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Old 08-30-2018, 08:35 PM   #11
SergeantZoo
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
There's been a lot of debate in the past about Harry/Hazel Hamster Both are exactly the same formula but the licensing laws in different countries mean the formula is stated differently. So in the Uk it says 18% and on the US packets it says 16%. I checked all this out by writing to the manufacturers. It's a legal thing that they have to put the minimum possible amount of protein based on the way it's calculated in the US but it is actually 18% There is a lot of bad press about it which I think is unwarranted. It's a good mix and a good safe diet for a hamster - it contains all the nutrients required without supplementing and is sugar free - which is important. Not many mixes are sugar free. It may not contain some of the variety of ingredients some other mixes have but you can supplement for variety with treats, extras and veg - veg should be supplemented anyway. The pieces are a good size for Syrian hamsters and it is very popular with Syrian hamsters (ie they aren't picky with it and tend to take all of it).

In the Uk it is recommended by the National Hamster council. You can't go wrong with it really. There are other mixes that don't have the correct balance of nutrients, protein and vitamins and that takes a lot more working out to get it right.

Burgess is good too on paper but my hamster wouldn't eat it! Bunny dream is good - and I use that mixed with another mix - but - the pieces are very tiny and a lot gets left. As mentioned it takes quite a bit of working out if they don't eat all of a mix. The Rodipet mixes have very good ingredients and they have a new organic mix - their mixes are lower in protein than most so I supplement it - however the Germans use this mix and don't have any problems - but they probably supplement too.

Harry Hamster is now called Tiny Friends Harry Hamster (used to be supreme) - it's based in the Uk where it's manufactured so they know the percentages of what is in it. There was also a rumour on the internet about it containing BHA and BHT - which is not the case - it doesn't.

Anyway - your hammy will be fine with it! It's a very popular hamster food and recommended for Syrian hamsters by the National Hamster council for a number of reasons - size of pieces (easier for them), containing all the nutrients and vitamins required, correct protein and no sugar. There are some food colourings listed but I wouldn't worry about that.

It is also important to supplement with some fresh food and they do love fresh food! A small piece of veg each day (broccoli, cucumber and carrot are the three I tend to rotate), the occasional bit of plain cooked chicken, beef or any other meat - ie if you've had a roast that week - but no gravy sauces or spices so roasted meat best. I also give the occasional nut as a supplement/treat which always goes down well - shelled walnut, brazil nut, plain unsalted cashew nut, pecan nut. I give half a brazil nut a week - its supposed to be very good for the immune system and is also additional protein. I give a nut most nights but mostly it gets pouched and hoarded so they don't eat too much. Half a walnut goes down a storm and our hammy often begs for another one!

Versele Laga looks good but doesn't have the right balance of nutrients and protein and has sugar in. It's not generally recommended on here as a main hamster mix. I don't know much about the Johnson's one.
hmm I see. But even if the GA is correct I still don’t believe it’s a good food. I’m not saying it’s a horrible food but there are much better and healthier options.

Both bunny’s are great in variety but will need a protein booster such as Purebites.

The Burgess foods are also pretty good but I’d recommend the Burgess SupaHamster Dwarf over the normal one.

Versele Laga is a good food because of its amazing variety but like most mixes, it can’t be fed alone because the protein is too low, fat is a little bit high, and fiber is pretty low.

Mr. Johnson’s Supreme Hamster and Gerbil is this one Mr Johnson's Supreme Hamster & Gerbil It has great variety but will need a fiber booster which feels weird saying since it’s normally protein needing to be boosted lol

I guess it’s not normal for people from the UK to mix foods? since you guys are pretty lucky to have foods with suitable GA’s
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Old 08-30-2018, 08:44 PM   #12
Drago
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

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Originally Posted by SergeantZoo View Post
Hamsters are omnivores though so protein is still very important. 16% protein is definitely not good for a growing hamster and I’d only suggest it for an elder one. Most quality mixes have a good fiber percentage so that is why it’s never really an issue. Either aren’t good foods and I wouldn’t recommend it unless it’s better than any other available options but in the UK there are better foods than Harry.

Harry/Hazel lack variety, have food dyes, and are overall not good quality.
Somewhere around 18% is generally best for a growing hamster. However, after they’ve done a majority of their growing, they certainly do not need such a high amount of protein. One must also account for the fact that they’ll be getting much more protein via treats, vegetables, and other supplements. Studies done on hamster diets have concluded that hamsters don’t need such a high amount. In the end, it’s a pretty good mix as Serendipity has already mentioned. It’s downfall however, is that it does indeed, lack in variety.
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Old 08-30-2018, 09:24 PM   #13
SergeantZoo
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

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Originally Posted by Drago View Post
Somewhere around 18% is generally best for a growing hamster. However, after they’ve done a majority of their growing, they certainly do not need such a high amount of protein. One must also account for the fact that they’ll be getting much more protein via treats, vegetables, and other supplements. Studies done on hamster diets have concluded that hamsters don’t need such a high amount. In the end, it’s a pretty good mix as Serendipity has already mentioned. It’s downfall however, is that it does indeed, lack in variety.
19% - 20% would be better suited to a growing hamster. But for an adult I don’t think it should drop to 16%. 17% - 18% should be a reasonable percentage.

Supplements are extras though. There will be people who might not feed them as often or won’t feed as much of it or may feed different types of fresh foods so you have to take in to account that the main diet should be suitable on its own without any extras that won’t be properly measured.

May I get a citation of the studies?
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Old 08-31-2018, 12:11 PM   #14
Pebbles82
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

I think the letter is on the forum somewhere - I’ll see if I can find it. It does seem silly that the exact same formula says 16% in the US and 18% in the Uk �� But different countries have different legislation as to what is classed as a gla or whatever. I think Harry Hamster is very good for new owners who just want a mix that includes everything without worrying about having to work things out out or supplement. My big bugbear is that most mixes rely solely on soya for protein. Hence I mix Bunny and Rodipet but need to supplement the protein. And our hammy doesn’t eat the mealworms so I have to add extra protein as well. But jammies take what they need sometimes. If you give them scrambled egg on a teaspoon or a piece of chicken I’ve found they’ll eat some and leave some.

It can be individual as well. A good variety mix may be disliked by some hamsters and we need to make sure they get the nutrients. HH is good for that as they tend to eat all of it.
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Old 08-31-2018, 02:36 PM   #15
SergeantZoo
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
I think the letter is on the forum somewhere - I’ll see if I can find it. It does seem silly that the exact same formula says 16% in the US and 18% in the Uk �� But different countries have different legislation as to what is classed as a gla or whatever. I think Harry Hamster is very good for new owners who just want a mix that includes everything without worrying about having to work things out out or supplement. My big bugbear is that most mixes rely solely on soya for protein. Hence I mix Bunny and Rodipet but need to supplement the protein. And our hammy doesn’t eat the mealworms so I have to add extra protein as well. But jammies take what they need sometimes. If you give them scrambled egg on a teaspoon or a piece of chicken I’ve found they’ll eat some and leave some.

It can be individual as well. A good variety mix may be disliked by some hamsters and we need to make sure they get the nutrients. HH is good for that as they tend to eat all of it.
Most owners do fine mixing hamster foods. It’s not complicated at all really and it’s necessary for American and Canadian owners to do.

Here’s an example:
600 grams (One full bag)of Bunny Dwarf = 15.5% protein, 6.3% fat, 8% fiber
31 grams (One full bag)of PureBites Chicken Breast for Cats = 74% protein, 3% fat, 1% fiber

= 18.4% protein, 6.1% fat, 7.6% fiber

That combination would give you a good GA and nice variety all by simply mixing two full bags of each.

Basically I find that Harry Hamster is suitable but not ideal.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say that some hamster don’t like variety. It’s in their nature to eat many different types of seeds and grains and foods. But yes they do have preferences and may dislike some foods. Hamsters won’t let themselves starve to death so they’ll eventually have to chow down on their hoards to get all the nutrients they need.
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Old 09-01-2018, 02:34 AM   #16
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

I think we've gone a little bit off topic here as the OP asked for a recommendation for a food that is a better option than Wagg and is readily available in the UK. This is not really the thread for going into depth about the GA of Harry Hamster or specific foods.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
In the Uk it is recommended by the National Hamster council. You can't go wrong with it really. There are other mixes that don't have the correct balance of nutrients, protein and vitamins and that takes a lot more working out to get it right.
I just thought I'd mention (with my NHC PRO hat on) that The National Hamster Council's agreement with Harry Hamster has now finished and they no longer endorse the food as an organisation. However many breeders still choose to recommend the food to those who are wanting a relatively accessible and complete mix.
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Old 09-01-2018, 02:47 AM   #17
Pebbles82
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

Thank you Fluffagrams - I didn't know that
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Old 09-01-2018, 02:50 AM   #18
Pebbles82
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

To hamsterlover poster You asked for something you could easily get in the Uk better than the Wagg food so a few of us suggested Harry Hamster. There are alternatives as you can see above - but most need ordering online. Bunny Dream hamster food is sold by Zooplus, Rodipet in Germany make a specific Syrian mix - both of these can get a bit expensive due to the postage unless you order in bulk, and both need the protein supplementing.

Also in the Uk is the the Burgess Supahamster (for Syrians) - not easily available - some pet shops have it and Amazon sometimes sells it. That is a good mix on its own with enough protein. The pieces are a bit small I find.

Sergeant Zoo thank you for the example of working out percentages for mixes - I have never had much experience of that but haven't needed it - and it is helpful to see how that is worked out. There are also different opinions on whether these things need to be exact. Many people do an ad hoc supplementation by giving scrambled egg, porridge and healthy treats and with all mixes hamsters will only eat what they want - not always what you give them! I find it hard finding freeze dried chicken in the Uk.
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Old 09-03-2018, 07:26 AM   #19
randomthing42
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

Does anyone know where to get harry hamster the cheapest, pets at home do it for £2 and usually do a discount for one species of tiny friends in their vip magazines, not sure who's for autumn magazine though.
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Old 09-03-2018, 01:40 PM   #20
Pebbles82
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Default Re: what hamster mix?

£2 isn't bad. I've tended to buy it from Amazon or viovet and it's been between £3 and £4 and postage as well sometimes.
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