Collapsing beside wheel...

$hAzZa · 07-17-2011, 02:40 PM

I have a new syrian hamster, Chewy, who will run in his wheel for about 5 mins, then get off and lay down near it, eyes still open. He has a very long and thick coat, so could he be getting too hot?

He seems to be breathing normally. I'm very worried for him. He's only 6 weeks old

**LocoRocoPanda** · 07-17-2011, 02:45 PM

Awh he's so young he may just be getting tired. XD Izu didn't have a wheel in permenantly till 10 weeks as he would exhaust himself on it.

I didn't know you were getting a Syrian. XD

AliKati · 07-17-2011, 02:57 PM

Sounds pretty normal! Hamchan often runs on the wheel, and then snoozes in it or next to it. As he got older, he can run longer before he falls asleep.

PS. I forgot to mention, that in his old Savic Rolly, he used to snooze on the wheel, and slowly, as his eyes closed, his head would start drooping towards the cage floor...and then he'd fall off. LMAO

Tammanae · 07-17-2011, 02:59 PM

Has he always had a wheel? One of my hamsters didn't have a wheel where I got her from, so when she first arrived to her new home and wheel, she would get quite tired of running in the wheel after a couple of minutes. This only lasted a week or so, though, and she soon got the hang of it. ^^

However, as AliKat said, it is perfectly normal for a syrian to snooze by the wheel. Pepper snoozes in the wheel all the time. Usually, when she has just woken up, she will jog for a minute or two, and then just lay in the wheel all sleepy like. X3

amyXlovesXhamstersX · 07-17-2011, 03:21 PM

Its quite normal I think! Sometimes if Ruby has been running alot she will curl up in her wheel for a few minutes.
I wouldn't let him have a wheel all the time at 6 weeks old because they can get addicted and it can also stunt their growth a bit.

**Pompompoms** · 07-17-2011, 05:18 PM

Jam did this when he got his flying saucer, he literally used to run himself to complete exhaustion. He would go for four hours!!!!

I had to ration it for a while, but he did settle down

Sammybingo · 07-17-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliKati

PS. I forgot to mention, that in his old Savic Rolly, he used to snooze on the wheel, and slowly, as his eyes closed, his head would start drooping towards the cage floor...and then he'd fall off. LMAO

Made me laugh quite hard

'nando has been doing this too. I think it is normal for a young hamster. They get over excited, and wear themselves out, much like I do

. He has been doing it less through the week, he is more likely to sit and rest, or scamper about at something else. He is 11 weeks now.

I don't think you need to worry. I plan to get a tiny bit of cucumber tomorrow for 'nando when he does pancake, try and help him restore himself to full beans!

PS. I started a pancaking thread.. we totally need evidence!

AliKati · 07-17-2011, 06:43 PM

Here's some photographic evidence!

$hAzZa · 07-18-2011, 05:13 AM

oh thats a relief, I thought he has heart problems! And like your hamster Tamminae, he didn't have a wheel in his cage which was kind of sad. He's quite a fatty so all this exercise is a bit of a shock for him lol

LocoRocoPanda, I missed having syrians and there happened to be an empty zz1 in my bedroom that desperately needed filling...

Thats such a stupidly cute photo Ali LOL

**LocoRocoPanda** · 07-18-2011, 05:17 AM

Awh any chance of pics of the likkle ham? I've got a baby ham in the house right now XD