Hammy
- Thread starter Zara
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Sorry for the daft question, I've been looking at the different areas of the forum re: elderly hamsters. Hams will be 2 in a couple of months and I'm starting to notice him slow down. Would you say this is around the time when you can start to see slow changes?
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I usually find it's about age 2 when they start showing signs of ageing, but it can vary. Usually the first thing I notice is them not using back legs as well for climbing. ie doing the usual thing and not quite making it. When I notice that I adjust things in the cage so there's only low level climbing and shallow ramps etc.
If he is looking well and active, then he is doing fine for a nearly 2 year old. After age two they can sometimes get sticky eyes that need freeing up or losing a bit of hair perhaps. Behind the ears is one place it can start to look thinner.
It's also a good idea to check teeth are ok (wait till he yawns to have a look!).
If he is looking well and active, then he is doing fine for a nearly 2 year old. After age two they can sometimes get sticky eyes that need freeing up or losing a bit of hair perhaps. Behind the ears is one place it can start to look thinner.
It's also a good idea to check teeth are ok (wait till he yawns to have a look!).
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Thanks Maz, I had an opportunity to look at his teeth last weekend when he came out from his nest and did a super long stretch. They still look a good colour and length.
I'm finding he may only come out for a roam every 3rd night. If he's not coming out of his nest and it's 10pm I tend to pop a piece of his fresh food near the door and he then comes forward for it but a couple of times he just wanders out collects some food and even with the door open, he just goes straight back to bed. His level of activity has definitely decreased.
He's also not using his wheel some evenings as the piece of bedding I've left on the top is still there in the morning. It's a bit like he's lost some of his get up and go. (A bit like me
) but I guess this is all very natural.
I'm finding he may only come out for a roam every 3rd night. If he's not coming out of his nest and it's 10pm I tend to pop a piece of his fresh food near the door and he then comes forward for it but a couple of times he just wanders out collects some food and even with the door open, he just goes straight back to bed. His level of activity has definitely decreased.
He's also not using his wheel some evenings as the piece of bedding I've left on the top is still there in the morning. It's a bit like he's lost some of his get up and go. (A bit like me
) but I guess this is all very natural.
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They do start slowing down yes. It may be the time of year as well perhaps? Now it's getting dark earlier. Not using his wheel sounds slightly unusual though. Unless he's just feeling too hot? It has been very hot recently.
M
Member ID2
My Syrian Rory rarely used his wheel from about 18 months onwards. I wouldn't worry if Ham's is fine otherwise. They can slow down as they get older and prefer to have more nights in but they vary a lot. Otto is slowing down as well.
Can't believe that Hams is approaching 2. How time flies. I remember when you brought baby Hams home in your handbag.
Can't believe that Hams is approaching 2. How time flies. I remember when you brought baby Hams home in your handbag.
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yes, we were so inexperienced, we didn’t have a pet carrier for him, so brought him back from P@H in one of there silly hamster boxes which is a box within a box if that makes sense. But Hams started chewing the minute he was placed inside and my daughter and I were like, wow, what is he up to. We soon found out, as his head appeared through one corner. I was driving at this point so my daughter quickly tipped the contents of my bag onto the floor and popped his box inside. He was just sitting in the bottom of my bag when we got home 
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That is so visual! I've heard stories of those cardboard boxes and a hamster roaming around the car on the way back after getting out. I had a similar inexperienced experience when bringing our first one home. We had bought a (horrible) 3 tier rotostak cage with tubes. The bottom tier had a small wheel in it and I took the bottom tier to the pet shop when going to pick him up. And then got a taxi home with the hamster running like mad in the wheel in this bottom tier, next to the taxi driver.
I think years ago I'm talking about 55 years they were the only cages available for hamsters on observation did you notice differences in your hamsters behaviours to what they're now discussing hamsters with a friend of mine who had a hamster as a teenager said her hamsters seemed happy as it used all levels and was never morose but were they really I ponder on this what constitutes a happy hamsters sorry that probably should be a totally separate thread.
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I can just see this too. How funny. I got chatting to a lady in the pet store today and their first hamster was called Houdini because he escaped the box within minutes of getting in the car.
She was advising another mum looking to buy a hamster on some of the dos and don'ts which was nice. I advised her to look on here also at all the helpful resources before making a decision.
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Yes, I see what you mean. Must admit when I was a teen a friend had a hamster cage made up of various sections and tubes and her hamster always seemed pretty happy. I think lots depends on if they have the opportunity to free roam outside of their cage as well. Our Syrian lives in a HH but he's always seemed very happy unless I've disturbed his nest (but that's just him sulking.) I've made various levels, he has one end with deeper bedding where his tunnels are and he's always appeared active and happy. I give him plenty of enrichment and home made puzzle treats etc and he's always been a happy little fella. I guess it also depends on the temperament of your hamster perhaps.
M
Member ID2
That could be an interesting thread. I don't want to respond here because it is Ham's thread but i have a bit of an insight through rescuing hamsters from small cages.
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Hams has been out two nights in a row today, something he hasn't done for a while, so I treated him with a hidden monkey nut. He was slower to find it, but still proudly carried it off to his hiding place to crack it open.
We've been chatting about all the hamsters whilst he was out this eve and I've told him there's a spare monkey nut going in Eric's cage, he said can he swipe it this way
We've been chatting about all the hamsters whilst he was out this eve and I've told him there's a spare monkey nut going in Eric's cage, he said can he swipe it this way
R
RainbowBrite
So pleased to hear Hams is well and enjoyed his monkey nut. 
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Apologies! I misread your post. I thought it said Hams HASN'T been out for two nights in a row!Hams has been out two nights in a row today, something he hasn't done for a while, so I treated him with a hidden monkey nut. He was slower to find it, but still proudly carried it off to his hiding place to crack it open.
We've been chatting about all the hamsters whilst he was out this eve and I've told him there's a spare monkey nut going in Eric's cage, he said can he swipe it this way
. I did have an eye test yesterday so maybe it's made my eyes funny ha ha.Really glad he's out and about a bit more.
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Yes, definitely think the heat has affected him recently. In fact, he scared me so bad last week by laying on his side/back in his sand tray. I should’ve watched him for a bit, as in hindsight he was probably comfy and had piled sand up behind him to lay on the cool plastic of the tray. I could see he was breathing but it looked heavy, so I quietly spoke to him til he woke and repositioned himself, then I put my hand in for a stroke which he happily accepted.Aw
I’m planning a few low key cage changes to accommodate what appears to be his more sedentary life style and the fact he doesn’t seem quite so steady on some of the ramp walk ways. In fact, he’s getting a bit lazy and has started ambling off one of his shelves onto the roof of his nest and then bypassing a ramp to simply plop into the substrate and he’s home. They’re such funny characters. If the weather is going to cool I’m going to place more substrate on one side to soften any landings for him.
E
elusive
That sounds like a great idea for him, I’m sure he’ll appreciate the soft landing & getting around a bit easier.
M
Member ID2
I had a similar fright with Eddie who slept in exactly the same way as Hams!
Now that the weather is improving i expect that Hams will get more active again.
Had to laugh at him plopping onto the substrate as a shortcut.
Now that the weather is improving i expect that Hams will get more active again.
Had to laugh at him plopping onto the substrate as a shortcut.