Hammo may have become blobbo

Euan · 10-09-2017, 03:35 AM

Hi guys,
So we've had Nugget our Campbell dwarf now since we got him in August when he was a new pup into the pet store, so I guess that roughly puts him at about 4 months old-ish.
Would he be fully grown at this point? If so what should a mature dwarf weigh? I'm going to weigh him tonight. I suspect he might be on the tubby side by what he looks like when he sits.
We usually give him a dwarf mix of food, about two teaspoons worth a week at the minute, alongside some millet spray and sunflower seeds scattered about. We also give him little fresh veg when we handle him too.
He seems to be using his wheel as we have marked it and the mark is always in a different position the next morning.
So I don't think we're over feeding and he is getting exercise as his wheel moves and he has plenty of space and toys to explore. We shall see what the weigh in says!

cypher · 10-09-2017, 03:44 AM

He will be almost fully grown by now but they can continue to grow up to about 6 months so he still needs plenty of protein in his diet at this stage, which dwarf mix are you using? You're not overfeeding, they usually eat about a teaspoon a day depending on the mix.
Hybrid weight can vary a lot so the main point of weighing them is to keep a check & see that they don't gain too much or lose weight once fully grown.
I'd say an average for a pet shop hybrid could be around 50-65g but some may be less others more.
When they sit they do look like a very round ball of fluff but that doesn't mean they're overweight!

Euan · 10-09-2017, 06:22 AM

Ok, nice to know that we could expect him to stop growing soon, we do use a meal worm now and again as a treat too.
We have been using Burgess Hamster Harvest mix, I don't know if that is a particularly good mix but it seems to have all the right stuff in it from what I could tell. What's your opinion?
I suspected it was mainly due to the way he sits that makes him look tubby but I'd rather be safe than sorry

SabreRose · 10-09-2017, 07:26 AM

Best thread title ever :’)

cypher · 10-09-2017, 12:06 PM

Do you mean the hamster harvest or dwarf hamster harvest Euan? The dwarf hamster harvest is a pretty good mix & one many people use.
You could give him an extra mealworm daily as a treat, they are quite high in fat but the animal protein is good for them especially when young.

Euan · 10-09-2017, 12:16 PM

Yes, sorry it is the dwarf hamster harvest, so we shall stick with it for now. Thanks Cypher, I'll give him an extra meal worm, he definitely won't complain.Once I get a chance to weigh him we shall see whether he truly is a blobbo. Thanks guys!

Pebbles82 · 10-09-2017, 02:01 PM

It sounds like you're doing all the right things

Sunflower seeds can be a bit fattening if they have a lot. He's probably just round and furry

Euan · 12-11-2017, 03:28 AM

Sooo, we thought he looking even more chunky than before and turns out he weights about 75g. So we've put him on a diet and no more hand feeding whilst being handled as he's fully tame now.

Pebbles82 · 12-11-2017, 05:28 AM

Just cut the sunflower seeds maybe

Euan · 12-11-2017, 06:20 AM

Yeah so we've stopped feeding him seeds, removed his millet spray branch and we will just keep his food bowl and the occasional bit of fresh vegetable too.

Do you guys know if there's such a thing as a lazy hamster who doesn't use their wheel alot? Thus, not getting the exercise they need.