My new hamster stares at the wall. Is this normal, or is she sick?

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.

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.

This sounds like Peanut may be very ill or in distress. I would bring her to your vet as soon as possible. Until you can get to a vet, keeping her in a quiet, warm, darkened area with plenty of food and water may help her to relax enough to settle some.

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

If she will allow, check her teeth for overgrowth or misalignment. Make sure her cage is warm enough and away from high traffic areas, strong drafts/vibrations and loud noises. Monitor for loose droppings, lethargy and a decreased appetite. Although most hamsters are more active at night, this may simply be her personality. An exam with your veterinarian is always recommended to make sure she isn't sick or injured.

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.