Sleepy Hamster

[scoobysoo]

I've had my hamster less than a year, and although he seems perfectly healthy he seems to be forever sleeping! I don't like to disturb him as he hisses at you if you do that, but at the moment the only time I see him is when I clean his cage out! I know they are nocturnal creatures, but we usually go to bed about Midnight and he's still not up!!! Any ideas? And before anyone asks, yes I have checked to see that he's still alive!

[logman]

Yes you are right they are nocturnal but they also hibernate. Please dont distern hime until he is ready, just leave him some food and water for when he "wakes up"..

[orange-gnome]

Firstly, these little nocturnal creatures are more active at night but it doesnt mean that they don't get up during the day, they generally sleep for a long time, get up for half an hour or so and go back to bed, it's just at night they sleep less and get up for longer. Also if hamsters are too cold they will try and hibernate so make sure he is in a warm room and is not in a draft.
Do you know how old he was when you got him? Because I have always found with hammies that if you don't handle them HEAPS when they are really young that they don't like being disturbed by humans at all in later life. Also if he is over a year old, he is no longer a young hamster and might just be getting a bit cantacarous with age.

[Tammera]

as far as im aware you should not let them hibernate as they can dehydrate, if hes hibernating hes either to cold got no food or water, im sure he has the latter two so he may be to cold.

[icemaiden]

I had a Hamster that I actually "trained" if you can call it that, to wake up about 3.00pm. I just gently woke him up, no prodding or anything just talking to him and stroking him. then after a week or so he would wake up at that time naturally. I dont know if it would work with all Hamsters but you could try. Also orange-nome has a good point, loads of handling is necessary at a young age.

As for hibernating, i never let mine do it. If they are warm enough then really they shouldnt anyway.

Have fun with him.

[Erin-Rose-x]

They DO NOT hibernate as long as you keep them is a warm room