Food mistake

[Maz]

So - silly me. When things were a bit upside down recently, I left the tub of hamster food on top of a double radiator - as we weren’t using the radiators as have other background heating until it gets really cold, and it was a handy place to put it while doing the cage changeovers. Then this very cold spell started and I turned the central heating on two days ago. Last night I realised the hamster food tub had been sitting on top of the hot radiator the day before. I had forgotten to move it. So I chucked the rest of the food in the tub (it was almost empty) and got two new bags of food out.

But - for one day, the hamsters were given food that had been in a tub that got quite hot - which they will have hoarded. And heated food is exactly how moth outbreaks start!

I dont want to remove all their hoards - especially as Tino has just had a cage change and just building a hoard again. So will probably just keep my fingers crossed. Although I might replace the hoards in the next week!

The most annoying thing is I did something very similar last year! And did have a moth outbreak.

 

[Maz]

Thinking about it - I'm going to have to replace their hoards with new food. Higgins is due a mini clean out anyway, and Tino won't have built up much of a hoard yet - he will be very unhappy about it though - but better than possibly needing a full cage clean later!

Out of interest - where do people keep their tub of hamster food? Mine used to be in the next room, with the treats, but sometimes it just gets left on the kitchen table (which is also near a radiator!) rather than walking to another room each time. I don't keep it near the hamster cages after the last moth outbreak - but maybe I will do that now. To stop me putting it in stupid places!

 

[hamsterton]

Oh that's a shame - I hope no moths materialise! And I hope your hamsters aren't too annoyed about cleaning out their hoards. If only they could understand short term pain for long term gain

We keep the food in an airtight container on a shelf under the enclosure. No radiator nearby. We've only had our hamster for about 6 weeks, so there's still time for something to go wrong...

 

[Socks' Mum]

Socks' Harry Hamster is in its packet wrapped with an elastic band. It's in a kitchen cupboard a safe distance from the fish food

 

[Maz]

I do have a shelf under one of the hamster cages But it's in the vicinity of a radiator. Even though the radiator isn't near the hamster cages, the warmth from it is. Should be ok though. I haven't done the dastardly deed of stealing the hoard yet (although will replace it with new food).

Socks Mum - I'd recommend keeping the bag inside a sealed lock and lock box The first time I ever had a moth outbreak from a bag of hamster food it was in a kitchen cupboard - ugh. However that was Oxbow and had imported and probably a worse culprit than most hamster foods. (Also a bad hamster food by the way but I didn't know that then ).

 

[Maz]

Oh that's a shame - I hope no moths materialise! And I hope your hamsters aren't too annoyed about cleaning out their hoards. If only they could understand short term pain for long term gain

We keep the food in an airtight container on a shelf under the enclosure. No radiator nearby. We've only had our hamster for about 6 weeks, so there's still time for something to go wrong...

I wish they could understand too! I will try explaining carefully I do think it helps a bit! Hopefully nothing will go wrong for you

 

[Jain]

Decanted into sealed plastic containers kept on top of Petes cage he's never minded but he does recognise the click they make when opening them and comes to his food bowl in anticipation at the opposite end

 

[Maz]

They definitely know the sound of food coming.

 

[Tulsi]

Kulfi's is on top of his (lovely) cage in a sealed plastic tub.

 

[Zara]

Yes ours was always in a plastic container with lid. Good luck with the food heist, hope they aren’t too upset. I would think if the food was previously frozen, I’m sure it will be fine, but best be on the cautious side. Last thing you want is an outbreak.

 

[Maz]

Yes it was previously frozen - but it did get very warm!