Whimzee's?

[spyro87]

Can anybody answer me some questions about Whimzee's and their suitability for Hams? To cut down on the amount of posts, I'm asking all the questions I can think of in one post - I'm all for getting my post score higher, but I'd like it to be legitimately not just because I'm asking millions of questions post after post :P if I can compile it all in one I'd much rather. So, sorry for the amount of questions that follows

I've noticed a few people mentioning they leave a whimzee in their ham cages, and I wondered what size? - I notice they come in many different sizes.

how long do they last?

Do your hamsters actually chew them in preference to chewing other stuff?

Any nutritional benefits to the ham?

Can I provide a whimzee each along with their weekly dog milk biscuit?

anything else I should know? - like do they get sticky and gross? covered in substrate? etc etc.

Dont worry if you cant answer all my questions, answering what you can will still help a lot thanks in advance HC x

[Esmy]

Hi Spyro. Any size Whimzee works but you can give them fresher ones more often if you get the ones for small dogs. I don't know about nutritional benefits. You'll know if they should be replaced when they turn white/pale. It will be easy to tell. Some like them and some do not. I have 2 or 3 that do and 3 that do not. They don't get yucky. They stay dry. I don't see why you can't give them a milk bone as well. Some will just nibble occasionally. Penny chews hers quickly. None of my hamsters chew wood chews, though I keep them in their homes just in case. Dog biscuits and peanuts in a shell are the only things they all really eat (except Gizmo can't) that give their teeth a workout. But some do like the Whimzees so it's worth a try!

[spyro87]

thanks for answering Esmy I think I'll give it a try and see how they go. I'm glad they don't get sticky and yucky!

[Esmy]

Yeah can't hurt and they aren't messy at all. Hope they help!

[NiceCrocs]

Agreeing with all Esmy's advice, but I'd like to add this: nutritionally, Whimzees are basically like cardboard xD they're made of potato starch, so you don't really have to worry about it adding to your hamsters diet.

That said: my Margo likes them so much, she'll ignore her food in favor of it, so I only give it to her for one evening per week, or she won't eat. I put it in her cage before I go to bed and remove it the next day.

[spyro87]

Originally Posted by NiceCrocs

Agreeing with all Esmy's advice, but I'd like to add this: nutritionally, Whimzees are basically like cardboard xD they're made of potato starch, so you don't really have to worry about it adding to your hamsters diet.

That said: my Margo likes them so much, she'll ignore her food in favor of it, so I only give it to her for one evening per week, or she won't eat. I put it in her cage before I go to bed and remove it the next day.

oh wow! thanks for that tip Crocs. Yeh, I can see 2 of my hams doing exactly that! Hams are so funny xD they'd rather eat cardboard than hamster mix.... eugh, I wonder what that says about hamster mix if cardboard is preferable...

[Hekomi]

All my hamsters have loved them. Depends on the ham, sometimes go faster or not.

[spyro87]

is there any difference with the colours? different flavours or something?

Do hams seem to have a preference for one over the other? are some shapes easier for the hams to get their teeth on?

[Hekomi]

Java really liked her green one, but hasn't fusses over the red one quite as much. Biscotti likes his tan one though, and I believe had a red one which he demolished. The boys have had all the colours, and the toothbrushes work best for them, but any shape seems fine.

[spyro87]

great! thanks Hekomi
I'll try red and green I reckon