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Old 05-01-2019, 12:43 AM   #1
Mawuu
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Question Picky eater, would like to change diet

I've spoiled my girl and it's getting a little out of hand. In the beginning, she wasn't much of a picky eater but now she only wants flax seeds and sunflower seeds, barely touches anything else in her bowl.

She also hoards everywhere under the bedding. I understand hoarding is normal but its a crazy amount that goes uneaten and needs to be thrown out because it's either pee'd on or old.

For the moment I've taken her food bowl out and spread her food across the cage so that she can forage for it. I feed her a mix of tropical carnivals gourmet food and farm fresh fixings + added flax seeds. (Food links below)
https://www.chewy.com/browns-tropica...ster/dp/124625
https://www.chewy.com/browns-tropica...resh/dp/124615

What would be the best way for me to get her to eat all of her food? and if you have any recommendations to add to her diet, things I should take out of her diet that would be much appreciated >v<)/

Also Quick Note: I want to add millet,oat and wheat spray in her cage to forage from and if possible timothy hay? Would those be safe for her diet?
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Old 05-01-2019, 01:35 AM   #2
alpacassei
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Default Re: Picky eater, would like to change diet

Millet, oat, wheat, and timothy hay are all perfectly safe!

Unfortunately that food isnt the best, they contain a lot of dried fruit, pasta and for some reason pretzels? The protein is also very low and needs supplementing (mealworms, shrimp,
). As far as I know the best complete mix in the US is Harry/Hazel hamster but for a dearf you’d want to feed a variety of extra seeds, insects, and herbs.

A lot of people feed Higgins Sunburst mixed with Maxuri lab blocks as well.
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Old 05-01-2019, 01:58 AM   #3
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Picky eater, would like to change diet

I agree they’re not the best mixes. Tbh I think one of the better options for a hybrid in the US is Higgins vita garden with added protein, preferably in the form of insects (up protein to maybe 18% for an adult). There are smaller pieces in there and no added sugar/dried fruit which is best avoided. None of my dwarfs have enjoyed Harry/hazel hamster as a very large portion of it has always been pellets unfortunately.
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Old 05-01-2019, 09:50 PM   #4
Mawuu
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Default Re: Picky eater, would like to change diet

Quote:
Originally Posted by alpacassei View Post
Millet, oat, wheat, and timothy hay are all perfectly safe!

Unfortunately that food isnt the best, they contain a lot of dried fruit, pasta and for some reason pretzels? The protein is also very low and needs supplementing (mealworms, shrimp,
). As far as I know the best complete mix in the US is Harry/Hazel hamster but for a dearf you’d want to feed a variety of extra seeds, insects, and herbs.

A lot of people feed Higgins Sunburst mixed with Maxuri lab blocks as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mangoandmimi View Post
I agree they’re not the best mixes. Tbh I think one of the better options for a hybrid in the US is Higgins vita garden with added protein, preferably in the form of insects (up protein to maybe 18% for an adult). There are smaller pieces in there and no added sugar/dried fruit which is best avoided. None of my dwarfs have enjoyed Harry/hazel hamster as a very large portion of it has always been pellets unfortunately.
Thanks guys, I'll be changing her diet then~! Hopefully this will help her to eat more ^^! For the mealworms how many would you recommend a day?
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Old 05-02-2019, 08:58 AM   #5
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Picky eater, would like to change diet

I mean you can work out exactly how many extras you need if you work out total mealworms needed then add them to the mix and store it all in a container. Either that or if you know how long she takes to get through a bag you can work out # of mealworms a day.
To be honest though you're probably only looking at about 2 mealworms a day give or take - don't know how old she is but that would probably do it if she's an adult. But as she gets over 1.5 years old you may want to reduce the number of them a bit to lower protein. So eventually maybe 1 a day to every few days would be fine. Like I said I haven't done the maths properly but an extra mealworm here or there isn't going to make a huge difference.

Oops I wrote that assuming you were going to feed a mix low in protein (15-16% say). If it’s something like Harry hamster you really won’t have to add much more protein as it’s already around the right level.
I do recommend changing the mix itself if you weren't already going to do that as tbh 10-12% protein is just too low to work with, you'd have to be adding a huge amount of animal protein which wouldn't be ideal.

Last edited by mangoandmimi; 05-02-2019 at 02:40 PM.
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