I'm a bit worried about Grumpy....

Leah_Jayne · 08-20-2008, 12:50 PM

Now I know I'm probably worrying about nothing but Grumpy seems to be much skinnier than Moo,is there anything I can feed HIM (I was able to find out properly last night all this time I thought he was a she!!) to just build him up a bit,he's perfectly happy and really active and can't get enough of his wheel and is always swinging on the bars whereas Moo is just lots bigger and has a very big bum.
I'm hoping it's just because they are different hamsters I know that Grumpy is about a month younger too.
Someone...anyone please reassure me

souffle · 08-20-2008, 03:59 PM

Males are nearly always smaller than females so that might explain it. Also Grumpy is younger and more active and is probably just a smaller build that Moo. As long as he is fit, glossy and active I should not worry. You could give him things like tofu, chicken, scrambled egg, poridge, cooked pasta and rice in small amounts a few times a week to see if that helps him grow on a bit. A mature adult male would weigh somewhere between 120 and 200g normally so quite a wide range.

**pophammy** · 08-21-2008, 06:19 AM

As Souf said males are always smaller than females. I don't think it's anything to worry about! Also we always find that males are more active than females ~ they will often go particularly crazy when the females are on heat!

**Spuds Mum** · 08-21-2008, 08:12 AM

If he is happy and active (and it sounds like he is) I wouldnt worry. There is a huge difference in the size of some of my hamsters, and especially boys are smaller than girls.

We recently had the runt of one of our previous litters come back to stay with us. He was tiny as a baby, but very strong and healthy, and when he came back for his holiday, I still couldnt believe how small he was compared to all of our other hams. Maybe your Grumpy was a small baby too?

It might be worth trying him on some of the treats Souffle suggests though, even if he doesn't suddenly put lots of weight on, he will certainly enjoy the different tastes

Leah_Jayne · 08-21-2008, 01:12 PM

I think Moo is in heat at the moment when I just held her she stood rigid with her tail in the air,I'm going to put padlocks on both of their cages breeding is a definite no no,I would be worried sick and fear that I wouldn't find homes for them....I don't know how you people do it

Thanks for the reassurance they are both happily munching on dandelion leaves at the moment,Grumpy never seems that interested in fresh food for some reason but Moo omg she is like a dustbin and eats everything in reach/sight.

**pophammy** · 08-22-2008, 09:32 AM

Yep Moo is definitely on heat!

I don't think you really need padlocks, as I doubt they will be able to open the doors. If you're really worried we find it's best just to put a clothes peg over their door. This stops them being able to push it open!