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arnoldshirl · 03-09-2022, 12:52 PM

Hello. My name is Shirl and I am a new member to here. I have a female Roborovski Dwarf Hamster that is only 4 months old and needing me to research extensively on how to make her Happy! One moment she is sociable, the next...well it's scurry as fast as her legs can take her to her hideout. Furthermore, she is also showing signs of being finicky with her food too.

Chesterspal · 03-09-2022, 01:35 PM

I'm only two weeks into this hamster thing, myself. There are experts on here who can help better than I but let me say this.

I'm on my second bag of dry hamster food after being told what I had originally was garbage. Fine. I bought the recommended brand.

However, he eats very little from his bowl. Picks a few things he likes and that's it. What he really likes is the fresh food I bring him each evening when he wakes up.

Carrot shreds, broccoli, organic red lettuce, dried meal worms.... now you're talking!

cloudy · 03-09-2022, 02:11 PM

Hello Shirl. Welcome to the forum. Its lovely you are researching to make your hamster happy.

Ria P · 03-09-2022, 02:11 PM

Hello and welcome to HC!

You are lucky to have a Robo who is sometimes sociable.
Looking forward to hear more about her.

arnoldshirl · 03-09-2022, 08:19 PM

I do give her fresh veggies and fruit, but she is a finicky nibbler on them too. I haven't tried the dried mealworms yet. Is there a particular brand I should consider? And how are they best stored (such as in the refrigerator) ?

arnoldshirl · 03-09-2022, 08:20 PM

Thank you for the warm welcome. I needed the social uplifting since my dwarf hamster scurriedly snubbed me today.

Charlie Dunn · 03-10-2022, 01:07 AM

Morning Shirl and welcome to the forum. I hope that you are learning lots from the members here. I know I have over the years. I have never had a robo - I’ve had Syrian hams and dwarfs. Each one has had a different personality and different likes and dislikes. Some are more skittish than others. How long have you had your robo as they can take time to settle in and start to become more sociable. In my experience it is one day at a time and at their own pace x

Chesterspal · 03-10-2022, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldshirl

I do give her fresh veggies and fruit, but she is a finicky nibbler on them too. I haven't tried the dried mealworms yet. Is there a particular brand I should consider? And how are they best stored (such as in the refrigerator) ?

Careful with the fruit as it is high in sugar content. I've stayed away from giving fruit.

If you are in the US, as I am, all the major pet stores like Petco & Petsmart have them... usually in the reptile area. Mine came in a resealable pouch but there are others in jars. Dried is the only way to go as live ones will bite them.

I'm keeping the bag in the fridge, yes. Only 3 or 4 each night. Maybe less if your hamster is smaller. High in protein but also high in fat.

If active on the wheel, as mine currently is, will probably burn this off quickly but good idea to keep a weight chart, as I do with all my pets.

As to being picky... seems they will pick and chose what they like so you need to go with the flow. Repeat what is eaten and discard what is not. Also, with mine it will take all night to finish eating. I have a camera set up so can peak in any time I want without disturbing him.

This morning, around 5:30, he got off his wheel, stuffed his face with the veggies still not eaten and ran off and down his pipe to go to bed. All the veggies and meal worms I had left last night were gone!

I'm also looking at adding dried things not already in his commercial food to see what gets eaten and what does not. That variety may keep him interested into seeing what's new each night. Things like split peas, oatmeal, lentils, barley...

arnoldshirl · 03-10-2022, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chesterspal

Careful with the fruit as it is high in sugar content. I've stayed away from giving fruit.

If you are in the US, as I am, all the major pet stores like Petco & Petsmart have them... usually in the reptile area. Mine came in a resealable pouch but there are others in jars. Dried is the only way to go as live ones will bite them.

I'm keeping the bag in the fridge, yes. Only 3 or 4 each night. Maybe less if your hamster is smaller. High in protein but also high in fat.

If active on the wheel, as mine currently is, will probably burn this off quickly but good idea to keep a weight chart, as I do with all my pets.

As to being picky... seems they will pick and chose what they like so you need to go with the flow. Repeat what is eaten and discard what is not. Also, with mine it will take all night to finish eating. I have a camera set up so can peak in any time I want without disturbing him.

This morning, around 5:30, he got off his wheel, stuffed his face with the veggies still not eaten and ran off and down his pipe to go to bed. All the veggies and meal worms I had left last night were gone!

I'm also looking at adding dried things not already in his commercial food to see what gets eaten and what does not. That variety may keep him interested into seeing what's new each night. Things like split peas, oatmeal, lentils, barley...

Thanks Chesterpal for the information, I will purchase the dried mealworms and try her on them. When she arrived into my life in November of 2021 she was only two months old. She does the same behavior, takes a piece of food and nibbles on it then scurries to her hideaway peanut shape home. I need her to have a healthy diet as she grows. A Happy Ham is Happiness.

arnoldshirl · 03-10-2022, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Dunn

Morning Shirl and welcome to the forum. I hope that you are learning lots from the members here. I know I have over the years. I have never had a robo - I’ve had Syrian hams and dwarfs. Each one has had a different personality and different likes and dislikes. Some are more skittish than others. How long have you had your robo as they can take time to settle in and start to become more sociable. In my experience it is one day at a time and at their own pace x

Thank you for the welcoming Charlie Dunn. I got her in November 2021, she was only two months old then. After giving her time to settle in to her new place she was acceptance of my presence. Still is somewhat and somedays. I reach in slowly always and let her sniff my hand and offer her seeds from her dish. She takes them and on occasions eats them right then, but other times she stuffs her pouch, reaches for more then straight to her house. I do her her eat somedays in there, the crunching is a relief to hear. But she isn't finishing her teaspoonful of daily feeding at all. this concerns me of her not getting enough to grow healthy and happy.