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Old 03-29-2019, 03:41 PM   #1
Bobby7747
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Default Random Questions?

I've been researching hamster care for a while now and I think I am close to being ready for my first hamster. I just have a few random questions.

WHEN SHOULD I FEED MY HAMSTER?
This is a really simple question I feel like, but I haven't been able to find a straight forward answer. I know to offer one to two tbsp's of the hamster mix once a day, but when can I introduce other foods like vegetables or treats, how many do I give?

WALNUT, PEANUT?
I've seen many people poke a hole in a peanut to stimulate their hamsters brains, but is the same thing done for a walnut or no?

HOW DO I EASE WATERY VEGGIES ON MY HAMSTER?
I know this has to be done at a young age a little at a time to prevent diarrhea, but a step by step would be helpful.

I really really really want to get a hamster, but I feel like theirs still a lot for me to learn so any other topics that you might think I don't know yet please inform me so I can better take care of any future hamster of mine. :P-thanks
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Old 03-30-2019, 01:11 PM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Random Questions?

Probably 1 tablespoon maybe a little more a day for a syrian, just in the evening. Doesn't matter exactly but you can try and get into a routine where they'll come out for food and it can make taming easier. Fresh veg and watery things like that start slowly and gradually increase - there isn't an exact way of doing it but you might want to do something like 2-3 times a week for a week or two and then increase further to daily over the following week. Just a small piece at first. As long as it isn't a very sudden change it shouldn't be a problem so the whole process may take 2 weeks or so. Try a few different veggies a week to keep a good variety going and make sure fruit is a rarer treat. Not sure what other treats you mean but it's best to stay clear of the majority of pet shop treats that are high in fat/sugar, and just stick to seeds and nuts primarily, occasionally things like baby food, chew sticks (healthier ones without corn) or porridge go down well too. Walnuts and peanuts are fine, hazelnuts, pine nuts, cashews all go down well too just not too many nuts at once of course. Difficult to say exactly how many treats but alongside the main food I give a few pieces of veg daily, alongside either a piece of nut or maybe a few different seeds as well as some form of animal protein (mealworms, crickets, shrimp, freeze dried or boiled chicken) sometimes.

Last edited by mangoandmimi; 03-30-2019 at 01:21 PM.
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Old 03-30-2019, 01:36 PM   #3
Isleofhamsters
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Don’t feed your hamster every day. This will encourage picky eating as the hamster will know it will get food again the next day. Give them some food and wait for the hamster to eat it before you give more. Give vegtables a few times a week and a small piece of fruit every couple of days.

You don’t need to make a hole in the walnut. It will provide hours of fun for the hamster trying to crack the nut. They can usually smell the walnut inside and it drives them on.

Hope this helps! I am getting a Syrian hamster soon, and made a post listing everything I know. You might benefit from it if you are planning on getting one, or if you know any information about them that I don’t, please post a reply on the post.
It is called “ getting a hamster soon” and it’s in the Syrian forum!
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Old 03-30-2019, 06:41 PM   #4
Bobby7747
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Thumbs up Re: Random Questions?

Thank you so much, I'll definitely make sure not to overfeed and good luck on your new Syrian
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Old 03-31-2019, 05:02 AM   #5
Ria P
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Default Re: Random Questions?

I'm a fairly new Syrian hamster owner and still gathering information. There is a lot of info about, on this site, books, google, petshops etc etc. Info and advice varies and opinions differ on hamster related matters. It can be confusing for a novice so you need to find out what works for your hamster. Mine loves broccoli and cauliflower but doesn't like tomatoes. I feed him daily and yes he leaves some in his bowl but then again, I'm a selective eater myself. I know that he can't have cheese, his and mine absolute favourite too often or he'll get fat, same as I would. I believe that hamsters have personalities like humans and I know by now that mine (hamster) is laid back and forgiving because I got things wrong sometimes like inspecting his nest for old food while he was watching. As long as my hamster is safe and well with a shiny coat and stays inquisitive I don't worry too much about the finer points. Chances are that a lot of people may find my approach too relaxed but that's how I live my life and the hamster is part of it now. One piece of advice. I'd get a house with a removable roof so you can check on your hamster and his nest without disturbing either of them. No base of course because hamsters like to dig down. I hope you'll enjoy your future hamster as much as I enjoy mine because they are lovely little creatures.
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Old 03-31-2019, 09:58 AM   #6
Bobby7747
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Smile Re: Random Questions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
I'm a fairly new Syrian hamster owner and still gathering information. There is a lot of info about, on this site, books, google, petshops etc etc. Info and advice varies and opinions differ on hamster related matters. It can be confusing for a novice so you need to find out what works for your hamster. Mine loves broccoli and cauliflower but doesn't like tomatoes. I feed him daily and yes he leaves some in his bowl but then again, I'm a selective eater myself. I know that he can't have cheese, his and mine absolute favourite too often or he'll get fat, same as I would. I believe that hamsters have personalities like humans and I know by now that mine (hamster) is laid back and forgiving because I got things wrong sometimes like inspecting his nest for old food while he was watching. As long as my hamster is safe and well with a shiny coat and stays inquisitive I don't worry too much about the finer points. Chances are that a lot of people may find my approach too relaxed but that's how I live my life and the hamster is part of it now. One piece of advice. I'd get a house with a removable roof so you can check on your hamster and his nest without disturbing either of them. No base of course because hamsters like to dig down. I hope you'll enjoy your future hamster as much as I enjoy mine because they are lovely little creatures.
I completely agree hamsters have personalities which is why I'm so excited to finally get one, but I have another question. How often do u pull their food out of their nest and when u do so I know it's good to replace the food so the hamster doesn't come home to an empty pantry but does this mean replace it like in the bowl or actually where the food was kept in the nest?
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Old 03-31-2019, 11:35 AM   #7
Bobby7747
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Default Re: Random Questions?

Does anyone have any good hamster safe sanitizer brands, I know that it's good to keep any food or other scents off your hands to prevent biting?
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Old 03-31-2019, 12:27 PM   #8
Ria P
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Default Re: Random Questions?

I can only tell you what I do. I visually check my hamster's nest for fresh food that may have gone mouldy when he sits on my partner's belly and isn't watching every couple of days. I've never found any so he eats it when fresh. Dried food keeps anyway. I guess I'd replace it with a piece of the same food in the same place in the nest. My hamster wouldn't come to my hand at first because he found the smell of my handcream offensive and then he had issues with my scented handsoap. I followed advice from this site and washed my hands with unscented soap especially purchased and my hamster accepted treats from my hand then. They can be fussy little things. He nibbled my finger once which was my own fault because I had handled cheese. I had to give him a tiny piece of cheese then or I would have had a very disappointed hamster. So yes, wash your hands.
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Old 04-01-2019, 04:35 AM   #9
Isleofhamsters
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Default Re: Random Questions?

The best disenfectant is 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water. It’s safe for hamsters
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Old 04-01-2019, 06:26 AM   #10
cypher
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Default Re: Random Questions?

I wouldn't use vinegar, the smell is far too strong & you need to do a lot of rinsing & airing after use, if you dilute it it won't really do the job, you rarely need disinfectant unless your ham is ill & if you do better to use an unscented ham safe disinfectant or sterilising tablets.
For your hands any unscented soap is fine.

You can check on your hams hoard for fresh food but other than that you don't really need to change it often if at all, they eat from the hoard & replace it themselves, if it does look like old food after a month or so you can replace it in the same place with some fresh mix.

Going back to your question on how often to feed, there are no hard & fast rules, daily or every few days are both fine, if you feed a good quality mix picky feeding shouldn't be an issue, the most important thing is to make sure your ham has fresh mix available all the time.
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