Cold Veg/Fruits

[peggy]

Hello,

I intend to keep maybe a guinea pig, a mice or a hamster soon.

This thought suddenly struck me when i was eating my cold apple from the fridge.

As for young kids or toddlers, they can't eat cold stuffs as they might cough.

Since this is a Hamster section, can hamsters eat cold vegetables or fruits? Will they cough?

[Moa]

Hi,

Hamsters shouldn't get food out of the fridge. The food should have room temperature otherwise the hammie might get an upset stomache or diarrhoea.
Ciao
Moa

[peggy]

Thank you so much.

Moa, do you have any hamsters? How many and what breeds are they?

I intend to get a pet, but am still deciding.

[Moa]

Hi,
Glad I could help you.
I have got 8 hamsters, 7 Winter Whites and 1 Angora hamster.
If you have any other questions just ask, I will try to answer them.
Ciao
Moa

[peggy]

Hello,

Angora hamster? Or Angora rabbit? Pardon my ignorance, but i never come across an agora hamster. It must be really rare.
Do tell me more about this hamster. How different is it as compared to other hamsters? How big is it? Is the temperment good or bad?

[Yinx]

Hello,

Hmm, I believe Moa is referring to a teddy hamster? Long-haired rabbits r termed as angoras, whilst long-haired hamsters r termed as teddies. There r no teddy dwarf hamsters, only teddy Syrians, so Moa's hamster should be a teddy Syrian.

[zz]

Hi Peggy,

Actually a teddy bear hamster is a nickname given to long haired syrian hamsters. Angora is the standard term for describing teddies but its easier to call them long haired teddies. There are other nicknames such as black bears (describing black campbells or black syrians), panda bears (again referring to black mottled campbells or black banded syrians), its really confusing and should be used for amusement only.

It's quite easy to find long haired hamsters in Singapore and I have about 3 or 4 of them. But a really good one is hard to find. They have lovely temperament and are very docile. Very much like teddy bears. http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif

Think carefully before you get a pet. Winter Whites are easier to look after and most often can be kept in pairs or groups but if you want a bigger and cuddly pet, a syrian would be better. Though only one hamster to one cage else they'll fight.

zz

ps. Moa, do u have any yellow or tortise-shell hamsters?

[Moa]

Hi,
Sorry I was off this forum for a while.
As far as I know, from breeders and from my own experience Angora and Teddyhamsters are different. They are both long haired Syrians but Teddybear hamsters are smaller and more friendly than Angora hamsters. I have had 4 teddybear hamsters before and this is my first Angora hamster.

Btw u can get short haired and long haired teddybear hamsters but u can only get long haired angorahamsters as far as I know.

All my teddybear hamster were relatively small, very friendly and easy to tame.
My Angora hamster is as large as normal Syrian hamsters, has long hair, is very shy, gets startled very easily, was /is not easy to tame. As I have only had this angora hamster I can only tell about my experiences with him and that of other ppl I know, who have had similar experiences.
But every animal is different so there might be very friendly angora hamsters out there too.
For ur first hamster I would recommend a teddybear hamster or winterwhites. Teddybears are easier to hold and handle than winterwhites.
zz: No I haven't got any yellow or tortoise-shell hamsters
Ciao
Moa

[Sarah]

hie Moa,
Isit true that if u suddenly switch ur hammy's diet frm dry food to veggies n fruits he will have diarrhoea? not as in a permanent change but ocassionally switch their diets.

pls advise thanks http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Moa]

Hi Sarah,
I am not quite sure what you mean with switching your hammies diet from dry food to veg and fruit. Do you mean switching from feeding only dry food to feeding only fresh food (vegetables, fruits, grass)?
You should feed your hamster dry food as well as fresh fruit or veg every day. The amount of fresh food you give the hamster per day is quite small, e.g one sweet grape or a small slice of apple. Fresh food is important because of its vitamins and some hamsters prefer to get their water out of fresh food.
If the fruit or veg is not eaten up in about 24 hours I would take it out again to prevent it from getting bad.

A sudden change in diet can cause diarrhoea as can too many vegetables and fruits.
Hope I could help you!
Ciao
Moa

[Sarah]

i've read somewhere that u should clear ur hamster's 'food pouch' if u had offered him any fresh fruits n veggies coz they will become mouldy if left in its mouth for too long. but how r u goin to do it?

yep i tk my hammy's one of those hammy's who prefer getting liquids out of fresh food. He always refuses to sip frm his bottle! its pretty frustrating coz im afraid he will get dehyrated if he doesnt drink his liquids.

[Moa]

Hi Sarah,

I have had hamsters for about 10 years now and I have never cleared out my hamsters pouches. I really don't know how you could do that and I think it is absolutely not necessary to do that. I have never heard that you should do that either.
Just check the house or the spot where your hamster usually stores his food regularily.

If you offer your hamster a water bottle and fresh food every day I wouldn't worry about him not getting enough liquids. If he is thursty he will drink from his bottle. Hamsters don't need a lot of liquids.

[Sarah]

oh if i'd remembered correctly i had read it somewhere in this forum.. hmmz..

my hammy only stores his food in his cheek pouch, there was once he regurgitated his food n i found the yogurt treat i gave him all melted n yucky n it had some of his nuts stuck to it!

Btw does a hammy shed often? So long as it doesnt shed until he developes a bald spot on his body is it fine rite?

thanks!

[Moa]

Hamsters don't shed noticeable.

If your hamster has a bald patch I think something is wrong with him or he is old?

As I never had a hammy with hair loss or bald patches I can't advise you on that, sorry.