Hamsters need a good muesli hamster mix to stay healthy, with the correct amount of protein (18% to 20%) and ideally sugar free - hamsters can get tooth decay like humans! They particularly need the right levels of protein in their first year. A muesli mix is better as it allows them normal foraging behaviours. It doesn't matter if they don't appear to eat all of the food in the bowl, because they pouch it generally and eat from their hoards when they feel like it, in private. Hamsters actually eat very little but become anxious unless they have a good hoard somewhere - just in case.
During and since the pandemic and Brexit, the choices in commercial hamster food have become more limited, with some only being available from overseas and at higher prices. Harry Hamster is available widely in most countries and contains everything needed - suitable for Syrian hamsters. There are mixes with more variety of ingredients however. Bunny Nature Dream Hamster food is one and Rodipet in Germany also do their own mixes, including organic ones. Both of those are a bit low in protein but could be mixed 50/50 with Harry Hamster, or used on their own and the protein supplemented with additional fresh food (eg nuts, chopped hard boiled egg, freeze dried chicken pieces or cooked fresh meat etc) as treats or protein extras 2 or 3 times a week.
Dwarf hamsters can also eat Harry Hamster, but do better with a dwarf specific hamster mix. Again Bunny Nature Dwarf Hamster Dream Expert or Rodipet make dwarf specific mixes. These have smaller pieces in and a lot more small seeds, which dwarf hamsters like.
Getzoo in Germany and Mixerama in Germany sell hamster mixes, which have a wide variety of ingredients, although the protein needs supplementing - but these can work out expensive, especially with shipping.
There is a newer mix available in the Uk now called "Little One" which is quite good, but very low in protein - this would need the protein supplementing. There is a dwarf specific one and a Syrian specific one. They have good ingredients and are sugar-free.
There are also a number of non-commercial "natural" or "home made" mixes available on the internet with a wide variety of ingredients but it's important to check the ingredients carefully - some rely too much on lentils for protein and there is some debate on whether or not lentils are suitable for hamsters to digest (if they actually eat them). As such they may end up being low on protein and need supplementing. They also tend not to have fortified vitamins included, like commercial mixes, so this is another circumstance when adding 2 or 3 science selective pellets daily could help ensure correct nutrition, while still having variety of ingredients.
Apart from Roborovski hamsters, most Dwarf hamsters are hybrids - a hybrid mix of Winter Whites and Campbells. Almost all dwarf hamsters are hybrids unless they have a pedigree from a breeder that shows they are pure Winter White or pure Campbells. The main thing to be aware of with hybrid dwarf hamsters is that they are prone to develop diabetes - so it's important they have a sugar free diet to try and help avoid them developing diabetes. Pedigree Campbells are also genetically prone to diabetes. This also means no fruit as that contains sugars as well. But veg is ok.
All in one pellet mixes aren't a good option for hamsters although there are circumstances when they are! For example older hamsters who have difficulty eating hard food can have Science Selective pellets (an all in one food) soaked in a bit of water, and they find it easier to eat. Two or three science selective pellets added to a low protein mix daily can also help ensure the hamster gets the right balance of nutrients, while still having the variety.
As well as hamster mix daily (about a rounded tablespoonful daily for Syrians and a rounded teaspoon a day for dwarf hamsters), a piece of fresh veg a day is good for hamsters and they love it and get up for it! Just a very small piece - no bigger than their ear. So they actually eat it and it doesn't go off in the cage. They tend to eat fresh food straight away rather than hoard it, as it's more exciting. See our article on Safe and Unsafe foods for Hamsters which includes safe and unsafe veg.
During and since the pandemic and Brexit, the choices in commercial hamster food have become more limited, with some only being available from overseas and at higher prices. Harry Hamster is available widely in most countries and contains everything needed - suitable for Syrian hamsters. There are mixes with more variety of ingredients however. Bunny Nature Dream Hamster food is one and Rodipet in Germany also do their own mixes, including organic ones. Both of those are a bit low in protein but could be mixed 50/50 with Harry Hamster, or used on their own and the protein supplemented with additional fresh food (eg nuts, chopped hard boiled egg, freeze dried chicken pieces or cooked fresh meat etc) as treats or protein extras 2 or 3 times a week.
Dwarf hamsters can also eat Harry Hamster, but do better with a dwarf specific hamster mix. Again Bunny Nature Dwarf Hamster Dream Expert or Rodipet make dwarf specific mixes. These have smaller pieces in and a lot more small seeds, which dwarf hamsters like.
Getzoo in Germany and Mixerama in Germany sell hamster mixes, which have a wide variety of ingredients, although the protein needs supplementing - but these can work out expensive, especially with shipping.
There is a newer mix available in the Uk now called "Little One" which is quite good, but very low in protein - this would need the protein supplementing. There is a dwarf specific one and a Syrian specific one. They have good ingredients and are sugar-free.
There are also a number of non-commercial "natural" or "home made" mixes available on the internet with a wide variety of ingredients but it's important to check the ingredients carefully - some rely too much on lentils for protein and there is some debate on whether or not lentils are suitable for hamsters to digest (if they actually eat them). As such they may end up being low on protein and need supplementing. They also tend not to have fortified vitamins included, like commercial mixes, so this is another circumstance when adding 2 or 3 science selective pellets daily could help ensure correct nutrition, while still having variety of ingredients.
Apart from Roborovski hamsters, most Dwarf hamsters are hybrids - a hybrid mix of Winter Whites and Campbells. Almost all dwarf hamsters are hybrids unless they have a pedigree from a breeder that shows they are pure Winter White or pure Campbells. The main thing to be aware of with hybrid dwarf hamsters is that they are prone to develop diabetes - so it's important they have a sugar free diet to try and help avoid them developing diabetes. Pedigree Campbells are also genetically prone to diabetes. This also means no fruit as that contains sugars as well. But veg is ok.
All in one pellet mixes aren't a good option for hamsters although there are circumstances when they are! For example older hamsters who have difficulty eating hard food can have Science Selective pellets (an all in one food) soaked in a bit of water, and they find it easier to eat. Two or three science selective pellets added to a low protein mix daily can also help ensure the hamster gets the right balance of nutrients, while still having the variety.
As well as hamster mix daily (about a rounded tablespoonful daily for Syrians and a rounded teaspoon a day for dwarf hamsters), a piece of fresh veg a day is good for hamsters and they love it and get up for it! Just a very small piece - no bigger than their ear. So they actually eat it and it doesn't go off in the cage. They tend to eat fresh food straight away rather than hoard it, as it's more exciting. See our article on Safe and Unsafe foods for Hamsters which includes safe and unsafe veg.
