I have to set an extra alarm clock that gets louder the more you ignore it, I keep it at the other end of my room so I have to get out my bed to switch it off.

Yes, think it's a combo of it being Winter and change due to being 1 year old.

[Thin Lizzy]

So Teddy acts like a meerkat? So does Twinkle!
When the meerkat adverts come on our TV, I always think out loud - that's my twinkle!
It's so funny watching her!

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

So Teddy acts like a meerkat? So does Twinkle!
When the meerkat adverts come on our TV, I always think out loud - that's my twinkle!
It's so funny watching her!

Meerkat stance she does a lot.. She holds her paws up like she's playing the piano while she's meerkat. It seems as though she is more attentive to sounds, even the slightest sound, she pops up into meerkat, and listens, nose twitching.

Maybe they meerkat, to look taller? Their eye sight isn't that great, so why do they meerkat? Lol.. It's adorable, when they stand like that.

[DrKMcK]

They are alerting when they "meercat". They are trying to figure out if they need to run and hide, freeze or check something interesting out. For most prey animals, scents and sounds around them can be very important, especially since they have poor eyesight. Shadows and movement can mean predators or their human bringing something good to eat. When they stand up they can catch a scent better too. I wonder why Meercats don't "hamster"?

[Thin Lizzy]

When Twinke stands like a meerkat she doesn't look worried or scared, she likes to look about have a bit of a nosey and standing like that gives her a better view. I do believe they stand like that to be taller and to
stand out.
The paw pose - the piano player and the nose twitching are so adorable to watch!