Question about treats?

[Katsnap]

Okay, so I'm completely new to the world of hamsters, even though I've done easily a year's worth of research before getting one myself. My little Patches is a Syrian hamster, only about 6 or 8 months old (I thought that was kinda old to sell a hamster, but whatever. I had to buy, since there was no one offering one for adoption by the way), and seems at least semi-trained already. I've had him for a little less than a week now.

I've been offering him treats for good behavior or when he does something that I've been encouraging, like allowing me to stroke him or him using my hand as a platform when I transfer him from his hamster ball(which either I or my sister watch him in like a hawk and he's never in it for more than fifteen minutes at a time, since I currently do not have a playpen for him). I only have seed treats and only give him a few at a time, even though it is every evening when he's finished with his runs/playtime. At most he doesn't get more than five or six a night. I also usually put a small piece of veggies in his food dish when I change out for fresh food, since he eats all the stuff he likes and leaves the rest (usually like half of a baby carrot or a piece of a pole/green bean).

Since I'm still new at this and working on taming him still, am I giving him too much? He's responding very positively, which is awesome, and I plan on cutting back on the treats a little bit once he's tamed. He's always so happy to hear me when I greet him(he's not blind, I know that their hearing and sense of smell is better than their sight) and he loves running around in his ball(i.e. chasing my sister around the room). I'm trying to be a good hamster mommy, but like all new moms, I'm a little confused on some things.

[HamsterWhiskers]

Try cutting down on the treats. Feed 2-3 per day, and make sure to feed treats that don't contain too much sugar, as that can cause diabetes (especially in dwarfs). It's good that you're giving him a few veggies, but try to do that every day or every 2 days to maintain a healthy diet with variety. Try to stay away from fruits, since the sugar levels are high, although you can give them a few pieces once a week.

Hope this helped!