How often to feed certain foods to hamsters and chew sticks!

[hammiesarelovex3]

Ok, so I feed Carmelo my syrian hamster this:

1/4 hartz hamster and gerbil food and 3/4 hazel hamster food: every day (I am weaning him off the hartz stuff to hazel hamster, it's much better for him)

fruits: 3 times a week

veggies: everyday (basically a little bit of carrot everyday)

pasta bits, 3-4 small unshelled/unslated sunflower seeds: everyday

bread, corn, wet pasta: whenever I have it, or feel like giving it to him....

So, is that a good routine and should I be feeding Carmelo and little bit of a veggie everyday?

Also, the chew sticks, where do put them so your hammie can chew on them? I put them near his food dish and bed. Is that a good idea?

[pophammy]

We alternate when we give them fruit and veg, like one day we will give them a bit of fruit, then 2 days on we'll give them some veg. They do enjoy it very much and also a small piece of chicken is good for them! Ours don't seem to bother where we put their chew sticks, they don't mind, but putting them somewhere obvious where you know your hammy will find it is a good idea. Beside the food dish sounds fine.

[Minicooper]

Do you think a wood gnaw will be good for my hamster as I bought her a salt wheel and she didnt seem to want it.

[souffle]

Our hamsters like the wood gnaws a lot. You get the odd one who does not and just ignores them though. I am not sure about the mineral licks. None of ours have ever had them and the have always done well and also I do not think hamsters need that much salt. Ours friends hamsters seem to totally ignore them. A washed apple branch can be a good idea but you must be sure it is from a safe tree and is definitely an apple, plum or cherry or other fruit tree. Ours like to chew the wood stick in the middle of some types of the commercially available nibble sticks.
Adding too much extra sunflower seeds is not really recommended as they can make the hamster fat. I would stick with the amount given in the hamster mix really.

[hammiesarelovex3]

So I should do veggie one day, fruit the next day??


I have never tried a salt wheel on my hammie, and it looks disgusting and unhealthy...

Thanks for the tips!

[pophammy]

You don't have to be too particular about sticking to that routine, just whatever you have in stock, either fruit or veg. But try and vary it so your ham gets some of each!

[hammiesarelovex3]

ok, thanks!

[Slash]

I usually leave him with his own food and give him fruit or veg off my own plate ( I don't use salt or pepper on my food).
This is because his exercise time is usually when I'm eating (and I love watching him with chunks of food because he makes me laugh)