first time pet owner

[SpaceMouse]

I got my hamster a little over a week ago (little boy, yet to be named), and he has been really tame from the beginning, pawing at our hands when we're changing out food etc so we've been handling him often. Today I noticed that he's not up and about like he usually is, was hiding from me when I opened the cage, and seems really sleepy.
I know I'm probably being overly worried because he's my new baby, and it might just be that he's been running on his wheel while we were out and now he's exhausted, but I'm really really concerned. He won't let me near him to health check him. I don't know what to do...
Any advice or reassurance would be much appreciated.

[racinghamster]

Hi SpaceMouse. I`m presuming he`s a Chinese hamster? They are lovely. This could be due to a number of things and I will list a few and see if anything compares:

1. Does he have a daily routine? For example, do you leave him alone during the day to sleep?
2. What room in the house is his cage in?
3. Does the room get very warm and then very cold at night? Not that cold matters if he has plenty of nesting materials, but heat (too warm) can effect hamsters.
4. What cage is he housed in?
5. If he`s young, he may be feeling a little off colour but sometimes looking sleepy doesn`t necessarily mean illness.

I would suggest being hands off for 24 hours and monitor his actions. Make sure he has a cardboard box without a floor as Chinese hamsters love to dig down into their substrate and make a deep nest.

You say, "we`ve been handling him often" so has he had too much handling I wonder in the short space of time he`s been allowed to settle?

How is he today? Check that his water bottle is working properly too.

[SpaceMouse]

Thank you for your advice, I left him alone for two days only changing food and water, and last night when he woke up he seemed a lot more active and climbed on me for a quick snuggle when I was changing his food.

My partner says I was worrying over nothing and that he'd seen him running around and eating and drinking so I'm fairly certain I was just being very nervous over nothing.

[racinghamster]

That`s good to hear. He sounds adorable. They are quite mouse-like in their behaviours. x

[Milkshake]

I know exactly how you feel, as when I first got Milkshake, I thought he was dying!!! (he wasn't, he was fine ). You'll seriously love what your little guy gets up to, as chinese hamsters are curious little darlings. They also have a thing for climbing stuff

Love,
Hollzey
xxx