Hamster not running in wheel or ball. Is he sick or stressed?

Thank you for using PetCoach. It is important to remember that hamsters are nocturnal animals. That means the majority of eating drinking and activity will be done at night. She is also stressed by the change in habitat and abnormal activity. Try to minimize handling for the next few days, especially during the day time when she should be asleep. Here are some articles that may give you some more information. If she is not active at night or eating or drinking, then I would recommend a veterinary visit tomorrow. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/owning-a-pet-hamster https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/owning-a-pet-hamster https://bellevueanimalhospital.com/veterinary-services/exotic-avian/hamsters/ https://lafeber.com/vet/basic-information-for-hamsters/ https://lafeber.com/vet/wp-content/uploads/hamster-basic-info-sheet.pdf

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.

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.

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!

I am sorry that Snowy is hiding under the running wheel. This can be a normal behaviour if something has spooked her. However, it can also be a first sign of a sickness. I would monitor closey for signs of illness. This would include changes to appetite, energy levels, or any changes to her fecal movements. If you suspect she is ill I would take her to a veterinarian for a check-up. Best of luck and I hope Snowy is her normal self again soon.

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.

Hello, I'm sorry to hear that KitKat hasn't been acting like himself recently. Anytime an animal has a change in appetite or thirst and is acting lethargic, I recommend a physical exam from a veterinarian. Increased thirst may be a sign of an endocrine disorder, kidney disease, or a reproductive tract disease. Lethargy and inactivity is often a sign of pain and feeling ill. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.