Sleepy hamsters

[Mistopheles]

I bought my partner a hamster for Christmas. I know they are nocturnal, but he is sleeping ALL the time. The last few days we've been going to bed about 5am, and he still isn't awake. A couple of times my partner has woken him up to check he's okay - he doesn't seem to be hibernating, but he doesn't seem to be eating or drinking much either. Are hamsters supposed to sleep for 23 hours + a day? Is there something we should be doing?

[Tammera]

is he in a warm room? if theres a warmer room in your house put him in there that may help, if hes hibernating he will look dead and be cold. sudden changes can cause them to hibernate, but if hes eating and drinking some then bare with him i suppose. if he hasnt drank or eaten anything id maybe talk to the petshop you got him from or maybe talk to a vet, if he is hibernating he will need waking so he dont dehydrate. if the room isnt warm enough for him try and make it warmer, but dont put him by a radiater or fire because its to hot and its not pretty what happens. if hes still not drinking in the next day or two id be inclined to seek vet advice.

maybe what you can do to check activity at night is turn everything off lights telly etc and sit in the dark quietly and listen for movement. hamsters should be very active at night.

[Stormwolf]

I agree, hamsters hibernate if they feel too cold. We struggle to find a suitably warm spot for ours.

We feared the worst during this cold snap but after 20 minutes snuggled in between my wifes beasts, the little creature livened up.

[Tammera]

if he is looking to hibernate another thing they could do to get him going is get a hot water bottle with a few layers of towels, so its not too warm, and put him on it. if he perks up then he is to cold where he is.

[Mistopheles]

Thanks everyone. I did wonder if he was too cold and therefore hibernating, but I really don't think that's the case. I feel the cold terribly, so have a very hot house! It's an average of 23 degrees - from what I've read, that should be okay. He's very bitey - has been since I bought him - so picking him up is a real problem. He's even torn a hole in the gloves we tried to use!

If anyone has any more suggestions, please keep them coming.