What can I give to replace those pellets?

[bobo]

Hi everyone~

I'm rather new to the whole hamster community since I just got my first hamster two weeks ago so you might see me around asking a lot of questions.

Anyways, I didn't want my hamster to be too much of a fussy eater so I've been taking online advice from people saying that I shouldn't keep refilling her bowl until she eats the rest of her food.

So far, she finally caved in and ate those round brown cheerio looking things (lol) but still avoided those brown pellets. They look like tiny logs... I'm guessing they're alfalfa pellets?

Anyways, my question is, what can I give her to replace those pellets? Can I give her Timothy hay as a replacement? She seems to like eating that. I don't want to be too harsh on her and I definitely don't want her to starve.. because I don't think she'll ever eat these pellets.



Also random add on question.


I'm getting mixed messages saying that you can feed your hamsters almonds and others saying you can't. Which one is it? ovo;

I love eating almonds and usually I have a jar of them at my desk. These are Archer Farms roasted almonds with sea salt though... so I'm guessing the raw and unsalted ones are ok? Or no?


Much appreciate in advance for everyone's help!

[cypher]

All hams can be a bit picky about their food to some extent so I wouldn't worry about it, I don't think any hams like the pellets & you don't really need to replace them with anything, your ham should be getting all it needs without them.
I prefer to use a few different mixes for variation & interest & also I don't really trust one mix to have absolutely everything.
Almonds meant for humans are ok (it's bitter almonds hams can't have) but definitely plain ones, no salt or other additives.
You can also give some healthy treats like freeze dried mealworms, a few sunflower & pumpkin seeds, monkey nuts, a little chicken or cheese & dog biscuits to chew on (no spices, onion or garlic) that way you ham should have a complete diet.

ETA you can also give some fresh veg daily, just start of gradually if your hams not used to it.

[BrainGirl]

A lot of hams don't like the pellets included in mixes for some reason. I feed a few pieces of a complete extruded hamster food along with the mix so I can be sure they're getting everything they need in their regular diet. They also get healthy treats sometimes. Mine seem to like the Living World brand Extrusion. They're big pellets so good for gnawing on and all mine have taken to them. I also just got a sample of Martin Hamster and Gerbil food to try and so far so good. It looks exactly like the Oxbow Healthy Handfuls which mine won't touch for some reason. Hams!

[NiceCrocs]

The log-type pellets in hamster food are actually fillers. It's made of seed hulls and whatever else is leftover after processing, and added to the mix to make it look like you bought more than you did. Nutritionally, they're like cardboard, so many hamsters don't like eating them. You don't have to replace them with anything, since your hams aren't missing out on anything by not eating them

[BrainGirl]

Aren't those extruded logs things actually where they hide all the vitamins and minerals that are added to the mix? That's why I add in extrusion diets to my mixes in case they won't eat the pellets from the mix. Interestingly, I've tried offering some of the alfalfa-based pellets that I feed my chinchillas and my hamsters really seem to like those. I don't feed that to them of course but I was curious. Personally, I think the pellets in the mixes are a little stale

[Silver]

The brown logs aren't fillers. Different brands put different things in them, yes alfalfa, can be fats, protein & some put all the added vitamins & minerals in there which is what Burgess Dwarf Hamster food does.

To compensate for loosing what's in them I feed fresh veg every day most people feed fresh veg 2-3 times a week.

I would also recommend adding a whole food biscuit either Science Selective Hamster food which is a large biscuit which can be fed whole for Syrians & broken up for dwarfs or Mr Johnson's Advanced hamster food which is small biscuits. Both have everything a hamster needs so I add some of those into the mix.

xxx

[Thin Lizzy]

Have you tried Brazil Nuts and Walnuts for your ham?

[DrKMcK]

All of my hammies adore walnuts. I also give them slivered almonds, peanuts(monkey nuts), sunflower seeds and an occasional pistachio nut. Fresh spinach leaves, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, apple, raisins, cantalope, seedless grapes, peaches, and pears., The fruit only goes to the Syrians, not my dwarfie, Too much sugar for him. They all get a Greenie toothbrush (like the aligator chews) once a month, and a Milk Bone mini once a week. Along with the Hazel Hamster for the Syrians and Ecotrition for the dwarf hammy, I give them Harlan Teclad 2018 block food. I break the blocks up for Almond and Ted E. Bear. Nutmeg just stuffs the whole thing in her pouch. All the hams also get cooked chicken, plain pasta, and plain rice when I have these for my own meals. I think with a good variety of different foods, along with a good base mix, most hammies should be getting everything they need nutritionally to be happy and healthy.