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Old 08-26-2017, 01:46 PM   #1
BayliM
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Default Picky Hamster

Hi everyone,

So I have a very stubborn Syrian hamster.... He use to be on the Kaytee seed mix with oxbow pellets until I learned how poor the Kaytee brand is in general... We did a gradual switch to hazel hamster with oxbow pellets but he stopped eating. While he was on the Kaytee mix he would sit in his bowl and eat it all but on the hazel hamster his food looks untouched and I never see him eat... I am guessing the Kaytee brand was higher in sugar and fatty seeds and now he is just pouting about it. I just changed out the oxbow pellets for mazuri mouse and rat pellets and he loves them! But he still won't touch the the hazel hamster..... I do give him fresh veggies and meal worms as regular treats. Should I switch brands again or wait it out? There are not a lot of great hamster foods in the US. Thank you!
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Old 08-26-2017, 02:00 PM   #2
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Picky Hamster

I'd switch to Higgins and do the Higgins/Mazuri combination diet.Recently it was found out that artificial dyes are actually used in Hazel/Harry(not stated online in most sources however).Higgins,however,does not contain harmful substances and is a much better choice in the US if mixed properly with another higher protein food.
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Old 08-26-2017, 02:02 PM   #3
Happyhamster8
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Default Re: Picky Hamster

I would suggest you wait a while. Your hamster probably has some of his kaytee food stored somewhere. Hamsters never let themselves starve so it may be that he is eating his favourite food first. If he doesn't start eating the hazel hamster in a week or so then it could be somerhing else.
Hope this helped you.
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Old 08-26-2017, 02:07 PM   #4
Happyhamster8
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Default Re: Picky Hamster

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
I'd switch to Higgins and do the Higgins/Mazuri combination diet.Recently it was found out that artificial dyes are actually used in Hazel/Harry(not stated online in most sources however).Higgins,however,does not contain harmful substances and is a much better choice in the US if mixed properly with another higher protein food.
Oh, I didn't know Hazel hamster has artifical dyes, however I know they lowered the protein.It used to be a really good seed mix.
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Old 08-26-2017, 02:16 PM   #5
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Picky Hamster

Most people won't know they have it,because as mentioned it isn't even mentioned online including the manufacturer's own website!You'd have to actually have a bag and look at it to see the ingredient in the additives section and even then specific information on what colourants are used isn't specified unless you contact the manufacturer Unfortunately,this does mean the current standard food really isn't as good as it seems.

The positive side to that issue is that there are still alternatives,in the US this would generally mean a Higgins combination diet(Higgins and Mazuri or Carefresh)and in the UK it would either require a food that's slightly low in protein getting boosted or a mixed diet with boosted protein(or Burgess' regular hamster harvest,unless that ends up having hidden dyes).
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Old 08-26-2017, 08:27 PM   #6
BayliM
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Default Re: Picky Hamster

I did buy a bag of Higgins to try if he did not start eating the hazel hamster. I will be stating the food switch this week after hearing about the dyes in hazel hamster! He loves to eat oats, green veggies, and the mazuri pellets so I am guessing that he is just holding out until I come to play with him at night. If the Higgins works out should I take out some of the fruit bits? He is very active but I think he has a sweet tooth.. I don't want him to only eat the fruit...
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Old 08-27-2017, 04:33 AM   #7
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Default Re: Picky Hamster

Removing any part of food would cause an imbalance in the diet and therefore is not possible.You could hand feed those parts,but completely removing them is not a good idea.
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