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Old 07-06-2014, 04:01 AM   #1
rachierelish
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Default Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

Hi there! So I'm hopefully bringing home a bundle of hamster joy soon, and I'm getting everything set up ready for him/her.

Cage (Barney), substrate (fitch) and cage accessories are all sorted, but I'm so confused by the range of food!!

As all tiny fluffy creatures seem to be pre-disposed to selective eating and I'd originally thought to feed a pellet diet and then supplement with veggies/pasta/plain meat/fruit etc to ensure a balanced diet. However muesli mixes are very popular with hamster owners and I was wondering why. How do you guys combat fussy eating and why do you feed mixes? Any food recommendations (brands etc) for a newbie like me?

Thanks for your help guys
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Old 07-06-2014, 04:20 AM   #2
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Default Re: Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

Welcome to the wonderful world of hamsters!

Some hamsters are picky eaters, some are better & eat almost anything!. I agree unless you feed a complete biscuit diet & the ham eats it then you can not be sure if they are getting everything they need.

BUT

I would never feed just a complete biscuit diet because hamsters naturally forage for food, so giving a muesli diet is a must for that reason alone & because it would be very boring just eating the same biscuits every day for the next two years.

So what a lot of people are doing me included is feed both. Choose a muesli food then choose a complete food & mix them together so the ham gets both

xxx
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Old 07-06-2014, 05:31 AM   #3
kyrilliondaemon
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Default Re: Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

I feed most of my hams mixes because they enjoy the variety. That said I do feed three hams a pellet diet and that works well too, one of them adores it so much it'd be mean to feed him something else and the other two are on it for health reasons.

I'd try a muesli first and see how it goes, if the ham isn't eating all of it then you can always try a pellet diet instead later
Fussy eating can be easily sorted anyway - some owners only feed every 2-3 days so the ham has to eat bits that aren't just their favourites.
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Old 07-06-2014, 05:33 AM   #4
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Default Re: Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

Mine do selective feed slightly, but I give them lots of extras to balance it out. I only feed every 2-3 days too, which helps cut it down.

They get a lot of veg, the syrian gets fruit, , dairy, pasta, egg, pretty much anything I'm eating if it's suitable they get a bit.
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Old 07-06-2014, 06:37 AM   #5
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Default Re: Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

I think the others have covered it. Mine have either loose hamster muesli from pet shop or Harry Hamster food. They enjoy both. They also have fresh foods too.

Sounds like your little one is going to have an amazing life with you, well done doing your research etc before getting him/her. Shame a lot of oeople don't do that. Enjoy your new baby, they're fab little creatures.
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Last edited by Wexland; 07-06-2014 at 11:50 AM.
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Old 07-06-2014, 10:55 AM   #6
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Default Re: Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

Harry Hamster food definately Willow loves it.

J x
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Old 07-07-2014, 02:31 AM   #7
rachierelish
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Default Re: Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

Thank you for all the great advice guys!! I think I'll do a mix of both, for my piece of mind and my little one's enjoyment
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Old 07-07-2014, 04:14 AM   #8
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Default Re: Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

My syrian Lilly gets a mix of 2tbsp pets at home hamster muesli with 1tbsp of burgess dwarf & burgess hamster harvest. I also sprinkle a couple of pets at home hamster nuggets in for good measure.

Most nights she will have a bit of my food as long as it's suitable. Cooked chicken, veg, cooked potato, pasta etc. she also gets millet, dog biscuits, peanuts and batman chips as treats

I used to worry a lot about giving my hams the best/perfect diet but it's just so complicated! Most forum users feed a variety so that's what I do now.
I did look at making my own mixes etc but it's rather complicated so it's much easier to feed 1 or 2 or 3 complete foods mixed together in equal quantities.

I also feed Lilly every 2 days so everything in her bowl is gone but she is a good water anyway
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Old 07-15-2014, 03:37 AM   #9
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Default Re: Newbie hamster owner/food confusion?

Hamsters do mainly selectively feed, picking out their favourite bits first, and like us they have things they don't like. I feed and only do a complete bowl refill once everything is nearly gone. Can't force them to eat the bits they don't like xx
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