Stewie (my hamster)

Question
QUESTION: when i had first purchased stewie he was just a baby. I would say 3-4 wks old (he was very small) the pet suppliers didn't know the exact age.  now he's getting big.  he was always go go go at night.  But here recently i had noticed,  that he would be up for approx. two hours then he gets tired and he naps.... is this normal?
ANSWER: Hi Christy,

    This is normal. As your hamster gets older, he will tend to be less active and sleep or nap more. As long as he is eating and drinking well, there is no need to worry.
    If you have anymore questions, please write again.

Thank you for writing!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Even if I had only purchased him not even two months ago?

He does eat very well, I give him his regular hamster food, and I give him broccoli, green beans, carrots, green pepper, celery, honey dew melon, cantaloupe, and apples, plus he has nut and  fruit sticks, and cottage cheese (not everyday, every four days or so). For treats, I give one yogurt drop at night when he first wakes up, and then a finger full of yogurt that he licks off, ( I give a peanut[still in the shell] once a week or longer, and romaine lettuce.
I try to get him out of his house every night (if he wakes up a while before I go to bed) I know I am rambling on but I guess I am just concerned.  On the weekend he was sneezing. I have a book on hamsters, and I have done some research on the Internet, and they both said that sneezing could be accompanied with drafts, or too cold or too hot for temperatures, or poor maintenance conditions, but it's never below ten degrees in the house, and I use to clean his house, every four days or so, then I had notice that he was scratching a lot, so for the past several weeks I have been cleaning his house every third day, and now he doesn't scratch as much. He is also very jumpy. He gets startled a lot. Not so much over me, but different sounds. I guess I am a worry wart......lol Thank you.  I guess I gave you more of my concerns.  I guess I need more reassurance....lol

Answer
Hi Christy,

    It is possible he has caught a cold (which should run its course and he should be back to normal within a week) or the sneezing and scratching could be from the type of bedding you are using. Aspen bedding or a type like critter care is best for hamsters. Beddings like cedar and pine are toxic to hamsters and can cause all types of health problems. If you are using one of these types of bedding, you should change it as soon as possible. This could also be why he is less active.
    I do not think you are a worry wart. You just love your hamster and want what is best for him. I can tell you take great care of him.
    If you have anymore questions, please write again.

Thanks again for writing!