Strange hamster symptons

[Lewis]

Hi, I'm new, probably over-reacting, but... I got a hamster a week ago, first one I've ever had. At first, he seemed really active, but now he stays in his house almost all the time, doesn't leave unless I take him out, hardly uses his wheel, and constantly washes his face. I mean all the time. He was sneezing for a few days but that seems to have stopped. I mean, the first few days he would run around everywhere, but now he just sits in his house and either rubs his face, or sleeps. Is that normal?

[Sasami]

Hamsters are nocturnal so watch him at night...he might be more active then .

[marmilla]

I thought the same thing with my first hamster! I never saw him using his wheel until one night at like 3am or something I woke up for some reason and heard this weird sound. I looked in his cage and it was the wheel moving. He was running really fast too. Maybe he didn't like to work out in front of people... hehe

[Sushi-Sempai]

If you have a wheel that makes noise you will find out really fast exactly how active they are in the middle of the night. Heh, discovered that the hard way. However, if it seems like he is washing his face obsessively or sneezing a lot, look into how much dust is produced by the bedding you are using. If it isn't really dusty he is probably just fine. He was probably more active at first just because he was exploring a new environment.

[Janelle]

I had a hamster that wouldn't come out until the middle of the night, but I knew she was very active because her wheel squeaked like crazy. Maybe try changing the bedding to a different type. Good luck