My hamster stops eating and stares at me. Is he safe and content?

While it's unlikely that your hamster is contemplating the meaning of life when she stares off to space, it is possible that she may be ruminating on something, dozing or even snacking on a piece of food in her cheek. However if she is showing any other signs of confusion, circling, disorientation, etc that she doesn't snap out of if you get her attention, it may signal a problem and should be checked out. Otherwise, keeping her entertained with some new toys, a treat or some attention may help.

What you are describing is normal behavior for a hamster. In fact, I think it says a lot about his trust for you that he lets you hold him and does not bite. Many hamsters are too fearful to ever let their owners handle them regularly. Clout is probably just very curious of the new smells around him when you are holding him. It sounds like you have done a good job training him and that he trusts you so you’ve done well with him so far! I hope this helps. Let us know if you have any additional questions. Best of luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Daabool and including a photo. Hamsters are desert animals, highly capable of extracting water from their food. Biting is a common fear response in hamsters, and continuing to earn/win trust by offering treats, keeping movements slow and deliberate. Try removing Daabool from his environment with a scoop or cup, to move to a neutral territory (i.e. table top). Then see if interactions are aggressive. Sometimes its just territorial defense. Good luck.

I am sorry to hear about Simba! I would consider putting small amount of food into the bowl and counting or weighing if you have a small gram scale to see if he is truly not eating. If he allows you to handle him you can also try to look in his mouth as they often do store food in the cheeks and if he has food there is probably is still eating maybe just not when you observe. If he truly isn't eating I would recommend an examination at a vet who sees pocket pets, as there can be many different causes for these symptoms and a physical examination is needed.

It is completely normal for a hamster to chew and chew and chew! Just be sure you are offering plenty of safe options for him to chew on, which it sounds like you are doing already. You may need to move him to a metal/wire cage that he cannot chew on and remove the plastic housing so he does not ingest any plastic. It is also normal for him to be a little jumpy as he is still getting used to his surroundings. Just continue working with him and encouraging him to come to you. Using his favorite treats can help too. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

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 Peppermint and including photos. Continue to monitor for appetite and water consumption. Continue to talk in a soft voice and allow her to get comfortable with her new surroundings. If decreased appetite of soft stool, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.