Why isn't my hamster drinking the water?

Question

i watched it for two hours and it isn't even trying to drink PLLZ help me

Answer 1

What have you drank in those 2 hours.Get real.

Answer 2

Hamsters don't drink much water anyway, due to having to survive in arid places in the wild. I have rarely seen any of my hamsters drink. Just keep a check on the water bottle and you will see that the water goes down a little overnight. All you need to do is make sure that the water is fresh, and clean the bottle out every so often.

Answer 3

Try using a water bottle for hamsters, if you have and you have had the hamster for a while, then maybe the water bottle needs cleaning (put washing up liquid then water and hold finger over point where drips & shake, then clean out proplely). But hamsters dont need that much water, there should always be water though.

So maybe she was sleeping or had already had some water in the night. (they are noctural)

Answer 4

i had a similar problem with my hamster a while back, my vet said that hamsters drink very little and they get most of thier fluid intake from food, (yes, even the dry hamster mixes!). i was told to give my hamster veg and fruit with high water content eg cucumber and apple in small amounts and often.
as long as the water in the bottle goes down by a small amount and theres no puddles on the cage floor then your hamsters drinking the water.

Answer 5

Does it appear to be sick or something? If not, I wouldn't worry, because hamsters were originally from desert areas and can conserve water very well. If he still doesn't seem to be drinking, try getting a different water setup: for example, if you have a water bottle that hangs, try just putting a dish of water out. It may not like the material the container is made of.

Answer 6

Hamsters do conserve water, so they may not drink regularly.

I guess you must have checked the bottle, washed it out, and made sure there is no scent on it that might put your hamster off touching it.

Our hamster, after playing with paper usually goes for a big drink. So maybe encourage your hamster to play with some tissues, and it might want a drink afterwards.

Give your vet a call if you are still worried.

Good luck. xx

Answer 7

don't worry too much, i have 3 hamsters, and i never saw one of them drink, its probably during the night. The others 2 i do see drink however.
if you want to put you mind to rest fill the water to a point and mark the bottle with a pen and see if it goes down over night (note the hammys don't drink that much)

Answer 8

if you have only just brought your hamster then he will be very nervous at first he will drink the water but he may do it at night when your asleep and if he is eating any thing like cucumbers or Lettuce he will get the water he needs from these vegetables, if you have had him for awhile now and he is not eating vegetables then i would recommend you take him to the rspca vets they are very cheep and help full type in www.rspca.org.uk and there you will be able to find your nearest rspca.

Answer 9

Because hamsters are desert animals, they don't drink much.

I wouldn't worry if a dog didn't drink for two hours, never mind a hamster! As long as your hamster is eating plenty and being active and passing proper poo pellets you don't need to worry!

Chalice

Answer 10

Did you just get the hamster? If you did, the hamster needs to settle into his/her surroundings before it will eat or drink. My gerbil never drank or ate anything until a few days after I got her. Rodents do not drink a ton anyway

Answer 11

My hamster didnt drink for a while and we thought he was sick so took him to the vet who told me that because they are dessert creatures made to live in the dry areas they dont drink as much as we expect they will. if it goes on for a VERY long time take him to the vet but for now i wouldnt worry