Food question?

[Wylie]

Do these ingredients look ok to feed a female syrian hamster?

Whole Brown Rice, Oat Groats, Wheat Bran, Wheat, Soybean Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Soybean Hulls, Calcium Carbonate, Yeast Culture Dehydrated, Flax Seed Meal (Linseed), Inulin, Monocalcium Phosphate, Soy Oil, Methionine DL, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Wheat Germ Meal, Salt, Magnesium Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Natural Flavor, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Oxide, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-Monophosphate, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Cobalt Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K Activity), Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Crude Protein (min) 15.00%
Crude Fat (min) 4.00%
Crude Fiber (max) 7.00%
Moisture (max) 10.00%
Calcium (min) 0.80%
Calcium (max) 1.20%
Phosphorous (min) 0.80%

[Munchalot]

I don't think I've ever seen that composition before.... What brand is it?

In some aspects it looks okay, but in others I would be a little doubtful...

[Wylie]

It isn't hamster food, it is Oxbow's regal rat food. I ran out of Chicky's food so I gave her a few pieces of this until I can get her food. Hazel hamster is what I ran out of. She leaves the alfalfa pellets in the hazel hamster food in her bowl so I was thinking of switching foods. First internet search for oxbow food brought up regal rat for hamsters as well but I see now I did not scroll down the page far enough. I thought this can't be right. Her leaving the alfalfa pellets would not be a big deal except that seems to be most of the bag.

[GhostsInSnow]

Oxbrow is a decent mix for hamsters but I wouldn't feed her the rat food. Different animals have different dietary requirements

[Munchalot]

It should be fine in the mean time, but I wouldn't leave her on rat food for any real time. Rats have different nutritional requirements than hams, and she wouldn't be getting the right balance of nutrients for her species. For one, a rat formula would probably have more protein and less fat than a hamster mix, and different levels of vitamins and minerals.

[HorseyMandz]

It looks fine for a temporary mix until you're able to get some more hamster food, but I wouldn't leave her on it too long!

[JonasB]

I feed mine on Hamster&gerbil food from oxbow. As far as I can see, the consist of almost the same ingredients, but the food for hamster got more fiber and fat then Regal Rat and got less calcium. The rat food also got L-ascorbyl-2-Monophosphate, Copper Sulfate(hamster got protenate). Since Im not an expert on nutrition I cant say if this is dangerous for hamsters. Maybe someone else here can answer?

[Wylie]

I am, as of yet, undecided if I should stick with Hazel Hamsters or go with Oxbow. The gradual switch is kinda out the window at this point but I do not want to buy the Oxbow and have her shun it. Eh, either way she will be back on hamster food by the end of today.

Thank you all.

[countrygirl]

My little girl does not like the oxbow food, she won't touch it. She also leaves the pellets in her mix, so I'm not sure if they are similar and maybe that is why she won't eat it.

[Wylie]

I just got Hazel Hamster again, I did not want to chance having a whole bag go to waste, it isn't cheap! I remember when I used to buy hamster food for a couple bucks a big bag, times have changed a lot lol.