Supreme science selective thoughts?

xKat · 08-04-2017, 12:03 PM

So today I bought a bag of the supreme science selective hamster food. Until now I have always been using Hope farms mixed food, but my hamster has become overweight and very picky, he leaves all the green chunks behind.

I talked to the pet shop employee, and he told me this is the best balanced food out there. But as it's all compressed and all the same, I feel like it will be unnatural for my hamster. I already gave him one piece and he did nibble on it for a second, but then went back to his usual food.

It contains:
Protein 19.0%, Crude fibre 5.0%, Fat content 5.0%, Inorganic matter 5.5%.

My question is, can I feed him these as his daily food (along with fresh veggies and mealworms from time to time)? And are they actually good for my hamster?

CMB · 08-04-2017, 12:12 PM

I don't like the idea of using a pellet/block food for the main diet, as It would be boring for the hamster.

Have a look at threads, YouTube and other internet advice for dealing with hamsters who are picky eaters.

You could give less of your hamsters normal food and give some science selective. Or give normal food one day then science selective the next. You may need/want to adjust how often you give each food to suit your hamster.

Drago · 08-04-2017, 12:12 PM

I don't personally like science selective as a sole diet. A diet that is only lab block isn't typically suitable for hamsters. Hamsters should have a muesli as their main diet, and have pellets/lab blocks as add-ons only. Besides that, the protein is a bit too high IMHO, and the fiber is too low. I don't know much about Hope hamster food so a link would help, but I wouldn't recommend science selective for a young and fairly healthy hamster. Picky eating (ignoring those pellets and green bits) is not at all unusual for a hamster. Hamsters also don't tend to become fat as they don't typically overeat. A hamster who is overly fat typically has a more critical, underlying problem. I'd just keep him on his current diet as long as it's nutritionally suitable

Aising · 08-04-2017, 12:38 PM

I bought five bags of it online for my new, rescue hammy - and she wouldn't touch it! I had hoped to use it as a base but Percy had other thoughts.

Gemma_xo · 08-04-2017, 05:04 PM

I use these in my hamsters diet, I give them a mix of Burgess Dwarf Hamster Harvest and JR Dwarf Hamster Feast with added bits & bobs and they get a handful (~5) of the science selective biscuits broken up (they're dwarf hamsters & the biscuits seem a little big to leave in whole) and added in to their bowl too, that way they get the complete diet with the biscuits (so far both hamsters did eat the heart biscuits, the new arrival is yet to be established) even if they are picky with the mixed foods and/or add ins.

cypher · 08-04-2017, 10:37 PM

I don't think the Hope farms food is a particularly high quality food so you might do better to switch to Harry Hamster if you can get it where you are which most syrians are happy to eat & will only usually leave a few of the pellets in that, if not continue using your current mix then maybe add in a small proportion of the science selective, I wouldn't recommend using science selective alone.

LokiWolf · 08-04-2017, 11:56 PM

When I still had hamsters, all were Roborovskis, the food I settled on was a mix of Hazel/Harry Hamster and Supreme Science Selective with a sprinkle of millet. Some of my Robos were picky with the Hazel Hamster so I added Supreme Science and they really liked the two together. The millet was the loose kind which I got from an organic health store; a few of my Robos couldn't figure out millet sprays and one Robo I had was prone to health issues always came out to the sound of the loose millet so it gave me a regular look at her to see if she'd fallen ill again.

racinghamster · 08-05-2017, 01:16 AM

I used Science Selective for hamsters that were older and these biscuits can be soaked and added to soft food, or broken up into smaller pieced using a tap in a pestle & mortar, so they are very useful in that respect so it`s always a good idea to have a spare bag in. They smell meaty.

I had mainly dwarf hamsters and used a variety of hamster mixes. Burgess dwarf food, JR Farm dwarf food from Zooplus and fed some raw veg and crushed mixed nuts that I bought in small handy sized bags from Lidl/Aldo or other supermarkets. My hamsters loved variety, so don`t be afraid to mix and match! x