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About Heather S
Expertise
***PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BEFORE ASKING, IT WILL SAVE US BOTH TIME AND FRUSTRATION***

NO DWARF OR GERBIL QUESTIONS I REPEAT NO DWARF OR GERBIL QUESTIONS!I CAN'T answer them, even if I'm the only expert available. I specialize in SYRIAN HAMSTERS ONLY like black bears, goldens, teddies, and more. I'm an experienced breeder and raised hamsters for the past 10 years. I can help with how to buy your first, how to house and care for your hamster, nutrition, showing, and other general questions. I can help with most behavioral problems too. I am the longest running hamster expert on this page, since 2001.
***I WILL NOT answer questions regarding:

Gerbils

Dwarf hamsters(Robo and Russian are dwarfs!!)

Taming

Illness, Cause Of Death, or "My hamster is dying please help me" I can't fix your hamster. If your hamster has a broken leg PLEASE TAKE IT TO A VET don't bother asking a question to anyone because we obviously can't repair it, we don't like the animals to suffer. If you can't take the time to read this then I don't take the time to read your question and may write you a rude response because your too impatient to read!***

Experience
I have worked with hamsters all my life.

Education/Credentials
NONE AT ALL

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Exotic Pets > Gerbils & Hamsters > storing food

Gerbils & Hamsters - storing food

Expert: Heather S - 9/8/2009

Question
Dear Heather,
My teddy-bear-hamster Kojak put the entire contents of two foodbowls into his house and was sleeping on it and using it as a toilet (it absolutely smelled, and some bits were wet or sticky). I know this is probably normal but the very clean but long-haired hamster also smelled and had bits of wet food in his fur (which he quickly cleaned off).
How do I control his storing habits? I'm sure it's not very practical to have 2 inches of food amidst piles of droppings and puddles of wee, slept on and covered in fur, in his house. I try to clean it every day and give him some of the same bedding, but hamsters don't like their beds being disturbed. What do I do?
Thanks,
Becky.

Answer
Although it's gross, this is what hamsters in nature do. You can try giving him alternate places to store the food. If you only have one cave or hiding spot, it's using it as both a bed and a hoard. More places to hide, more options. I'd also give him only 2 tablespoons of food each day to keep him from hoarding more then he needs to.

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