Hamster is hyper then shattered - and continues

ham888 · 03-02-2015, 03:17 AM

Dunno if this is a health issue or just a daft hamster. Biscuit (Syrian male, approx 6 months old) is always hyper. He's so anxious to play he'll spider the bars endlessly until out. He wakes in the evening at varying times, I think dependant on noise. And he wakes first thing when we get up for work/school.

The thing is, he just never stops, and then crashes. If he's out he's hyper all the time doing usual hamster stuff. If put back to his cage, he then will either lay down just anywhere or doze on his shelf. Last night the daft thing was so tired he was nodding off and nearly fell off the shelf, saw me and again, hyper, spidering, wanting out.

I can't imagine we're not giving him enough exercise. When he's being handled he will sometimes look tired out with his eyes half closed but just not stop. Surely it's not good for a ham to exercise so much that he will just crash like this?

Health-wise he's fine, clean and bright, no lumps or tender spots, drinking and eating all normal. Tell me it's normal!

**DrKMcK** · 03-02-2015, 06:09 AM

LOL. It's normal. Hammies are full of energy and then run out of steam, nap/nod off, and off to the races again.

candice clews · 03-02-2015, 11:41 AM

Yes definitely normal just like my hamsters

RubyDG · 03-02-2015, 01:44 PM

My Spike's the same

. I know that generally people say that male Syrian hamsters tend to be calmer and more cuddly than the females but there are always the exceptions. My Spike is a manic ball of energy and just doesn't stop, then when he goes to bed he sleeps like the dead. Seriously, when he has to get up for a water/food/potty break he looks like a drunken old man. As long as he is fine in all other things it's just his own unique little personality. I will say that if he is anything like Spike he is the type of hamster that needs a lot of out of cage play time to burn of energy and a lot of running around room to be happy - I can see a big difference in how Spike was in the beginning in his temporary cage and short playtime's in the bathtub to how he is now with his big cage and 2 hours free ranging a day. I would suggest though that you pay close attention to his body language and when you see him getting tired dispite himself put him to bed no matter if he throws a bit of a strop - be strict and ignore him once you've put him back and eventually he will learn that once he's in that's it. Spike used to throw terrible tantrums and bar chew but after ignoring him when he does this he's now pretty good about accepting it when we put him back in his cage after playtime and that we're also not going to let him out whenever he want's - although he still has the occasional snit

Thin Lizzy · 03-02-2015, 08:32 PM

My youngest Twinkle is like a monkey in her cage, it's funny to watch her over do it, I'm forever telling her to slow down but she just ignores me and goes faster.
But, when she's exhausted, she'll sometimes sleep on her saucer, I think she thinks I'll take it out so is very
protective of it lol!