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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum THE LOUNGE Hammy Help!

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    • BrunosMama
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        So, I’m feeling a bit lost on hamcare. It confuses me that he hoards food because I never know if he has enough to eat or if I should give him more (which he just hoards.) While cage cleaning tonight I noticed he looked a little thin….hammies are supposed to be chubby right? I mean, he’s long and doesn’t look starved, just not what I thought. Also, I noticed the fur on his back looks wet/greasy. Is that from his scent glands?

        Maybe I’m not cut out to be a hammy mommy. :/


      • LBJ10
        Moderator
        16870 posts Send Private Message

          Hoarding food is normal. The food dish can be a few inches away, but they will still move all of it back to their “stash”. It’s instinct and it really doesn’t have anything to do with them not getting enough to eat. I’m not really sure what you mean by hamsters should be chubby. They look “thick” I suppose just because of their boxy body shape, but I wouldn’t call them chubby. When you say he’s thin, can you see his ribs?

          What kind of a cage does he have again? Sometimes they pee and it gets on the glass (if they are in a tank) and the pee gets on their fur if they rub against it.


        • LongEaredLions
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            Hammies will hoard food, it is part of their instincts. I would say as long as the hoard is not huge, but there is, in fact, a stash, that he is getting enough to eat.
            I feed Stevie around 2 tbs of seed mix every other day, with fresh foods on the other days, and this seems to be the perfect amount for her.
            Syrian hamsters (especially males) have two scent glands located on the hips, this may be what you are seeing. Otherwise, he may just be having a little trouble grooming his back. Hamsters cannot have water baths, but if you provide him with a dish of chinchilla sand (not dust) or sterilized children’s play sand, he may want to roll around in that to help keep himself clean. Stevie loves sand baths!
            You are a great hamster mommy, BM!


          • Sarita
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              Yep, hammies are hoarders…I guess it’s just in their funny little nature.


            • MoxieMeadows
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                I’m pretty much just going to echo the others.
                Hamsters are hoarders, it is in their nature. They have a boxy shape which makes them look “chubby”, but how skinny are you talking about? Like LBJ asked, can you see/feel ribs?


              • BrunosMama
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                  I guess in my head I I.agine jammies as little meatball shapes. But no, no ribs or anything. When he stretches out, he’s pretty much one width. Honestly it was late when I noticed and cleaned last night and I may have panicked a bit.

                  I’m wondering, his bed place is a hidey spot off of a tube. More or less, its a box sort of shape. But he sleeps there all the time and its always stuffed with bedding. Maybe since he smooshes himself in there, it makes his back messy. I will look into the chin bath that doesnt stay in all the time though right? Just like once or twice a week?

                  He keeps his stash in a tube. Its like he eats half and stores half. It gets fairly large sometimes..but then he eats some. Sigh.


                • LongEaredLions
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                    I leave the sand bath in all the time but it really is up to your personal preference.


                  • BrunosMama
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                      How often do you change the sand?


                    • LongEaredLions
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                        I don’t really have a set amount of time that I leave it before changing it. Unlike many hamsters, Stevie doesn’t pee in her sand, and on the occasion she does I let it dry and scoop it out with a small children’s sand sifter. Other than that I usually change it every 2-3 weeks when I clean her cage,

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                    Forum THE LOUNGE Hammy Help!