Hamsters not eating pellets

Vierville · 06-05-2020, 02:14 AM

I've noticed lately now that it is coming up to winter where I live that my hamsters are completely clearing out all the 'tasty' bits in their food mix (millet, seeds etc) and are leaving all the pellets.

I feed them Versele Laga Mini Hamster Nature food and beibg a 'complete balanced' food, I'd imagine that the pellets in the mixture contain important nutrition that they might be missing out on.They do get fresh veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, cucumber, spinach, cabbage) every day too.

Their teeth have all been vet checked and are fine.

Is there anything I can do to get them to eat their pellets?

LunaTheHamster1 · 06-05-2020, 02:27 AM

You could try mashing them up in a bit of water. I have found this works with my hamsters when they ignore the pellets. I just take 4 or 5 pellets, add tiniest bit of cold water, leave to soak a few minutes, they will expand then you can mush them up.

Vierville · 06-05-2020, 03:17 AM

Thanks LunaTheHamster1, I will do that this evening.

Do hamsters generally eat pellets? I've read so many posts and articles in which people complain that their hamsters leave the pellets and eat all the other goodies.

LunaTheHamster1 · 06-05-2020, 04:33 AM

I think they prefer the other more exciting food, after all we as humans do too

Never had a problem with Luna or Sunny, they ate everything.
Star always ate hers until just recently. (old age) she dives in if I mush them up for her, but she can still eat hard food so i think she was just being lazy and picky

Twinkle seems to have given up on his, so I started mushing his too and he will eat them now on occasion. I try to give some every few days or so.

Vierville · 06-05-2020, 06:15 AM

Thanks LunaTheHamster1. The pellets seem to make up about 30% of the mixture they get so I definitely want them to eat at least some of it. What do you think about mixing the mushed up pellets with a bit of safe baby food?

LunaTheHamster1 · 06-05-2020, 06:55 AM

i tried that with Twinkle, he didn't seem to like it so went back to giving them separate (still trying to get him back up to his weight pre his accident)
I think it is a case of trial and error to work out what is right for the individual hamster and which each one likes the best. Certainly worth a go.

Thin Lizzy · 06-06-2020, 10:29 AM

They're quick to let you know what the like and dislike. I've found with many of my hamsters that they always leave the nuggets and when I kept putting them in I would fine then in their toilet area covered in pee and I now don't put them in. But, there's always more than one thing that's disliked.

Vierville · 06-09-2020, 05:21 PM

Ok, a quick update...and as I type this I'm shaking my head and laughing...

Last night I offered Baldrick a pellet from his bowl which he has never ever showed interest in eating before and he took it and pouched it! I thought this may just be a fluke so I offered another one and into the pouch it went.

Nine pellets and massively bulging cheeks later, he finally refused the tenth pellet!

He has NEVER touched his pellets before until I posted it on Hamster Central and now he's literally hoovering them up!

Baldrick, you're a special little lad