Hamsters: do they oversleep/become less active in colder weather?

[Janeane]

We've got a young hamster and his routine has changed suddenly.

After a slightly chilly/rainy day about 2 weeks ago, his routine changed and he's really sleeping a lot more and uses the wheel much less (hardly on it before midnight - used to be non-stop din from 8.30pm) He is still active, but starts late and retires earlier. He used to be up before us at breakfast time - now he's usually asleep. Breakfast time was the best handling time - now we have to gently wake him to handle him otherwise we'd have no opportunity to pet him before his daytime sleep!

Do they slow down in colder seasons? Have combed many hamster enthusiast sites but can't find out about this info. Or is this a sign of maturity (at 14 weeks!) He seems healthy in every other way, i.e. growing well, good natured, no sign of a cold/no wet tail/no toilet problems.

We're beginning to miss the squeak of his wheel?!

[RTKangaMummy]

what about if you give him new toy like toilet roll tube If they are allowed them

[colditz]

there is a Q here about this... they hibernate, apparantly

[Janeane]

I've tried things like that, but he's not shown interest. Now that he's got used to us, we are planning to get him a hamster ball so he can roll around the living room - provided that we wake him up first ....

[colditz]

Hamsters are also nocturnal btw.... so may not be happy to be woken up in the morning. Try giving evening cuddles instead.

[jayzmummy]

When we were small our hamster went into hibernation the week before christmas. We thought it had died
My dad didnt want us to be upset so whilst we were at school he went out a bought a new hamster for us. He took the "dead" hamster out of the cage and put him in a box on top of the boiler. Cleaned out the cage and put the new hamster into his home.
After school we prepared ourselves for the burial of the the "dead" hamster....only when we went to get him he was alive

[Janeane]

colditz, thanks. I read that. I think that's what has happened - he has got a bit sluggish because the temperature has dropped. There is no sign of hibernation - he still gets himself up, just less than before. Things might change when we start to use the central heating again.

[Janeane]

colditz - not this one - I think he associates mornings with forraging and collecting his store for the long sleep. He is always at his best in the morning, clambering to get out of the cage and very relaxed and happy. In the evenings he's a bit indifferent and unwilling to move from his bedding!

[Janeane]

Jayzmummy - well hibernation is not as rare as I originally thought then .... I had hamsters as a child and they didn't hibernate but I suppose everyone is different. Your old hamster must have had a shock when he found a stranger in his bed!