dwarf hamster food

[student1304]

Got my Chinese dwarf hamster a few days ago from p@h adoption centre he's been there for 4/5 months and they've been feeding him the normal hamster muesli. So i've got him some of burgess dwarf hamster harvest mix today.

So my question is how should I introduce this to his diet? and how long before I can put him completely on the new mix?

I'm thinking on starting half the new mix and half the old mix for a week or so, before putting him fully on it.
What are everyones thoughts? would appreciate advice.

[Silver]

Hello Student1304.

I would give half the old mix & half the new mix every time you would normally feed him.

BUT I would take out the pea flakes & the corn because he is a chinese he is diabete's prone so you need to take out anything which is high in sugar once digested which pea flakes & corn are.

I have myself after 9 months of reaserch made a Dwarf hamster mix which has been specially made for diabetes prone dwarf hamsters.

I do not get any of the profits so am not pushing it to make money. I made the mix because I also have a diabetes prone hamster & was fed up having to buy a hamster mix & take bits out. With my mix the hammy can have it all. Here is a link to the website that sells it

Dwarf Hamster - Basic - £1.92 : ratRations.com

Silver xxx

[student1304]

thankyou, how long do you think I should give him half and half before giving him a full dish of the new stuff?

and thankyou for the link! I have been reading posts about your mix so I shall have to invest in some. Is your mix suitable for syrians as well?

[Silver]

I have just made a Syrian mix which has been tested on Syrians & they loved it. Just fiddling with the amount of fruit then it will go on sale on the same website. I will let you all know when it does. Hopefully not long now but all depends when the website has time to tweek it.

I would give half & half for three weeks on the fourth week just the new mix.

Silver xxx

[student1304]

thanks, very helpful

[njwilde]

This thread comes just in time. I will be rehoming a Roborowski next week and as I never had one before I have been reading loads and although some is very helpful, especially on here but other "official" hamster sites confuse me. I also read that they are prone to Diabetes. As I wouldn't have made the connection with the pea flakes and corn, is there anything else that is not obvious they really cannot have?
And as treats, what's useful: A lot of veg and fruit and I 've heard about pasta before, too, but any other treats? I bookmarked the link with the normal food so I can order some this week. The owner will still have some left but I do not know how much so Id rather be prepared. Ooh, I am excited about Poppy coming to live with us but I am also overparanoid now with the food I think

[SnickersTheFirst]

Originally Posted by njwilde

This thread comes just in time. I will be rehoming a Roborowski next week and as I never had one before I have been reading loads and although some is very helpful, especially on here but other "official" hamster sites confuse me. I also read that they are prone to Diabetes. As I wouldn't have made the connection with the pea flakes and corn, is there anything else that is not obvious they really cannot have?
And as treats, what's useful: A lot of veg and fruit and I 've heard about pasta before, too, but any other treats? I bookmarked the link with the normal food so I can order some this week. The owner will still have some left but I do not know how much so Id rather be prepared. Ooh, I am excited about Poppy coming to live with us but I am also overparanoid now with the food I think

Roborovski's are fine to have pea flakes etc. as they are not prone to diabetes The diabetes prone species as Russian Hybrids, Campbells and Chinese.

[Silver]

Hello njwilde,

Robo's are not diabetes prone so you can feed a little corn & pea flakes. But I would not recomend the sugary hamster treats found in pet shops.

For treats that are good I feed some of these:

Nuts! only a small amount each day because they are fatty

Dari Nibble Cob - Naturals Range this is a big spike of Dari so break some off & give it to the ham to pick off while you hold it or put in cage.

Millet spray they are big so break some off & hold it while hammy pulls off the millet

Mix some Puffs up, Puffed Rice, Millet & Buckwheat (make sure the ingredients is 100% & no added anything can be found in health food shops)

Saflower seeds

Rice cake (with no salt again may need to visit a health food shop)

Broccoli

French bean

Runner bean

Sprout

Cabbage

Clover cookies Naturals range

Shrimp cookies Naturals range

Also a little cooked pasta

Cooked Chicken

Cooked egg

Also a good hamster mix for every day food. If you wanted to buy mine you could feed any of the three mix's as Robo's are not diabetes prone. Here's the link Dwarf Hamster - Basic - £1.92 : ratRations.com

Or people feed Burgess Dwarf hamster harvest, Burgess hamster harvest, or Harry Hamster.

[njwilde]

Awww, thank you so much, this is really appreciated! I now have gathered all relevant food for her in a notepad and it seems I ll be able to give her a good varied diet without fretting whether it ll agree with her. The previous owner has not given me much info so far, apart from that she likes cucumber, sunflower seeds and Markies puppy biscuits and that she does not like bananas. But maybe when I pick her up I ll get more info.

She is also allergic to sawdust and has different bedding but now I am wondering whether it could affect her being in the same room with Woody and my guinea pigs, which do have sawdust in their cages. or will it just be a skin problem? I know from the forum that many of you use different bedding, is the allergy common? If it's a problem for her being in the same room it will still not be a problem, we have another spare room. It may sound silly to you but I know my sister has some funny allergies, like dust, so she sneezes when sawdust is around as well and I d rather not upset the little Poppy (that's Miss Robo's name ) as I am sure it will unsettle her being in a different surrounding and with a different owner. She comes with her cage so, that's at least nice.

[Silver]

That one I don't know as i'm lucky my three have been ok on shavings

Silver xxx