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01-27-2019, 06:18 PM
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#1
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 7
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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
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01-30-2019, 07:57 AM
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#3
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Little Miss Tinytoes>
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 7,036
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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.
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02-10-2019, 04:43 AM
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#4
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Crawley, UK
Posts: 125
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Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by buttercuplols
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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
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02-10-2019, 04:51 AM
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#5
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 3,190
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Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximus
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
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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!
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Popcorn Syrian
Owning Hamsters since Nov 2007
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02-10-2019, 04:58 AM
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#6
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Crawley, UK
Posts: 125
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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
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02-19-2019, 04:45 PM
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#7
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: United States
Posts: 15
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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.
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02-22-2019, 08:15 PM
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#8
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 7
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Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by mangoandmimi
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.
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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
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02-22-2019, 08:16 PM
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#9
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 7
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Re: Types of foods I should include in my hamster's diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by buttercuplols
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Thank you, I'll definitely be using this a ton!
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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 |
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