What is the best UK hamster food?

MeganLouise · 03-05-2022, 01:38 PM

Hello everyone, im planning on getting a dwarf hamster sometime next week but its been a while since ive owned a hamster I used to feed my hamsters harry hamster food and was planning on feeding my new hamster this too unless theres a better mix available?

Pebbles82 · 03-05-2022, 01:53 PM

If it's for a dwarf hamster I'd get the Bunny Dream Dwarf expert food (Zooplus sell it). I use it for our robo - it's very good quality and has mealworms in - and even smells quite nice! It has all the small seeds that dwarf hamsters like. It's a little bit low on protein so you'd need to supplement with the odd high protein treat 2 or 3 times a week. A nut for example. Or a tiny bit of cheese. All our hamsters have loved walnuts and plain cashew nuts. Some people get freeze dried chicken bites or shrimps as high protein extras.

If you want to you could mix it 50/50 with Harry Hamster which does have the correct protein level of 18%. Bunny Dream Dwarf hamster has 15.5% so if you mix them 50/50 you'd have a protein level of 16.75% - which is not too bad - and just the occasional high protein treat

Zooplus seem to be out of stock at the moment but you can get it here

Bunny Nature Dwarf Hamster Dream Expert | Shop Now

Just a tip - I freeze all hamster food for a week first. It prevents moth eggs hatching out (having had that happen to me once). Most pet foods contain them and they're incredibly tiny - like dust - you wouldn't know they were there. They only hatch out in warm conditions usually. But freezing kills the eggs.

Ria P · 03-05-2022, 02:21 PM

My dwarfs eat the food Serendipity suggested with a bit of Harry Hamster mixed in.
I also keep a bag in the freezer until i need it since i had pantry moths. Things like mealworms, hamster herbs, millet etc i freeze as well for the same reason.

You could also try Ratrations food or Rodipet which is organic.

MeganLouise · 03-05-2022, 02:27 PM

Thanks you guys I will deffinetly check that out �� you metioned herbs, ive been looking at a few different herb mixes trying to decide if I should get some to mix into their food do you think this one is suitable? https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...E&gclsrc=aw.ds thank you both so much for the help!

Amethyst_ice · 03-05-2022, 07:42 PM

Pride rock blooms do a nice flower and leaf forage mix, better value too

www.priderockblooms.co.uk

I get my dwarf bunny expert via ebay. I like it better than the rodipet

Ria P · 03-06-2022, 03:29 AM

I'd scatter the herbs around for foraging because the continental mixes already have herbs in them.

I think this particular one is the one with the thorny bits which i picked out when i tried it. I could be mistaken though.

Pebbles82 · 03-06-2022, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

Pride rock blooms do a nice flower and leaf forage mix, better value too

www.priderockblooms.co.uk

I get my dwarf bunny expert via ebay. I like it better than the rodipet

I also like it better than the Rodipet one. I had a bad batch of rodipet food last year - maybe the pandemic but it was horrible.

IME hamsters really aren't that fussed about herbs! Some actively dislike them. I used to sometimes just buy dried marigold petals or dried cornflowers and scatter a few - but always ignored. Had a bad experience with one of the herb mixes which had the odd sharp woody bit in and poked the hamster's eye.

I just stick to substrate and food now

And Millet sprays which can help it look a bit natural.

Ria P · 03-06-2022, 09:54 AM

Mine are not keen on Rodipet either because their mixes are so herby.

Rodipet does great toilets though.

Amethyst_ice · 03-06-2022, 10:11 AM

In my experience, the commercial forage and herb mixes are alfalfa and dandelion leaf heavy that can be coarse.

Spirit has the leaf mix from PRB and loves it, haven't tried the flower yet. The only bit that could be sharp is the raspberry leaf maybe? But in wild nothing is all rounded edge and if any were a bother just remove

Ria P · 03-06-2022, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

In my experience, the commercial forage and herb mixes are alfalfa and dandelion leaf heavy that can be coarse.

Spirit has the leaf mix from PRB and loves it, haven't tried the flower yet. The only bit that could be sharp is the raspberry leaf maybe? But in wild nothing is all rounded edge and if any were a bother just remove

What's PRB?