Protein and Fiber Supplements

hamtarokid · 04-08-2016, 07:35 AM

Hi! I'm currently preparing for my first hamster, a Syrian, I have decided.

I live in Tokyo and would really like to be able to buy my hamster food at the store rather than online. You would think it would be doable, but the hamster food at the pet store near where I live is all either extremely expensive or has a very low protein and fiber percentage. That pet store doesn't have mealworms either, and I can't order them online. I will check at other pet stores for more food options and for mealworms (although, tbh, I can't see a Japanese pet store selling something as totally un-cute as mealworms), but do you guys have any suggestions for things I could add to my hamster's diet to provide more protein and fiber? I know hay has some fiber, but is it enough to make up for the lack of fiber in the main hamster food?

velma · 04-08-2016, 11:43 PM

You need to be careful with hay as some of can be a but spiky which can damage a hamster's cheek pouches. Sunflower seeds are good for extra protein, I think. And I know some owners give a little cooked chicken, scrambled egg or a little bit of porridge for extra protein. Someone better at nutrition will be be able to give you a better idea though of the right amounts and a good balance

cypher · 04-08-2016, 11:50 PM

I agree that a little chicken once or twice a week just cooked with no seasoning or fat is really good & they do generally like a little egg too.
Do people commonly keep reptiles or birds in Tokyo, sorry that sounds like a stupid question but mealworms, crickets & other dried insects are usually sold for those animals so it may be worth having a hunt around.
Hay is probably more trouble than it's worth but you can introduce your ham to fresh veg, only slowly at first but building up to a small piece daily & that should help with fibre a little.
If you can get them the addition of a small amount of flaked peas would be good all round too.
There are lots of seeds you could add in but they do tend to raise the fat levels a fair bit.
Can you tell us what the protein fat & fibre levels are in the food you plan to use? That would help us make suggestions of what & how much you might need.

hamtarokid · 04-09-2016, 02:27 AM

Thanks for the help!

How do I tell if hay is going to be too spiky? Are there certain kinds or brands I should look for?

All the pet stores I've been to here have birds and usually a few reptiles as well (strangely, a lot of axolotls). I actually have a friend with a couple pet birds, so I'll ask her where/if she buys insects for them.

I'll stop by the pet store on my way home on Monday and find out the exact percentages on the pet food.

cypher · 04-09-2016, 03:25 AM

All hay is spiky to some extent, basically you just have to go through & take out any sharp bits, also it's best to put it in the freezer for about a week before using just in case of mites.

hamtarokid · 04-09-2016, 05:28 AM

Okay, I see.

hamtarokid · 04-19-2016, 02:44 AM

Sorry I took a long time to get back with this! I went to a pet store today and looked at the food. The only thing they had that wasn't crazy overpriced was the same as one of the two things they had in the other store that weren't crazy overpriced. So it looks like I have two types of hamster food to choose from, both with roughly the same percentages.

Protein is 12.3% (or more, is what it says), fat is 7.7%, and fiber is 12%. There's also data for ash, moisture, and calories, but idk how important those are.

If I give my hamster oatmeal a couple times a week and regular vegetables with occasional egg or chicken do you think that will be okay?

AmityvilleHams · 04-19-2016, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamtarokid

Sorry I took a long time to get back with this! I went to a pet store today and looked at the food. The only thing they had that wasn't crazy overpriced was the same as one of the two things they had in the other store that weren't crazy overpriced. So it looks like I have two types of hamster food to choose from, both with roughly the same percentages.

Protein is 12.3% (or more, is what it says), fat is 7.7%, and fiber is 12%. There's also data for ash, moisture, and calories, but idk how important those are.

If I give my hamster oatmeal a couple times a week and regular vegetables with occasional egg or chicken do you think that will be okay?

Do you have lab blocks available?If so,it might be worth considering a mixed diet.Of course,I'd suggest trying to find a lab block with around 23% protein to mix in and since the protein of the food you're considering is similar to the Higgins Vita Garden protein amount I'd say you'd end up with around 18% or so give or take if you had a 60% lab block(at 23% protein)40% seed mix diet.

hamtarokid · 04-19-2016, 02:48 AM

I also found some sort of dried insect mix that's meant for hamsters, hedgehogs, and possums. It's called "Gute Essen". I'll probably try using a bit of that, too.

hamtarokid · 04-19-2016, 02:51 AM

Hmm. I'd never heard of those before, but I googled it just now. It's possible they were in the store and I overlooked them since they look like substrate pellets, based on the google photos. I'll have to look and see.

Also, do you know if it's okay to give lentils to hamsters? I always have lentils in my house so it'd be really easy to give some to the ham.