Hamsters generally sleep a lot, but when should you start to worry? It can be challenging to figure out your hamster’s health, especially since they’re sensitive nocturnal creatures, and no two hamster species are the same. So, should you be worried about your hamster’s excessive sleeping behavior?
If your hamster is still a pup, under about 28 days old, it’s normal for them to sleep a lot. The same is true for old hamsters after one and a half years old. If the change in sleeping habits is sudden, it’s possible that your hamster is ill, hibernating, or depressed, and you should intervene.
This article discusses possible causes of increased sleeping in hamsters. Some of these causes are more serious than others, and understanding the signs of unusual sleeping patterns will help you know when to intervene.
Why Is My Hamster Sleeping All Day and Night?
Hamsters often sleep up to 14 hours daily, and sometimes even more. They usually do this during the day because hamsters are nocturnal animals. Their sleeping hours are spread over the entire day. It’s normal for hamsters to sleep a lot, but there are limits.
You might realize something’s up at some point, and you should worry about your hamster’s well-being. If your hamster is gone for multiple days, or this increased sleep happened very suddenly, you should see a veterinarian.
Why Does My Baby Hamster Sleep So Much?
Baby hamsters generally sleep more, as do most other baby animals. Growing and developing takes a lot of energy, so hamster pups need more rest. Ideally, hamster babies should remain with their mom until they’re able to survive independently, which should be after 21 to 28 days.
The time they need to be able to live independently from their mom entirely depends on the hamster species. Some species develop quicker than others, like the Syrian hamster species.
At this time, they can eat solid foods and no longer need their mom’s milk after experimenting with soft foods starting at about ten days old.
Educating yourself is probably best if your hamster is pregnant or you have baby hamsters and don’t have much experience caring for them.
Why Does My Dwarf Hamster Sleep So Much?
Your dwarf hamster might be sleeping a lot because it’s depressed and lethargic, which is something you can deal with to make your hamster comfortable and happy again. Losing their buddy or a stressful environment can contribute to depression. Old age and illness can make your pet tired as well.
Depression
Hamsters can get depressed for various reasons, and they will show several symptoms. This is the case for all hamster species, including dwarf hamsters and teddy bear (Syrian) hamsters. Like humans, hamsters can get seasonal depression, but that’s not the only type of depression in animals.
Here are some possible causes of depression in hamsters:
- Grief (rare, but it can happen)
- Lack of mental stimulation
- Stressful environment (cold, light, noise, dirty cage, limited space, etc.)
- Lack of food and water
Here are some of the symptoms your hamster might be experiencing when depressed:
- Increased sleeping
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
- Cage biting
- Disinterest in treats
- Aggression towards you
Too Much Light
Hamsters are nocturnal animals, so they sleep during the day and are active throughout the night. Darkness is what makes them feel comfortable and gives them energy. If they don’t have that, they might spend a lot of time sleeping.
If the room your hamster is in is always lit, it can confuse them, cause stress and create health problems.
Illness
All animals can get sick, and being sick is exhausting. Illness takes its toll on energy levels because the body works hard to fight off whatever’s attacking it. Not every illness is life-threatening, but if you haven’t seen your hamster moving about in a couple of days, you might want to figure out what’s happening.
When your hamster is ill, increased sleeping usually isn’t the only symptom they experience. Many signs of depression mentioned above can also point to an illness. It might’ve happened to you or your loved ones before; being sick makes you tired and decreases your appetite, which in turn leads to weight loss.
When you suspect illness, it’s best to go to a veterinarian immediately. Not only will a vet diagnose underlying health problems, but they’ll also be able to tell you whether your pet is suffering from depression and help determine the cause.
Hibernation
Hamsters are known to hibernate when the cage or room temperature is too low. This should not happen because it can cause danger to your hamster’s health if it goes on for too long.
A frequent cold draft through the cage can induce hibernation as well. Hamsters should live in a warm environment with good ventilation.
Hamsters shouldn’t hibernate, but it’s an automatic response from their bodies to low temperatures. Animals that hibernate in the wild do so to survive the cold weather and the decreased food supply. There is absolutely no need for that inside your home under your care.
Aging
Older hamsters sleep more than youthful hamsters because their bodies are slowing down, similar to what happens to humans and other animals. You can expect your hamster to start aging at around one and a half to two years old.
The time spent sleeping will increase, and there will be additional signs of aging:
- Fur changes
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
- Dirty and smelly (both them and their cage)
Why Does My Teddy Bear Hamster Sleep So Much?
Teddy bear hamsters or long-haired Syrian hamsters are very active and curious. They need to find ways to release this energy; otherwise, they will get depressed and sleep a lot. Syrian hamsters generally sleep longer, but the difference with other species isn’t more than a couple of hours.
The possible causes of increased sleeping in hamsters we mentioned above also happen to teddy bear hamsters. Still, some things are more common to happen to them based on their personalities and physical attributes.
Lack of Mental Stimulation
Syrian hamsters love to explore. They need to find ways to entertain themselves and get mental stimulation. If they don’t have anything to keep themselves entertained, they will ultimately go back to spending their time sleeping. This is one of the causes of depression in hamsters.
They can become depressed and stressed if they lack activities to keep them occupied. You can avoid this by putting them in a big cage with toys and plenty of bedding to dig through. It would also be great to allow them some time outside their cage.
Conclusion
It’s fantastic that you’ve noticed a change in your hamster’s behavior and are trying to figure out what’s wrong with them. Often, not much attention is paid to a hamster’s health.
Increased sleeping behavior isn’t necessarily alarming when your hamster is still a baby or getting really old. However, it’s possible that your hamster is ill or depressed, both of which come with more symptoms you can identify.
You can never go wrong with a trip to the veterinarian to ensure your hamster is okay and to find ways to help them when something is wrong.