Best Syrian diet

Drago · 12-26-2016, 08:03 PM

After much extensive research and lots of confusing and inconsistent answers, I've finally reached my wits end in my hunt for a good hamster food. Here's what I'm looking for: something that's NOT a homemade mix (I love my hams as much as anyone else, but I just don't have the time or resources nor the professional nutritionist knowledge to balance the exact protein % to all other aspects) I need a U.S based food as that is where I'm located (no Harry hamster available) and I need something that's actually high quality and nutritious. I hear that hazel hamster is the most nutritionally superior hamster mix, but upon asking in other places, people say it's full of dyes and artificial ingredients. I guess I'm just confused on what's best so I currently use Vitakraft Vitasmart (which has pretty good nutrional values) and supplement it with mealworms so it has added protein. Just looking for opinions on what it is I should choose. Thank you in advance.

AmityvilleHams · 12-26-2016, 08:11 PM

You could order food online,which would include Harry/Hazel Hamster food.You don't have to purchase food in store,if anything that is incredibly limiting and means you can only get a tiny percentage of decent quality foods and often pay way more unless you're lucky enough to find an alternative source with an option of using two foods and using a set measurement for mixing(not difficult,and there is information available if needed).

Currently my Syrian is on Carefresh hamster/gerbil food and Higgins Sunburst which is one good option,but another option would be Mazuri Rat and Mouse lab blocks with Higgins Sunburst.Harry/Hazel Hamster is the easiest though once you order it online,as you don't have to measure out more than one food.

Harry/Hazel Hamster previously had some bad ingredients,but the current formula is perfectly fine for Syrian hamsters.It is much better than a lot of Vitakraft foods(often contain dyes and odd unnecessary ingredients etc),along with being superior to most foods that are available.

Keep in mind while Higgins and Carefresh mixed would be wonderful and have no dyes it would need a bit of protein boosting,but nothing a few pieces of freeze dried chicken or some mealworms wouldn't fix

I'd suggest checking Doctors Foster and Smith for at least Carefresh food,and while they don't sell Higgins you can find that from other websites(Petco definitely sells it,but check others too).They sell quite a few useful products and even have some high quality treats,but one of the very useful budget saving deals is their price on Carefresh food which is good if mixed with another storebought food.

Pebbles82 · 12-27-2016, 02:48 AM

Amity knows more about US foods available than me, being there! But she is right that you can buy both Harry and Hazel Hamster online (Amazon sells them). Both Harry and Hazel Hamster are identical in formula. Harry Hamster is the Uk version, Hazel Hamster is the US version and the labelling laws are different in the US than Europe, so although the quantities sound a bit different, they are an identical mix - so it doesn't matter which one you get.

They do have some colourings in but don't have any other nasty additives. It's also one of the few sugar free hamster mixes and contains all the vitamins and nutrients and protein required. Although most people supplement the protein a bit via fresh food especially during a hammy's first year of life when they are growing. It's an easy option

You know they are getting what they need and are actually eating the food! I wouldn't worry about a few colourings added.

There isn't a perfect hamster mix in my opinion, but I like using something that is sugar free.

AmityvilleHams · 12-27-2016, 09:29 AM

I think that while it is unfortunate to have dyes in a food,it is certainly nowhere near as bad as for example having BHT/BHA/ethoxyquin or sulfur dioxide or having a food loaded with artificial sugar and artificial flavor and such.

Drago · 12-27-2016, 06:32 PM

Thank you both for the input! I think I will switch my little ones over to hazel hamster.

Pebbles82 · 12-28-2016, 11:23 AM

Can't remember what hammies you have, but for dwarf hamsters, a specific dwarf mix is best

A good sugar-free one is Burgess Dwarf Supahamster. Again it's a Uk/Europe mix but also available on Amazon.com. It's a very good mix and I don't think there is a specific dwarf mix available in the US.

AmityvilleHams · 12-28-2016, 12:20 PM

Burgess is also available from Viovet,I think Harry Hamster might be as well.There are some really nice things there too,so if you make an order you would definitely be taking advantage of getting an order by adding lots of useful products

Drago · 03-03-2017, 08:15 AM

Decided to bring this thread up again with another question rather than creating a new thread. Around the hamster community I've heard some recent controversy over Hazel/Harry hamster and how many feel it's no longer suitable. I'm quite confused as all ingredients are safe, natural, and contain all the nutrition a hamster would need (minus protein but you're not really getting that in any hamster food). What are your opinions on Hazel/Harry hamster? Why is it all of a sudden not considered suitable? There's not too many other good options out there for hamsters so what mix has become popular suddenly? The world of pet care is certainly a confusing one! Thank you to all who can clarify/give their opinions

cypher · 03-03-2017, 08:17 AM

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.
The world of pet care can be confusing, especially on the internet when someone somewhere may start off saying something that then spreads & becomes accepted even if it has no foundation!

AmityvilleHams · 03-03-2017, 08:20 AM

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.