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Old 04-14-2016, 07:12 AM   #1
lovelyhamsters5
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Default Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

Because I am allergic to peanuts it's difficult to find a good balanced diet for my hamsters, I bought Orbox hamster food and this other food which contains pellets and dried fruits and veggies. A person told me that pellets can harm my hamsters, is that true?
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Old 04-14-2016, 07:14 AM   #2
Cinnamon Bear
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Default Re: Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

Can I ask which food it is that you bought?
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Old 04-14-2016, 07:27 AM   #3
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Default Re: Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

Pellets are not harmful.In fact,they often contain a lot of the minerals and vitamins in a diet as well as a lot of the fiber,but in the case of Oxbow(a primarily grass based pellet last I checked)it isn't exactly the greatest food out there.Of course,allergies do interfere with things so it is very difficult.
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Old 04-14-2016, 07:39 AM   #4
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Default Re: Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

It must be very difficult with a peanut allergy So few products guarantee they are nut free and some put things like 'may' contain nuts or - produced in a factory where nuts may have been. Or some such thing. I can't actually find Orbox hamster food on google. Did you mean Oxbow?

As Amityville says, hamster foods will contain good things - some are better than others, but they are supposed to contained required nutrients. Do you mean an all-in-one food by pellet food (like the Oxbow)? If that is the only one you can find that is guaranteed nut free then maybe you could use it and supplement your hammy's diet with fresh food. It sounds quite a complex one. People have different views on Oxbow, but generally it's seen more as a supplementary food than an only/main food. However, if supplemented it could be fine. It's good to give hamsters fresh veg anyway - I give it daily, some people give it every other day - just very small amounts, like a thumbnail sized piece. Broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, peas, green beans are all safe (there's a list on here of safe fruit and veg). A similar sized piece of cheese or plain cooked chicken once or twice a week would also give fresh food and extra protein.

Maybe someone else would have something more specific for your situation though - I'm not a dietary expert. But I can see it is really important to avoid anything with nuts.

There's a similar thread about which hamster food for people with nut allergies here - it might have some tips

Need Syrian Mix with NO tree nuts or peanuts

Last edited by Pebbles82; 04-14-2016 at 07:50 AM.
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Old 04-14-2016, 12:01 PM   #5
lovelyhamsters5
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear View Post
Can I ask which food it is that you bought?
KAYTEE® Complete Hanster & Gerbil Food
It was the only one that didn't have peanuts

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
It must be very difficult with a peanut allergy So few products guarantee they are nut free and some put things like 'may' contain nuts or - produced in a factory where nuts may have been. Or some such thing. I can't actually find Orbox hamster food on google. Did you mean Oxbow?

As Amityville says, hamster foods will contain good things - some are better than others, but they are supposed to contained required nutrients. Do you mean an all-in-one food by pellet food (like the Oxbow)? If that is the only one you can find that is guaranteed nut free then maybe you could use it and supplement your hammy's diet with fresh food. It sounds quite a complex one. People have different views on Oxbow, but generally it's seen more as a supplementary food than an only/main food. However, if supplemented it could be fine. It's good to give hamsters fresh veg anyway - I give it daily, some people give it every other day - just very small amounts, like a thumbnail sized piece. Broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, peas, green beans are all safe (there's a list on here of safe fruit and veg). A similar sized piece of cheese or plain cooked chicken once or twice a week would also give fresh food and extra protein.

Maybe someone else would have something more specific for your situation though - I'm not a dietary expert. But I can see it is really important to avoid anything with nuts.

There's a similar thread about which hamster food for people with nut allergies here - it might have some tips

Need Syrian Mix with NO tree nuts or peanuts
Thank you and yes I did mean Oxbow, I typed that so early in the morning


I try to feed my hamsters fresh food daily, with their normal hamster mix, I usually give them broccoli and squash which they love, also I feed them meal worms which I've heard are good for them so there is a lot of protein in that

Last edited by Vectis Hamstery; 04-14-2016 at 12:31 PM.
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Old 04-14-2016, 12:36 PM   #6
Cinnamon Bear
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Default Re: Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

If you have a Pet-Co near you Higgins Sunburst is a good seed mix for hammies

I use Kaytee Forti Diet lab blocks plus seed mix, Kaytee is also a good company. Mazuri Rat & Mouse lab blocks are also a good choice if you ever wanted to look into that food? Mazuri used to make hamster lab blocks but discontinued it but the ingredients are the same as the rat & mouse

Oxbow is a good food too
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Old 04-14-2016, 12:42 PM   #7
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Default Re: Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear View Post
If you have a Pet-Co near you Higgins Sunburst is a good seed mix for hammies
I've just looked at the Higgins ingredients and it contains peanuts which the OP has mentioned they are allergic to.
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Old 04-14-2016, 12:46 PM   #8
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Default Re: Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery View Post
I've just looked at the Higgins ingredients and it contains peanuts which the OP has mentioned they are allergic to.
Oh , I'm sorry, I had no idea! Thanks
I don't have the bag anymore so I couldn't check
Make sure next time though

Last edited by Cinnamon Bear; 04-14-2016 at 12:57 PM.
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Old 04-14-2016, 03:19 PM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

The thread mentioned above has a few ideas. I think you're right that Oxbow doesn't have any - nothing mentioned on the back of the pack when I looked online, and neither is there anything that says "may contain traces of nuts" or "packed in a factory where nut products may be present". But then I don't know if they're required to do that on US products. It does say it's a family company - might be worth phoning or emailing them and ask them if it's totally nut free!
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Old 04-14-2016, 10:42 PM   #10
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Default Re: Are "Pellets" good or bad to feed you hamster?

I think you'll do fine with the oxbow & Kaytee, both are a bit low in protein but with the mealworms in addition they should be getting enough, you could also try giving some plain cooked chicken a couple of times a week too.
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