Help - new hamster not drinking!

Nibbles Mum · 10-30-2011, 07:41 AM

We got our first hamster (female, about 8 weeks old) 4 days ago. She appears not to have drunk a drop of water since we brought her home. I have checked that her water bottle works (by shaking it and tapping the end and water definitely comes out), but just in case I bought another one and attached that too. The pet shop owner said not to worry, they don't drink much and as long as they have access to water, they'll drink it if they want to. But I am worried. I have given her small pieces of cucumber and carrot in the hope she gets some mositure out that that. I have marked the water bottles and she is definitely not drinking. Is this common? What should I do?

vanilla-yazoo · 10-30-2011, 08:28 AM

sometimes they dont drink much the 1st days as they are shy, they also drink a teeny ammount, esp dwarfs, is she a syrian or dwarf? if she is thirsty she will drink, you have checked the bottle is working, sometimes they are used to bowls and will take a while to work out bottle= water.
hope she has a nice big drink soon!

Erin Loves Dwarf Hamsters · 10-30-2011, 09:05 AM

Dont worry she wouldnt let herself dehydrate, her instinct is to survive.

Its normal for a new hamster not to drink for the firts few days because they are scared or under stress from the move but hamsters are very efficiant with water and once she is thirsty she will drink. Just give it a few more days

Nibbles Mum · 10-30-2011, 01:31 PM

Thanks. She (Syrian, by the way) had a water bottle in the pet shop, so she's used to that. I did wonder whether she was just traumatised by the move from pet shop to home....what a worry! I'll try to be patient and hope she drinks soon.

Teddybearhamster420 · 10-30-2011, 01:38 PM

if your really paraniod, you could always give her a cucumber, which has lots os water!!

xx

sammyandralph · 10-30-2011, 01:50 PM

or pears are full of water!
I used to worry mine were getting water but realised they were being sneaky and doing it when I wasn't looking lol

souffle · 10-30-2011, 01:54 PM

Rub the spout with cucumber to attract her to it then she will get used to this.
They are desert animals and need little fluid. If you are giving her veg she will drink even less as she is getting water from this. Don't worry as if she was dehydrated you would soon know about it as she would be unwell and floppy. They really do only need a teeny amount.