Diet for A Syrian Hamster

[SugarFairy123]

What's the best diet for Minnie , who recently turned 1 in October! Happy Belated Birthday Minnie ! I've done some research & most people are saying to have a diet rich in fibre and protein . So what are some safe foods that will benefit her ? And also what percentage of protein should her regular Mix have ?
THANK YOU ! 😀😀

[cypher]

You can't go wrong with Harry Hamster as a mix for syrians really, protein is about right for a year old ham at 18%, they don't need more by that age.
You can give veg daily in addition & as healthy treats seeds like sunflower, pumpkin, hemp & flax in moderation along with the occasional piece of nut, walnuts & brazils are probably the most popular, oats are often enjoyed & healthy too, most hams love porridge but not too much soft food at that age.

[AmityvilleHams]

I'd definitely go with Harry Hamster anywhere it is available,even if you must order it online!

Fiber is one of the less crucial nutrients,and getting it a bit low in a main diet isn't a big deal.You do want some,but nowhere near rabbit or guinea pig levels.Again,Harry Hamster is perfectly adequate

As for some extras that haven't been mentioned,it is fine for Syrians to occasionally have bits of dried fruit as a treat though this shouldn't be given more than once every 3-4 days if feeding small amounts.Be careful that there are no added ingredients like unsafe preservatives(mostly sulfur dioxide)or added sugar etc.Peanut/monkey nut is also a great nut option,and these can be a bit cheaper than some nuts but make sure to get plain peanuts with no salt.They can be roasted though!The main point is keeping it simple and natural instead of going for storebought junk,though there are some really nice storebought treats if you look hard enough

[Pebbles82]

Charlie is two and a half and he has Harry Hamster, plus a very small piece of fresh veg each day, plus an "extra" - either a piece of cheese, half a brazil nut or walnut, a raisin - or anything else fresh we have in that's suitable - coconut, plain cooked chicken. You can also give them a bit of scrambled egg on a spoon sometimes as well.

I tried a number of other mixes but the HH seems popular - the pieces are a good size for Syrians without too many tiny itty bits like some mixes, and it contains all the nutrients required. I do wish there was an organic hamster mix available, but I don't think there is.

A chew stick on the go is also quite essential, to help keep teeth in trim - Rosewood naturals make some good ones that have healthy herbs in too. Charlie likes the Dandelion sticks. Also antos mini toothbrush and crocodile chews are very popular with hamsters

[barley]

Harry Hamster seems to be the most popular for Syrians but Rupert never really liked it, so I would have a few different brands on the go for him and this seemed to work the best, he liked variety!

I always added a sprinkle of jumbo oats to his food and he liked the occasional piece of nut (brazil, hazel or cashew - all plain), dried pasta, dog kibble and millet.

He got fresh food every day as his tum seemed perfectly able to cope with it - I'd aim for veg six days, and fruit just once a week. Broccoli was his favourite but he really liked peas, carrot, sweetcorn and spinach too

[flowerfairy]

None of mine like the big colourful chunks in harry hamster or the green bits.

I found a lovely senior hamster food on rodipet. It comes in a plastic air tight box with a little plastic scoop.

[georgie]

Some cooked egg white is probably the best source of protein, highly recommend it