How much food???

Minijellybeans · 08-26-2016, 10:14 AM

Hi I've been using tiny friends farm Harry hamster food. Is this the same Harry hamster food that seems popular for a lot of hamster owners? Or is it a different brand same name?? Lol I have a male Syrian, (unsure which type he doesn't really fit into any category) I bought him around 1-2 months ago so he is still quite young.my main question is how much food should I be giving him daily? I try to provide fresh veg most days and the occasional tiny bit of chicken but not often enough to class it as part of his diet. He also gets a dog bios hit maybe once a week.

I heard somewhere it's around 10g but I do not have any kitchen scales and they're fairly expensive at the shop near me, especially just for hamster food haha. So anyway my question is does anyone use anything else that could be a good size mesurment for example a bottle lid? I'm just a little concerned about size difference for certain things. I don't want to stave him!

At current he always has plenty of food left over In his bowl so I've stopped filling it to the top as its lasting days and days. I've also started hiding his food in toys and around the cage in the hopes it gives him something to do. He seems to be finding it so don't worry!
Thanks in advance

AmityvilleHams · 08-26-2016, 10:27 AM

Kitchen scales are not just for hamster food!Kitchen scales are really good for keeping an eye on your hamster's weight,which can be an early indicator of health problems.Honestly,they're one of those things that any hamster owner should have even if you have to order one online!

Minijellybeans · 08-26-2016, 10:34 AM

I've spent £80 on him this week alone!! He's so spoilt lol everyone thinks I'm crazy "oh he's just a hamster" "he doesn't need that many toys" "hamsters don't get bored" but he deserves happiness, wish I could spend that much money on myself tbh. Does anyone else ever feel like no one understands their love and care for these little cuties?

AmityvilleHams · 08-26-2016, 10:45 AM

I get those type of comments all the time!I tend to make it positive though and take time to at least share some sort of knowledge

Hamsters can be very expensive,especially when it comes to things like pet store toys and hiding places at least from what I've experienced.There are some really good things to do when you're on a budget though,like making DIY toys and hiding places as well as thrift shopping to find bowls and things.

chesca_27 · 08-26-2016, 04:26 PM

I think 3 small teaspoons should be around 10g. I bought little food cup measuring thingies from Poundland which are great for food. I have a dwarf hamster who needs 7g (which I know is two teaspoons) so I think just use a teaspoon or buy the measuring cups. They are super cheap and can be used for plenty of things - I have different scoops for different things.

Don't worry about people thinking your crazy - I probably have spent far too much on my hamster. He was supposed to be a Christmas present from my dad but I got him in June lol. I think in total we have spent over £200 on him. His cage ended up being an expensive DIY since we had to order the glass front online and Ikea charge far too much for delivery and there was too much of a risk of it being out of stock and then wasting tons of fuel.

When I set his playpen up, his toys take up about 1/6th of the floor - and this is quite a big, spacious kitchen and dining room lol. I keep insisting he doesn't have enough but oh well. My dad told me a hamster doesn't need three cages and three wheels - an emergency travel cage, a big travel cage for when he stays at my mum's and his main cage. Then he has a silent spinner, a flying saucer and a comfort wheel lol! I told him I wanted Larry-Jasper to have the best life ever.