Best Syrian diet

[Drago]

Originally Posted by cypher

I haven't come across anyone saying it's no longer suitable tbh & can't see why they would, as commercial mixes for syrians go it's still about the best, the protein is fine btw.

I don't know if I'm allowed to discuss this but I do belong to a few other hamster forums and as of late, a few have shifted their thoughts on what foods are suitable. I agree though that it doesn't make too much sense but I thought I'd ask around as I'd like to stay up to date on all info, but I also don't think that when it comes to care things should change so drastically with no real evidence!

[AmityvilleHams]

As long as they're using safe preservatives and not abusing loopholes I don't see why it would be a product to not use!

[Drago]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

The out of date ingredients list from Petco probably isn't helping you get a clear answer!The best thing to do would be checking the ingredients for yourself.Does it contain "EC permitted antioxidants" for example?This is a very serious loophole for brands to include unsafe preservatives in the UK,and while the brand which makes this food has been very responsive to others in terms of acknowledging that they previously used unsafe preservatives(and corrected it)if they use the loophole I'd be a bit wary of the product itself

I know that Purina for example and Pedigree use that loophole in the UK to sneak in BHA/BHT/ethoxyquin(along with other loopholes to include unspecified biproducts)so it wouldn't be exactly unheard of for a pet food company to abuse loopholes where possible.

That's definitely an interesting and very sad thing for a company to do! Here is the list of ingredients


"Ingredients: Ground Wheat, Toasted Wheat, Flaked Peas, Soybean Meal, Whole Corn, Flaked Whole Corn, Sunflower Seeds, Flaked Soybeans, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Peanut Kernels, Soybean Oil, Peanuts in Shells, Pumpkin Seeds, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Extruded Locust Beans, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin A Supplement, Cholecalciferol (source of Vitamin D3), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Choline Chloride, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Oxide, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Iron Sulfate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K Activity), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Color Added (Yellow #6, Yellow #5, Blue #1).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min) - 16.0%
Crude Fat (min) - 4.0%
Crude Fiber (max) - 8.0%
Moisture (max) - 11.0%
Vit. A (min) - 10,000 IU/kg (4,545 IU/lb)
Vit. D3 (min) - 1,000 IU/kg (454 IU/lb)
Vit. E (min) - 50 IU/kg (22 IU/lb)"

I don't see anything that raises a red flag, but perhaps others do?

[cypher]

Without knowing why people suddenly think it's unsuitable it's hard to comment really.
Hamsters needs haven't changed, I don't think the food has changed so I have no idea why people would suddenly be against it or what they would be thinking a better alternative as there aren't that many good food mixes around.

[Hekomi]

Hazel Hamster changed their formula; so it's lower protein now and still contains the added colours as well as having really poor variety. Hazel is VERY different than Harry, so I can completely understand the confusion. I've used Hazel before and was really underwhelmed with the food quality and my hamsters really didn't like it at all.

The best foods in North America really require you to do a bit of work in the mixing department.

I would recommend Harlan Teklad 8640 Blocks, which you can buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Rodents-Compl...an+teklad+8640

Mixed with Higgins Sunburst, which is lower protein but high variety and really good quality. I use this with my older hamsters:

https://www.amazon.com/Higgins-Sunbu...ggins+sunburst

I hope that helps.

[JLPrairie]

I know that Hazel Hamster changed their formula, but I think it would work ok if you supplement it with mealworms.

[Cinnamon Bear]

What's wrong with Mazuri Rat and Mouse lab blocks?

I feed my Syrian hamster Mazuri, Sunburst and Oxbow

[Hekomi]

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

What's wrong with Mazuri Rat and Mouse lab blocks?

I feed my Syrian hamster Mazuri, Sunburst and Oxbow

Those are fine too but I prefer HT as mazuri has added molasses.

Oxbow is not really great for hamsters; i would drop it from your mix. Hamsters don't eat hay naturally and it's not formulated properly to suit their needs. It's just lowering the protein in your mix.

[Pebbles82]

It's true that some forums and in the US think Hazel Hamster is rubbish. Particularly citing low protein. I wrote to the manufacturers last year to get some clarity. Hazel Hamster and Harry Hamster are identical formulas. Hazel is made for the US market, Harry for the Uk market. Different countries specify different ways of expressing the analysis. There was some discussion on this between "guaranteed" analysis and "average" or "actual" content. The manufacturers say they are identical formulas though. So the content hasn't changed in Hazel Hamster - they just show the protein as a "guaranteed" analysis of 16% instead of what the manufacturers say it is - which is 18%. Playing safe I guess so they fit in with US regulations.

Anyway - I'm not keen that it has colourings in - but I don't think they do any real harm. It is a sugar-free mix, which is important. It contains all the nutrients, vitamins etc required, so it's a good basic mix. Most people supplement the protein a bit but not to some exact formula. And you can't make a hamster eat the whole mix either. They seem to take what they need.

There are lots of different opinions on diet and I think it is a bigger topic in the US because none of the other mixes are perfect either. To me, a sugar-free mix is important. Our Syrian had HH most of his life and was always healthy and lived to 2 years 8 months. More importantly it was about the only one he would eat! The pieces are a good size for a Syrian - a lot of mixes have itty bitty bits that get left.

I do think it's important to supplement any mix with some fresh food - daily veg, the occasional piece of plain chicken, beef or cheese. Our hammy had lots of fresh extras.

Personally I don't like any Hamster mixes. I hate that they are packed full of soya to achieve the protein levels required. They're all dried and nothing much fresh in there. I hate that there isn't an organic hamster mix available commercially, or a really high quality mix. But dog food is pretty rubbish as well! In the end our hamster ate better than we do lol. I used to get loads of fresh extras for him - pieces of fresh coconut, pecan nuts, brazil nuts - he had chicken, beef, grouse, pheasant - you name it. If we had roast meat he got a bit (no gravy though).

That's the way I came to terms with horrible hammy mixes - by giving lots of fresh extras - but they can go off in a big way if they don't get the regular nutrients.

An awful lot of other mixes may have some nicer ingredients - eg more seeds. But they don't have the right balance of nutrients and many have sugary things in or fruits with preservatives in etc.

I wrote to the manufacturers to clear up the rumour that Harry and Hazel Hamster contain BHA or BHT. They don't

Their reply is on this thread. I can see it must be very confusing if you're in the US and the label says 16% protein, which is a bit low. When the same formula in the Uk say 18% protein, but supplementing protein in the first year is a good idea anyway. Too much protein is bad as well apparently. I think up to 22% is fine. I did find though, that even with the most irresistable food - chicken or cheese - our Hammy would only eat a small amount and leave the rest - so they must have a natural instinct as well.

Harry Hamster is recommended by the Natural Hamster Council in the Uk. I think it can be very confusing for people as there are so many different opinions and a lot more different products in the US as well. Plus it's hard to go against the grain if everyone is telling you it's bad! It isn't the only option - but I think it's fine. I don't think any Hamster mix on its own is fine and hams do need some "real" or fresh food as well - for taste and variety as much as anything.

Supreme Petfoods letter is at the top of this thread.

Harry and Hazel Hamster

[chesca_27]

The only way to truly have a healthy balanced hamster diet is to create your own. It is exhausting but so rewarding. There are no loopholes and I know exactly what has been put into the mix, which Larry-Jasper enjoys. I can't take all the credit though, as Cypher helped me a fair bit. Larry-Jasper was at the vet the other day and the vet commented on how amazing and healthy Larry-Jasper looks, which I think is largely due to his diet.

I haven't heard about Harry/Hazel Hamster suddenly being bad. As Serendipity said, the formula is identical but the nutritional information reads differently due to varying laws on food analysis and how it needs to be structured.