Up To Date Diet Tips! - Page 3

cypher · 04-10-2016, 06:20 AM

Oddy I wouldn't buy in that quantity whatever the price, it may work out a bit more expensive in the long run but I would just buy one bag at a time, you really don't want to keep it more than about 6 months as even dry food loses nutrition over time & hams don't eat very much!

cypher · 04-10-2016, 06:24 AM

Is the Higgins the best you can get in the US now? It's still not ideal for a dwarf with added molasses, fruits including papaya & pineapple which personally I don't think are good for hams.
I'd still recommend oxbow for a dwarf ham but you would need to be able to find a decent seed mix to combine it with & upping the protein a bit is easy.

oddlyoblivious · 04-10-2016, 06:31 AM

No that's the only way I've found it sold, hence not buying it XD. I just don't have the space in my freezer for that much. Higgins is more for Syrians I believe, which Sirius will have a ''sister'' probably before he even gets home, Oxbow will be his feed supplemented with a mix and fresh protein and veggies once he's off the pet store feed.

I've heard of people supplementing too with things like flax seed for the omega whatstis, that are supposed to be good for the coat. I'm curious, can ham's eat tuna?

cypher · 04-10-2016, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oddlyoblivious

I've heard of people supplementing too with things like flax seed for the omega whatstis, that are supposed to be good for the coat. I'm curious, can ham's eat tuna?

Flax seeds are very good for them, hemp seed is good too but they only need a few, they make a good treat as they love them!
Fish isn't natural for them & as mentioned in another thread it can make your cage stink!
Best stick to seeds or just give a tiny piece of fish as a very rare treat.

CB I think the Vita Kraft Vita Smart has less sugar/fruit ingredients & is probably better overall for dwarfs.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-10-2016, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

CB I think the Vita Kraft Vita Smart has less sugar/fruit ingredients & is probably better overall for dwarfs.

Ok great, heard it contains probiotics? I started Cinnamon Bear on Higgins Sunburst and he lost 5 gm so I put him back on Vita Smart. Actually its a combination of the two but mostly Vita Smart. Then again I put Koala on Higgins and he gained a gm or 2? Still I'm going with a combination for a long time to come. Izzy likes the combination of the 2 as well. I'm just doing this to save money, as I have so much food with similar expiration dates.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-10-2016, 06:33 AM

I don't think that Pet-Co would use Kaytee Forti-Diet across the country if it contained chemicals that cause cancer? I could be wrong but I don't think so? Then again my Chloe Rose Petal has a tumor and she's been on Kaytee her whole life?

How do you feel about Vita Kraft Vita Smart? I use a combination of Vita Kraft Vita Smart along with Higgins Sunburst.

I also have enough food, seed mix & lab blocks mostly Higgins & Mazuri to last a year, in freezer bags in my freezer.

Amity, how much do you break down the Mazuri? Into almost power or crumbs or mini-chunks?

AmityvilleHams · 04-10-2016, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

I don't think that Pet-Co would use Kaytee Forti-Diet across the country if it contained chemicals that cause cancer? I could be wrong but I don't think so? Then again my Chloe Rose Petal has a tumor and she's been on Kaytee her whole life?

How do you feel about Vita Kraft Vita Smart? I use a combination of Vita Kraft Vita Smart along with Higgins Sunburst.

I also have enough food, seed mix & lab blocks mostly Higgins & Mazuri to last a year, in freezer bags in my freezer.

Amity, how much do you break down the Mazuri? Into almost power or crumbs or mini-chunks?

You could leave it as blocks or just break them in half or do as much crushing as necessary for smaller hamsters.Vita Kraft and Higgins combined isn't really doing the same in terms of nutrition as Mazuri and Higgins combined,which is why I would say seed mix and lab block combined only.

For Kaytee though and what pet stores use knowing it contains a chemical that causes cancer,I'd hate to point it out but take a good look at some of the pet store things and how dangerous they are!Of course,with our little fluffballs having the risk of cancer as it is I don't think increasing that risk is right.Petco uses mesh wheels as well,so just consider that for a moment.

In terms of if it is our best mix in the US,it really is.It contains no chemicals,no artificial flavors or colors,no dangerous ingredients,and is all natural.Compared to Vita Kraft for example that contain all sorts of not so great ingredients,and Kaytee that often include chemicals and such,and Oxbow which isn't exactly suitable it is honestly our best option out there.

**zak** · 04-10-2016, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

You could leave it as blocks or just break them in half or do as much crushing as necessary for smaller hamsters.Vita Kraft and Higgins combined isn't really doing the same in terms of nutrition as Mazuri and Higgins combined,which is why I would say seed mix and lab block combined only.

For Kaytee though and what pet stores use knowing it contains a chemical that causes cancer,I'd hate to point it out but take a good look at some of the pet store things and how dangerous they are!Of course,with our little fluffballs having the risk of cancer as it is I don't think increasing that risk is right.Petco uses mesh wheels as well,so just consider that for a moment.

In terms of if it is our best mix in the US,it really is.It contains no chemicals,no artificial flavors or colors,no dangerous ingredients,and is all natural.Compared to Vita Kraft for example that contain all sorts of not so great ingredients,and Kaytee that often include chemicals and such,and Oxbow which isn't exactly suitable it is honestly our best option out there.

The staff in pet stores do not have a choice on what to give animals in terms of toys, wheels and such. Most of the workers who know better would give them suitable things if it wasn't up to head office who are sometimes very tight on budgets.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-10-2016, 06:53 AM

Pet-Co's around me don't use mesh wheels thankfully, they are drastically improving in screening people for new ownership of hamsters too. They put cabbage on their food for veggies with something on the cabbage (benebac?) to help with stress (which is an added expense for them). Then on Easter they actually fed Izzy lettuce and carrots as a treat. I was impressed as they usually only feed cabbage. They are definitely trying as a company I believe.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-10-2016, 07:00 AM

I bought four out of my six hammies from Pet-Co so I'm a Pet-Co supporter

They've been good to me!

Pet-Co btw is the only store in the US that I know of that sells Higgins and Mazuri

Pet Smart sells the Vita Smart yet Pet-Co is in full support of Vita Smart, management that is