Abnormal toileting habit?

[Ria P]

When Syrian Clive first comes out to free roam, he goes straight into the corner behind the bathroom bin and poops. He also washes and throws himself about scenting.
These poops are light brown and quite soft pellets.

I am aware that a hamster's stomach consists of two parts. One is like a cow's and produces soft pellets full of nutrients and vitamins the hamster eats to absorb them. The other part of the stomach is like a human's and produces waste in the shape of much harder and darker pellets the hamster often chucks out of the nest.

I'm trying to figure out if Clive's behaviour is normal or something i should take him to the vet for.

Part of me thinks that they are the edible type but then i wonder why he doesn't eat them and part of me worries that the poops are a sign of an illness.

I know that only i can decide whether to take him to the vet or not so i am not looking for medical advice.

What i'm looking for is possible feedback from people who have come across this kind of behaviour or who know about the physiology of hamsters.

Thank you in advance to anybody who may contribute.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Moonbeam did something similar behind her wheel upon waking up.

As for the state of the poops I can't really say, i guess they can't eat them all

[Ria P]

Thanks Luna. I think i have a bit of poop paranoia because of Rodney.

[Ria P]

I made some dietry adjustements and now Clive's poops are firmer and darker again. I think he reacts to spinach, romaine lettuce and kale, green leafy foods in general. I've cut those out for now.
Another thing i only recently learnt on here was that cauliflower is hard to digest and should be cooked. I didn't know that but serving it cooked now.
Clive is more sensitive and delicate in general compared to the others. Something i need to take into account and cater for.

[Pebbles82]

I tend to avoid green leafy things anyway and don't give any lettuce - both lettuce and cabbage are watery for them. I think some say romaine lettuce is fine but I just stick to broccoli, cucumber and carrot mainly. Sometimes parsley leaf if I have any. Or a blueberry or bit of apple instead of veg (for Syrians). Didn't know that about cauliflower - I've always given it raw but not very often.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Ria, it will probably be the kale, it is very rich for them, i noticed in the past how that changes my hamsters poop - so if i do give it, i only give them the tiniest amount.

[Ria P]

Thank you both.
I'm also going to stick to broccoli, cucumber, carrot, cooked cauliflower, the odd piece of babycorn and a little fruit now and again.
Didn't know that about the kale and will give that a miss to be on the safe side. They like the cooked cauliflower and had some tonight.

[Stanza]

When Hams is in the play pen I’ve noticed some of his poops are slightly lighter in colour than others which are darker and firmer. I guessed he just eats the ones he needs? Lol!

I stick with broc, carrot, cauli, tiny bits cue, apple, green grape and babycorn. The softer foods bit of grape / cue he only has when out in his pen. I’ve also been giving Hams the Rosewood Naturals Hemp Health Digestion snacks. I break one in half and hide it every other week, he seems to be enjoying them, so hopefully they are a healthy addition to his dry food diet.

[Ria P]

I don't know these Hemp health snacks. Where do you buy them?

[Pebbles82]

I don't know them either - are they new ones from Rosewood Stanza? They do make good hamster snacks.