Question about feeding my hamster, and eating portions... - Page 2

SnuggleHam · 07-19-2006, 09:24 AM

I've never seen Harry Hamster food at Wal-mart but you should be able to find it at Petco, at least its on the Petco website. Give Petco a call and see if they carry it.

hammiesarelovex3 · 07-19-2006, 01:13 PM

Yeah I saw it on the Petco website! So, it should be there...thanks!

**babyboos** · 07-20-2006, 09:37 AM

Harry (or Hazel as it is known in USA) Hamster really is a good quality premium brand and the only hamster food recommended by The National Hamster Council in the UK
ALWAYS change food gradually - just because you may have got away with it in the past doesn't mean this time your hamster would not have a bad reaction - please everyone - the hamster exists on its gut flora which exists on the food, and if you disturb the gut flora it can be difficult to get the balance back correctly and quickly, causing your hamster great distress and possible death. It really is that serious.
All food changes MUST be done gradually. A quarter of a bowl of the new mix maximum to start with on the first week, gradually building up to half by the end of the week, and then three quarters by mid-second week, to all new food with just a sprinkling of the old food, until the bag is finished. IF at any time you find that your hamster has looser stools then reduce the amount of new food back a little and keep a close eye on the situation for a few days.
The main reason to avoid Hartz products is their ingredients - Check out this article for more details http://www.hamstercentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=154

hammiesarelovex3 · 07-20-2006, 11:06 AM

That's what I'll do...I got the Harry Hamster food today!

It was $7 at Petco but it was worth it!

1 week: 1/4, 3/4
2 week: 1/2,1/2
3 week: 3/4, 1/4
week 4: 4/4,0/4

is that good?

I also got Critter Care bedding at Walmart today! (It's that soft bedding like Carefresh) is that bedding any good?

**babyboos** · 07-20-2006, 05:18 PM

Yes that is fine if you have plenty of the old food left to spread the introduction over that timescale - remember a well fed hamster only needs one tablespoon of dried food per day. It isn't actually that much if you actually weigh it out, so though it may be initially expensive a bag should last nearly three months, especially if you supplement daily with fruit, vegetables, and other food scraps like you have been doing. All your current options are great options ans certainly keep them up. My guys always have dog biscuits squeezed between the bars of their cages, a nut or two whole in the shell (usually walnuts), and a piece of uncooked wholemeal pasta. The very young and old, and nursing hamsters get porridge and baby food daily, and all hamsters have a piece of fruit or vegetable each day. Toast crusts, apple cores, broccoli stems, and suitable dinner scraps are fed to them as treats, as well as a daily teaspoon of a good quality bird seed sprinkled over their litter layer. Anything they wont, or can't eat, our dog (Milly) gets, or it goes on the composter...

hammiesarelovex3 · 07-26-2006, 05:23 PM

is it alright if I give him 2 tablespoons? because that's not a lot and I feel like I don't want to starve him.

souffle · 07-27-2006, 03:40 AM

Two tablespoons a day is really quite a lot for a hammie. The thing is that if you give him that every day he will tend to pick out all his favourite bits and eat them, then the next day there will be more so he will do the same thing. This means he will leave all the nutritious other bits in favour of the goodies and will not be eating a balanced diet which should include bits of everything. It would be a bit like you eating only your puddings every day. That would not be a balanced diet. We feed every second day. More for mums obviously and you can get a good idea of your hammies needs by watching the food store when you clean out the cage. A small bundle is an adequate store and means they are eating the right amount. No store means feed more and a massive heap means way too much. Try two tablespoons every second day and watch the store for a bit and see how it goes.

hammiesarelovex3 · 07-27-2006, 11:50 AM

Ok, I will try 1 tablespoon, but currently I am taking him off a certain food and putting him on another...so will try in another two weeks...thanks!

**babyboos** · 07-28-2006, 04:28 PM

Excellent suggestion 2 tablespoons every second day is ideal. Don't feel you are being mean, remember the food is dried and swells in their tummies to double the size or more.

hammiesarelovex3 · 07-29-2006, 12:09 PM

Ok, thanks I will try 1 tablespoon today and see how he responds! Thanks!