[Pebbles82]

I meant to add/second/third to the anti Oxbow diet! It really is bad for hamsters - fine for rabbits - far too much roughage for hamsters.

The other reason a muesli mix is better for hamsters is, one of their main purposes in life is foraging - it keeps them happy and healthy. they like rummaging through and sorting the food, or finding their favourite bits scattered on the substrate (although it might seem like they are being selective, I never find any leftover food if I have scattered a bit of it).

Your link above didn't work for me - but assume it was to Versele Laga? Not the worst in the world but I think the protein levels are a bit low and the sugars a bit high.

Not knowing much about mixes available in the Us I often recommend Harry or Hazel Hamster (Identical mix with different labelling for different countries). Which I do know a bit about. Some will say it is not the best quality mix for ingredients, and other mixes have more grains. But it actually contains everything a hamster needs.

The protein levels are correct at 18% and all the other levels are correct too - it is sugar free (and there are very few mixes which are sugar free), the pieces are a good size for a Syrian (it's also ok for a dwarf hamster but they do like smaller seeds as well - which could be supplemented). I personally don't find the ingredients that bad at all. It has nice whole sunflower seeds in and pumpin seeds and whole monkey nuts (peanuts in their shells). The biscuit type pieces are more like an all in one food but the hamsters like them. They can tend to leave the brown pellets (but that's ok as they are mostly fibre). It's always recommended to give a small (very small) piece of fresh veg daily for a hamster, whatever mix you use, and they get roughage from that too. And they really love and look forward to the bit of fresh veg.

The easy thing about the Harry/Hazel Hamster mixes is you don't have to worry about supplementing to get the levels right - it contains everything needed. But you can still supplement for variety. I use pumpkin seeds as treats, the occasional half a walnut (there aren't that many monkey nuts in the mix so an extra nut or two is always popular) or half a brazil nut (which is good for the immune system). Also a pinch of linseeds on a separate dish (this is really good for their fur and skin health).

For the first year a hamster does need at least 18% protein and more is ok. It's fine to give them a tiny bit of cooked meat if you've had it for dinner! Eg a bit of roast chicken or roast bit - really tiny bit though or they'll pouch it and save it for later (not good as then you have to check the hoard). They love meat! EG plain cooked roast chicken or beef but not anything with any gravy or spices etc.

For their second year, when older, they need less protein and you can in fact give them too much then which can exacerbate kidney problems as they get older. So it's fine to keep using Harry/Hazel hamster but go easy on any extras that are high in protein.

Sugar free if possible, is important. Hamsters can also get sugar related illnesses and tooth decay! If their teeth get painful in old age they can't eat properly and end up having to have soft food - then their front teeth don't get the benefit of hard food to keep them trim and can overgrow.

For dwarf hamsters a sugar free mix is highly important as dwarf hybrids (and other species of dwarf hamster) are prone to diabetes. Virtually all russian dwarf hamsters are hybrids, even if sold as campbells or winter whites. Still hybrids of both.