Why is my hamster always climbing his cage and not sleeping?

Typically hamsters are nocturnal, meaning they are more active during the night than the day time. So this behavior is completely normal for Arwen. She may also be more active when you are not around so it may be hard to judge her activity level. It sounds like you have a perfect environment for her to live in with a lot of room and toys to keep her entertained. I wouldn’t be worried about her nocturnal behavior at this point. If she stops eating or her poop changes then you may want to take her in to be checked out by the vet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Hamsters are naturally nocturnal, so it is normal to be active at night and early in the morning. Hamsters may also pace back and forth if they are bored or stressed, so making sure Phish has plenty of fun things to do such as burrowing in bedding, running on wheels, having a toy to chew, etc can help. If he's however losing his balance, has a strange head tilt, or is showing other strange behaviors in addition, then it could possibly be an underlying illness and should be checked out by a local vet.

Thanks for reaching out about Gin and including a photo. It probably means is bored and investigating the area or trying to exercise. Does he have an exercise wheel or get out for exercise/play time? This should be provided. You might need to provide a large enclosure. Good luck.

It is completely normal for a hamster to chew and chew and chew! Just be sure you are offering plenty of safe options for him to chew on, which it sounds like you are doing already. You may need to move him to a metal/wire cage that he cannot chew on and remove the plastic housing so he does not ingest any plastic. It is also normal for him to be a little jumpy as he is still getting used to his surroundings. Just continue working with him and encouraging him to come to you. Using his favorite treats can help too. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Little Buddy. He could be scared or ill. Does he appear to have maintained weight? If he is not using the wheel and the cage is too small, take the wheel out to give him more room. Monitor food intake and defecation. If concerns continue, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Its hard to say if Pepper is sick without more information. You are correct that most hamsters are active at night time. They usually like to run in their little wheels and scurry about the cage. You need to watch for any signs of diarrhea or wetness around the rectum. When Pepper is awake, are his eyes open or half closed? Is the food being moved around? Many hamsters pack the food to their nest to eat later. Also, offer the pellets as well as the seed mixture. When he is awake, is he active? Most pet stores have a health warranty on their little critters. If you are seeing signs of illness, call the store to ask about having Pepper checked out.

This behavior is not necessarily abnormal. Sometimes hamsters get bursts of energy and they jump/run...etc. Make sure to provide a few wheels for them to run in. You can also get the cages that have tube attachments and will allow them to have more areas to run/climb. You can also have the plastic ball that allows them to run safely on the floor. Please post again if you have any further questions.