Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Feeding/Nutrition

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-27-2019, 06:18 PM   #1
earthybabie
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 7
Question Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

Hello everyone! I've recently been doing some research and trying to upgrade my long haired Syrian's quality of life, and I'm having a bit of trouble finding specific information on what should be included in his diet. I've been feeding him Oxbow Essentials Hamster and Girbil Food and Oxbow Garden Select Hamster and Girbil Food, but after a bit of reading and watching videos about diet, I wanted to hear some expert opinions on how I can improve his food. He is five months old and doesn't seem to be very picky with food as far as I can tell. If you have any links, advice, or lists about the subject, it would be much appreciated! Thanks a ton
earthybabie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2019, 12:59 PM   #2
buttercuplols
Hamster Pup
 
buttercuplols's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 165
Default Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

Hiya

This is a useful page to check out for starters...

Safe and Unsafe Food and Plants - Hamster Central WIKI

Good luck!
buttercuplols is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2019, 07:57 AM   #3
mangoandmimi
Little Miss Tinytoes
 
mangoandmimi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 7,036
Default Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

Has he just been fed pellets as a main diet then? The current diet is not suitable for hamsters unfortunately, they need a high variety seed mix as opposed to pellets. There aren't too many options unfortunately, Hazel hamster should be available and is fine to feed by itself, your Syrian would probably do ok on it but I wouldn't say it's a brilliant mix. If it was me I would probably try higgins vita garden instead but I don't know if it's much better to be honest. It would need supplementing with animal protein - freeze dried chicken, mealworms, crickets if your hamster likes them. I'm sure there are others but can't remember any.

Buttercuplols has linked a good list of additional treats that can be fed. Don't know if you are already feeding fresh veg but it's a good idea to add a small amount in regularly, they're healthy and hamsters really enjoy them. Start off every few days and you'll be able to increase to daily before long. You can feed a bit of fruit too from time to time, check what ones are safe first, but not too much as they can be acidic and high in sugar. Nuts from time to time are good too, walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts either in or out the shell.

Last edited by mangoandmimi; 01-30-2019 at 08:07 AM.
mangoandmimi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2019, 04:43 AM   #4
Maximus
Hamster Pup
 
Maximus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Crawley, UK
Posts: 125
Default Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

Quote:
Originally Posted by buttercuplols View Post
Hiya

This is a useful page to check out for starters...

Safe and Unsafe Food and Plants - Hamster Central WIKI

Good luck!
Buttercuplols - I was under the impression hamsters couldn’t have almonds, peaches or apricots (being from the same family)?? Have I made this up in my head? #feelingconfused
__________________
Adoring mummy of Merlin and Oslo
Never forgotten Maxi, Bear, Honey and Mustard
Maximus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2019, 04:51 AM   #5
SKB_Hamsters
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
SKB_Hamsters's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 3,186
Default Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximus View Post
Buttercuplols - I was under the impression hamsters couldn’t have almonds, peaches or apricots (being from the same family)?? Have I made this up in my head? #feelingconfused
Almonds, Peaches and Plum are from the same family - Prunus.
Hamster can have almonds as long as they are sweet almonds - as bitter almonds are toxic even to humans.
Plum and peaches are perfectly safe to feed to hamsters - it is the stone and the wood that is toxic. This is the same for any fruit which has a stone in it.

Edited - after posting remembered almonds are prunus too!
__________________
Popcorn Syrian

Owning Hamsters since Nov 2007
SKB_Hamsters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2019, 04:58 AM   #6
Maximus
Hamster Pup
 
Maximus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Crawley, UK
Posts: 125
Default Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

I’ve denied my babies all their lives!! Haha I feel so bad! Well i suppose they won’t miss what they never had. And they had plenty else to make up for it!
__________________
Adoring mummy of Merlin and Oslo
Never forgotten Maxi, Bear, Honey and Mustard
Maximus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2019, 04:45 PM   #7
Yvo123kas
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: United States
Posts: 15
Default Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

Thanks buttercuplols for the link to safe hammy foods. It helps quite a bit.
Yvo123kas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2019, 08:15 PM   #8
earthybabie
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 7
Default Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

Quote:
Originally Posted by mangoandmimi View Post
Has he just been fed pellets as a main diet then? The current diet is not suitable for hamsters unfortunately, they need a high variety seed mix as opposed to pellets. There aren't too many options unfortunately, Hazel hamster should be available and is fine to feed by itself, your Syrian would probably do ok on it but I wouldn't say it's a brilliant mix. If it was me I would probably try higgins vita garden instead but I don't know if it's much better to be honest. It would need supplementing with animal protein - freeze dried chicken, mealworms, crickets if your hamster likes them. I'm sure there are others but can't remember any.

Buttercuplols has linked a good list of additional treats that can be fed. Don't know if you are already feeding fresh veg but it's a good idea to add a small amount in regularly, they're healthy and hamsters really enjoy them. Start off every few days and you'll be able to increase to daily before long. You can feed a bit of fruit too from time to time, check what ones are safe first, but not too much as they can be acidic and high in sugar. Nuts from time to time are good too, walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts either in or out the shell.
This is very helpful, I've decided to switch over to Hazel Hamster over the course of this week after a bit of research. I do give him fresh greens occasionally, and I'm making it a habit to give them once a week instead of at more random intervals. I've also tried supplementing mealworms, but he isn't a fan. Chicken will be my next try; I have a feeling he'll like it better. Thank you all for the help
earthybabie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2019, 08:16 PM   #9
earthybabie
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 7
Default Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet

Quote:
Originally Posted by buttercuplols View Post
Hiya

This is a useful page to check out for starters...

Safe and Unsafe Food and Plants - Hamster Central WIKI

Good luck!
Thank you, I'll definitely be using this a ton!
earthybabie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
food, diet, bit, hamster, oxbow, girbil, foods, picky, improve, opinions, months, subject, appreciated, ton, lists, expert, links, advice, include, trouble, recently, finding, specific, information, life

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:53 PM.