New hamster not eating much?

Dandelion07 · 12-23-2012, 01:28 AM

Please can i have some eating advice?

Our new hamster came on Friday. He is going to be a Christmas present* for my 7 year old daughter who has wanted one for years. I've followed the great advice from you guys about introducing him to our home and giving him peace and quiet at first. He appears to be settling in well - sleeping all day and playing at night! I had a play with him last night and he was such a cutie. He is clearly used to being handled.

One thing I am not sure about is his eating. He has hardly eaten a thing. I gave him some the first night in a small bowl (I weighed out 15g, and knew that was an adult portion but was worried he would have enough), and also scattered some of it. I really don't think he has eaten it (or just a tiny bit, I can't be sure). I gave him some millet last night which he tucked into. Aware that he hadn't had much of his hamster food, I took out the millet branch and left just a cm of millet for him (in case he just went for the millet only diet). He hasn't even had the rest of the millet.

He has had a drink as I looked exactly where the water level was. When he went back in his cage last night I put him right near the water and watched him have a drink, so at least he is hydrated.

He hasn't pouched anything. Even last night with the millet, with three pea sized chunks around him, he nibbled it there and then. Should I be concerned? Should I be doing something different? Should I make him some nice food for tonight or persist with the hamster mix?

He is a Syrian and is 5weeks old. He hasn't got a name yet.

Thank you x

* he will be a late evening present - not morning, unless he us still up when we all wake up on the day! I am conscious that hamster comes first though, and will teach my daughter to respect his needs always. Just writing that he is a Christmas present makes it somehow seem like a superficial present. He really isn't though.

HorseyMandz · 12-23-2012, 03:16 AM

Persist with the hamster mix and possibly remove the millet (I personally wouldn't give treats like millet until I'm confident the hamster is eating it's normal mix and knows where to find it)? Hamsters don't eat very much, especially when they're just settling in, and they also often don't store food until they're concious that their cage is their territory, as it were.
I had the same thing with the water... try wiping a bit of fruit around the spout (don't actually put it in the cage or on the spout, just get a little of the juice to go on the spout) if you're really concerned, or draw a line on the bottle where the water level is in dry-wipe marker so you can see if he's drunk anything

They do only drink very small amounts though so I wouldn't be too worried at this stage!

linford27 · 12-23-2012, 03:44 AM

Hi,
I agree with horseymandz, remove the millet so you can get him settled with his normal mix first. Check his bed, or other hiding places so you can see if he's stored it.
If he still doesn't seem to eat much, you can try giving some to him with your hands, that way you can see exactly if he is eating, or what he does with it.
Linford

Dandelion07 · 12-23-2012, 05:51 AM

Thank you. I only left in about 1cm of millet last night as i removed the branch, but I will take that bit out in a min as well, leaving only hamster mix. He seemed to be settling in so well, and so relaxed that I thought he would be ok. I can see if he's not interested in his food then giving tasty treats isn't going to help that situation (lesson learned!)
Good idea about marking the waterline. I was able to see this from last night as it was exactly at the line on the water bottle logo, and this morning it was lower.

I will observe him this evening. Thank you for your help.

Mona's Humans · 12-23-2012, 08:56 AM

The only other thing i'd add to the fab advice above, is are you feeding him on the same mix as he was on before he came to you? as suddenly switching may hurt his tummy.

If you are feeding a different mix, it could be he doesn't like it - mixes vary in quality - and some hams are fussy with their mixes.

Dandelion07 · 12-23-2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mona's Humans

The only other thing i'd add to the fab advice above, is are you feeding him on the same mix as he was on before he came to you? as suddenly switching may hurt his tummy.

If you are feeding a different mix, it could be he doesn't like it - mixes vary in quality - and some hams are fussy with their mixes.

Little update: since checking early this morning, he's been out and eaten! He's had 3/4 of what was in the bowl. Interestingly, he has ignored the yellow cornflake thingies! He has stashed 3 of the long green things together elsewhere and has either eaten or taken the rest into his den. I've not checked that as he is tucked away in there. I noticed lots of poos around and about, especially on hs shelf! I've left them where they are. They look normal though

As for the food, yes I am feeding a different mix.

I have got Harry Hamster. When I asked the lady what she fed the litter on, she said 'normal hamster food'. (When I say she was laid back, this is what I mean, as when I asked what sort she said 'from the pet shop'). Maybe he didn't want to eat any because it was different, until he got very hungry?

I will watch again over night but I feel much happier now I know he has been at his food and water, and is pooing ok. Thank you so much for all your advice

Mona's Humans · 12-23-2012, 12:42 PM

its not helpful when your not given a lot of information to go on - but Harry is a decent mix, and it seems like he's taken to it now

Do remember to supplement with small portions of protein high foods as he's still young, and i'm sure you know this, but as he's still young, make sure he doesn't have his wheel all the time, as they can really exhaust themselves on it, especially with all the excitement of a new home.

Dandelion07 · 12-23-2012, 04:38 PM

Thank you Mona,
I didn't know about his wheel. He does seem to like it! Thank you for your tips.

I've been playing with him this evening, and also watched him. I saw him have a big drink and do eating

. I took a photo of him sitting in his bowl:

I also saw him rolling about and digging in his sand. He loves it!

shiny · 12-23-2012, 04:47 PM

What a darling little fluff

. Glad to hear he is eating & drinking ok now. It's always a tricky time when any animal moves to a new home, often they need a good few days to settle in & get into a 'normal' routine.

Dandelion07 · 12-24-2012, 12:18 AM

Hi shiny, I think I am still a new person to him every time he sees me. However, I just went to see him to check food/water and he peeped out of his house, and then came out. (And then went back in again lol).

He's taken all of his food except the green long things. He's left them again! I will try to find out what they are. He's also pooed in his food bowl. I think I have read that is his way of marking ownership.