Picky Hammy

Kait · 10-22-2006, 12:22 PM

My dwarf hamster has turned into such a picky thing! He is about 6 months old, and has always had a good appetite.. he's actually quite big and pudgy. When I first got him he would eat most things out of his dish, but mainly the sunflower seed's and this other type of seed. But now it seems like the only thing he will eat are the peas that come in the packages, and they are very few and far between in them. I know that he hasn't lost his appetite, because when I give him treats he scarfs them down in a minute.. it is just that he has become very picky. I am worried because I've purchased every type of hamster food around here, the most recent is expensive and full of all sorts of things, including pieces of fruit.. but still, he will only eat the few peas! He won't even eat his old favourite, sunflower seed's any longer. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I don't want to see him losing weight, or have him think that I am starving him.. I just don't know what else to try. He loves the treats I give him here and there (broccoli, lettuce, etc.) but I know that he can't live off of those because you are only supposed to give them those types of food in moderation. Any tips or ideas about what I can do, what foods I should try giving him? Or if it's okay to give him lots of treats (i.e. veggies) since that's all he seems to want to eat now?

SnuggleHam · 10-22-2006, 01:20 PM

Kait, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. If you leave all the food in the bowl your ham will eventually eat it when his other favorite morsels are gone. I doubt that you hamster will allow itself to starve to death. Hunger will drive him to eat the rest of his food.

Most creatures will always eat what they like best and leave the leas favorites until last. My gerbils do this quite a bit, but I don’t give them more until I’ve seen that most of it is gone.

I would stay away from feeds that have fruit in them, Mainly because of the use of preservatives. But that’s just me. You could try lab blocks because they have everything in them the hamster basically needs. This way they can’t pick and choose. You may also want to try Harry Hamster food. They don’t use fillers that hamster don’t usually eat. and its good stuff packed with lots of probitocis that aid in digestion and such.

It sound like you just have a spoiled ham on your hands lol

souffle · 10-23-2006, 03:38 AM

As snuggleham says your hamster will not starve itself. I think that if he is plump and healthy looking then he is obviously eating and I am quite sure that during his main feeding time which is during the night he is eating a selection of food. Remember they do not eat a huge amount so you may not notice. They can become picky and only eat their favourite bits if their favourite bits are always on offer which is a bit like us always eating only our puddings. I would advise you to feed every second day only. That way they are forced to eat the other bits and get a more healthy balanced diet. It is not cruel and better for their well-being. You would not let your kids eat only sweeties would you so you are only encouraging to eat a bit of everything! Do check the teeth to make sure they are OK and he is not selectively eating say soft stuff as his mouth hurts. There is one bit in hammy food, the sort of greeny, black cylindrical things that all hamsters hate though

SnuggleHam · 10-23-2006, 04:30 AM

I pretty much feed my rodents when their food is gone. So I check on them daily... id say they finish off a bowl of food in two days. But then I don’t fill it to the top either.

Anyway, ya those tiny little pellet things. I always assumed they were some kind of alfalfa pellet but I guess I’m not sure? I think they use this as filler pretty much. Of all the hamster and gerbils I’ve owned none of them ever eat that stuff!

Kait · 10-23-2006, 02:52 PM

Ok... but should I worry that he is eating his bedding (shavings?) I notice him doing that a couple times during the day.. and it's just like.. you have a big dish full of all sorts of yummy food and you choose to eat your shavings over that?!

Also, on top of the mixed feed he has in his dish, I always make sure to put in a couple of those pellets a day... those big tanned coloured ones.. he never used to like them, he'd only eat from his dish, but now that he isn't eating from his dish I've noticed he's been eating at them a little lately too.. and not from his food dish. He is such a confusing little thing!!

souffle · 10-23-2006, 03:19 PM

Hammies will often chew up their shavings to soften them to make a comfy nest with. Maybe that is what he is doing. I don't think he will be eating them. Ours often stuff their pouches with their bedding to move it to a new location. If he is eating the cubes he is getting full nutrition from those. We always find dwarfs prefer to have their food scattered on the floor. It makes it more interesting if you hide it around the cage then they enjoy seaching it out and storing it where they like. Dwarfs seem to keep it in the pouches longer than syrians for some strange reason