Plz help!

Question
Hiya, I would really appreciate it if you could help me out as I am worried sick! On Tuesday (29th May) I bought home my new hamster. He was born on 14th April so he is about 5-6 weeks old. I have noticed a 'swelling' around his tail area. I have been told/and read that this 'lump' is in fact his testicles, am i right in believing that? Also yesterday i noticed after hours of excersing (He LOVES his wheel and toilet roll tubes hehe) that he just laid there for a bit, closing his eyes - I thought he was dying  But after a while he got up and ran around again - is this normal behaviour, or was he lying down due to illness? He sometimes 'sits' aswell, and it looks like he is sitting on his testies because you can see them buldge out underneath him? Is that normal?!

Sorry if i waffled but I am a new male hamster owner who is very worried. Mum and other sites I have read say that its normal behaviour and that the 'lump' (which isn't an actual hard lump or anythig, just way i describe it!!) is all down to him being male? Only ever had female hamsters so never seen hamster testiecles before!!
He is eating, drinkin, sleeping and playing normally.

Answer
hi emma,

yes this is totally normal behaviour, he only lay down to fall asleep, all that exercise wore him out, the poor thing hehe, he is absolutely fine, and unless he stops eating, drinking and being so active, its nothing to worry about. i suggest going to the pet store and getting him an exercise ball, hamsters LOVE these and i recommend them as a MUST BUY for every hamster owner. Let him out in it for 2 half hour intervals every night. these balls are not expensive, about 5 pounds in the uk and 3-6 dollars in the US.

thank you very much for your question.

Joanne x