Good food available in Canada

countrygirl · 01-21-2013, 05:11 PM

Just wondering for those of you in Canada - what, in your opinion, is the best commercially available food? I have two different kinds of foods for Tati - one is full of grains, nuts, seeds and is "balanced for hamsters and gerbils". It came with the cage I bought. Being a former bunny owner, I wasn't sold on the idea of lots of grains/nuts/seeds, so I also bought her the Oxbow Essentials. After reading more about hamster nutrition, I decided to feed her a combination of the two to start with.... and pick out the corn because she is likely a hybrid and prone to diabetes. For that reason I've also stayed away from the treats and fruits. But I'm sort of confused with all the different choices available. I want to feed her the best thing possible.... and I figure there is something wrong with the idea that a food can be balanced for two different species (hamsters and gerbils). So any recommendations would be awesome! Thanks!

HammieandMerlin · 01-21-2013, 05:18 PM

The best food available is from the UK, but named differently here. It's called Hazel Hamster

You can get it at Petsmart too, which is fabulous. It has the best commercially available percentages out of all of them

HollyHamster · 01-21-2013, 06:16 PM

I feed my hamsters a combination of Hazel Hamster and Ecotrition, mainly because I can't get access to Hazel Hamster all the time (and because its a tad pricey). I just mix a bag of each together in my food storage container to give the hams. You can mix it with any other high quality brand of food if you want.

If I were you, Country, I would also pick out the flaked peas from the Hazel Hamster mix, as they are also high in natural sugars.

countrygirl · 01-21-2013, 06:54 PM

Great thanks for the info! I will go out and get her some tomorrow.

HammieandMerlin · 01-21-2013, 07:49 PM

Good stuff, I always buy a few bags at a time, in case they're ever out, because they're the only store I've found yet that carries it

The Hamster's family · 01-21-2013, 08:53 PM

I feed my hams with Versele-Laga + mealworms threats. It was suggested by someone I trust about hamster nutrition... =) Never saw Hazel Hamster in Quebec...

Annie xx

HammieandMerlin · 01-21-2013, 09:50 PM

I think the only Canadian venue is Petsmart, so theoretically even if there isn't one in your area (which if I recall correctly there isn't) you can order it online, but I wouldn't ever order from there unless I was spending 49.99 to get shipping for 4.00, because otherwise it's outrageous @__@

samzyzg · 01-22-2013, 03:32 AM

Its one of the reasons i'm kinda glad I'm in the uk. But hazel hamster is a well known good brand (Harry hamster over here I think its called). If you have a diabetic prone hammy then its best to pull out some of the bits as said above, I think oats are good thing to supplement back in to make up (but don't necessarily take my word on it i'm not very knowledgeable in nutrition, just from things i've read).

The Hamster's family · 01-22-2013, 04:17 AM

Will be taking good note about Hazel Hamster at Petsmart ! Thanks !

I will need to search what's best fo Robos here, in Quebec/Canada...

Annie xx

countrygirl · 01-24-2013, 07:25 PM

Tonight I finally got to PetSmart, all excited to get some Hazel Hamster.... But nothing, they didn't any, not even a spot for it. I probably stared at the food display for like 10 minutes trying to find it lol! So I think I might call around to a couple of other stores and see if they have any in stock. I did however decide Tati needed a treat, so I got her some freeze dried meal worms.... Wow those things are so gross! She loved it though