What is the best Hamster food mix?
A good Hamster food mix needs plenty of variety, and the correct nutritional balance for health, including 18% to 22% of protein, to help build muscle in the first year of life. A good hamster mix is also sugar-free - hamsters can get tooth decay like humans! Russian dwarf hamsters and Chinese hamsters can be prone to diabetes so a sugar-free diet is important to help prevent onset.
Here are recommended hamster mixes for all Hamster species, for the Uk, Europe and USA. Syrian hamsters need a rounded tablespoonful a day and Dwarf hamsters a rounded teaspoonful a day. Hamsters actually eat very small amounts daily, but can become anxious unless they have plenty of food to forage for and hoard, so it's important to keep giving them the daily amount.
Recommended Hamster mixes (Uk and Europe) See further down for US Hamster mix options.
Note: This article contains Amazon affiliate links and other affiliate links. If you decide to buy a product from one of these links, it pays a commission which helps support this site's running costs, at no extra cost to you.
Syrian Hamsters (Uk and Europe):
Bunny Nature Hamster Dream Expert for Syrians is a sugar-free mix with plenty of variety and contains mealworms. It actually smells quite nice too! And Syrian Hamsters seem to enjoy it. The protein is a bit on the low side at 15% so it would need supplementing in the first year of life. After that the protein level is fine. See below on ways to do that. It contains fortified vitamins and minerals. The pieces are smaller than in Harry Hamster, so one option is to mix this 50/50 with Harry Hamster, which also ups the protein a little bit.
Available from Vetsend or eBay (affiliate links)
Mixerama Syrian Hamster Gourmet Menu. This has plenty of variety and is sugar-free. The protein level is 16.5% so the protein would need supplementing in the first year of life (see below for supplementing). Mixerama hamster foods are pressure treated before sale, to kill any potential bugs or eggs. However we would still recommend freezing for a week, as with all hamster food. As a "natural" mix this doesn't contain fortified vitamins or minerals - the idea being that the hamster should get these from the ingredients. If you're concerned about this, you could add 2 or 3 science selective pellets daily to ensure the correct nutrition. It's not recommended to add vitamins to water though. Mixerama are an established producer of Hamster Food however.
Available in the Uk from Hopes Healthy Treats or direct from Mixerama in Germany.
Tiny Friends Harry Hamster Tasty Mix is a widely available widely in most countries and contains everything needed and with correct protein levels and suitable for Syrian hamsters. It is sugar free, contains fortified vitamins and minerals and contains whole peanuts in their shells (monkey nuts) and hamsters seem to enjoy it. There are other mixes with more variety of ingredients however, but for a beginner owner this can be a mix to start with if you want to keep it simple and not think about supplementing protein. Dwarf hamsters can also eat Harry Hamster, but do much better with a dwarf specific hamster mix, with smaller pieces and small seeds.
Available online from Viovet and Wundapets also in two pack purchases from Amazon (affiliate links).
Supreme Science Selective Hamster Food (for Syrian and Dwarf Hamsters) This is an all-in-one pellet mix and is not recommended as the main mix for a hamster, as there is no variety. However, it is always useful to have some because it can be used to supplement vitamins/protein in more natural mixes (only 2 or 3 pellets a day needed) and it is invaluable for older hamster when they start to have eating difficulties (toothache, arthritic jaw etc) as a few pellets can be soaked to make a soft mush for them and give them all the nutrients required. Hamsters tend to like Science Selective - it seems to smell yeasty or of gravy. It contains everything needed - the correct protein levels and fortified vitamins and minerals.
Available from Viovet and Pets at Home and Amazon (affiliate links).
Dwarf Hamsters (Uk and Europe):
Bunny Nature Dwarf Hamster Dream Expert - There are not many dwarf specific commercial hamster mixes easily available. Bunny Dream however, have a specific dwarf hamster version of their Hamster Food, which is suitable for all dwarf species - Russian Dwarf hamsters, Roborovski Hamsters and Chinese Hamsters. It seems popular and enjoyed by Hamsters. It has good variety, with small seeds and contains mealworms. Protein is a bit low at 15.5% so would need supplementing in the first year of life (see below). It contains fortified vitamins and minerals.
Available from Vetsend and eBay (affiliate links).
Mixerama Dwarf Magic - Mixerama also do some dwarf specific hamster foods, and Dwarf Magic is a good balanced mix for all species of dwarf hamster. It contains plenty of variety and small seeds and also includes dried shrimps and mealworms. As a "natural" mix, this doesn't contain any fortified vitamins or minerals, and protein again is a bit low at 15.6% so you may want to add 2 or 3 science selective pellets plus see below about protein supplementing in the first year. As mentioned above with the Syrian food, Mixerama pressure treat their food before sale, to kill any potential bug eggs or bugs, however we still recommend freezing for a week, as with all other hamster foods, to be sure.
Available in the Uk from Hopes Healthy Treats and direct from Mixerama in Germany.
Recommended US Hamster Mixes
Syrian Hamsters (USA):
Bunny Nature Hamster Dream Expert for Syrians - This is also available in the USA as per the Uk description above. It is a sugar-free mix with plenty of variety and contains mealworms. It also smells nice! And Syrian Hamsters seem to enjoy it. The protein is a bit on the low side at 15% so it would need supplementing in the first year of life (see below). It contains fortified vitamins and minerals. The pieces are smaller than in some mixes, so although it is still fine on its own, one option could be to mix this 50/50 with Hazel Hamster (which has some larger pieces and peanuts in their shells), which also ups the protein a bit. This is probably the best commercial mix options in the USA. Note - packaging images may vary due to recent packaging changes.
Available online from Chewy.com (affiliate link)
Higgins Vita Garden Hamster and Gerbil - This is a sugar-free mix with a fairly good variety of ingredients. Many other commercial mixes have sugar or a lot of corn as fillers. It contains fortified vitamins and minerals and also a digestive probiotic. It is suitable for both Syrian and Dwarf hamsters. The pieces are a suitable size for both species. Protein is a bit low at 15% so this would need supplementing (see below) or alternatively, giving 2 or 3 science selective pellets separately each day.
Available online from Higgins Vita Garden - Petco (affiliate link)
Tiny Friends Hazel Hamster Tasty Mix - This is sugar-free and contains everything needed. It has correct protein levels and contains fortified vitamins and minerals, whole peanuts in their shells (monkey nuts) and hamsters generally enjoy it. As it has larger pieces, it is more suitable for Syrian Hamsters, but is also suitable for Dwarf Hamsters. If giving it to dwarf hamsters, then additional seeds could be given separately - eg a pinch of linseeds/flax seeds daily and other seeds such as hemp seeds, milk thistle seeds, perilla seeds and pine nuts. Supreme Petfoods have stated that Harry Hamster and Hazel Hamster mixes are the same, just with different branding for different countries.
Available online from Chewy.com (affiliate link)
Supreme Science Selective Hamster Food (for Syrian and Dwarf Hamsters) This is also available in the USA, as per the Uk description above - an all-in-one pellet mix but not recommended as the main mix for a hamster, as there is no variety. However, it is always useful to have some because it can be used to supplement vitamins/protein in more natural mixes (only 2 or 3 pellets a day needed as a supplement but put them out on a separate dish so they get taken) and it is invaluable for older hamster when they start to have eating difficulties (toothache, arthritic jaw etc) as a few pellets can be soaked to make a soft mush for them and give them all the nutrients required. Hamsters tend to like Science Selective - it seems to smell yeasty or of gravy. It contains everything needed - the correct protein levels and fortified vitamins and minerals.
Available online from Chewy.com (affiliate link)
Dwarf Hamsters (USA):
Bunny Nature Dwarf Hamster Dream Expert - Also available in the US as well as the Uk. This is the only real suitable dwarf hamster specific mix available in the USA commercially. It is suitable for all dwarf hamster species - Russian Dwarf hamsters, Roborovski Hamsters and Chinese Hamsters. It is sugar-free (important for diabetes prone dwarf hamster species), and usually enjoyed by Hamsters. It has good variety, with small seeds and contains mealworms. Protein is a bit low at 15.5% so would need supplementing in the first year of life (see below). It contains fortified vitamins and minerals. Note packaging images may vary due to recent packaging changes.
Available online from Chewy.com (affiliate link)
Non-commercial mixes
There are also a number of non-commercial "home made" mixes available online, in both the Uk and the USA, with a wide variety of ingredients but it's important to check the ingredients carefully - many contain lentils and rely on them for protein. Firstly hamsters may not eat the lentils and therefore not get the protein needed. Secondly there is some debate on whether or not lentils are suitable for hamster digestion and could cause other nutrients not to be digested properly. Some "home made" mixes will adjust a mix for you or swap some ingredients if you request them. Some "home made" mixes also contain red clover, which is not recommended for pregnant hamsters due to uterine effects, and probably best avoided for female hamsters for the same reasons. These mixes also tend not to have fortified vitamins included, like commercial mixes, so if using one of these mixes, it's advisable to also give 3 science selective pellets daily (separate dish so they get taken) to ensure correct nutrition, while still having variety of ingredients.
Supplementing protein
1) Easy option: Give 3 science selective pellets daily on a separate dish or on a platform - but separately from other food, so they get taken. This ensures the correct nutrition and protein if the main mix is low in it.
2) Nicer option: Fresh human food. Chopped hard boiled egg (or a tiny bit of scrambled egg) a couple of times a week and, half a shelled walnut once or twice a week. Instead of egg you could use plain cooked roasted chicken or beef (no skin or spices or gravy/sauces) if you have some - again a very tiny piece no bigger than their ear to make sure it gets eaten. Hamsters love fresh human food! This is in addition to daily veg (see below regarding daily veg).
Daily Veg
As well as a good hamster food mix daily, 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 this article on Safe and Unsafe veg and other foods for Hamsters.
A good Hamster food mix needs plenty of variety, and the correct nutritional balance for health, including 18% to 22% of protein, to help build muscle in the first year of life. A good hamster mix is also sugar-free - hamsters can get tooth decay like humans! Russian dwarf hamsters and Chinese hamsters can be prone to diabetes so a sugar-free diet is important to help prevent onset.
Here are recommended hamster mixes for all Hamster species, for the Uk, Europe and USA. Syrian hamsters need a rounded tablespoonful a day and Dwarf hamsters a rounded teaspoonful a day. Hamsters actually eat very small amounts daily, but can become anxious unless they have plenty of food to forage for and hoard, so it's important to keep giving them the daily amount.
Recommended Hamster mixes (Uk and Europe) See further down for US Hamster mix options.
Note: This article contains Amazon affiliate links and other affiliate links. If you decide to buy a product from one of these links, it pays a commission which helps support this site's running costs, at no extra cost to you.
Syrian Hamsters (Uk and Europe):
Available from Vetsend or eBay (affiliate links)
Available in the Uk from Hopes Healthy Treats or direct from Mixerama in Germany.
Tiny Friends Harry Hamster Tasty Mix is a widely available widely in most countries and contains everything needed and with correct protein levels and suitable for Syrian hamsters. It is sugar free, contains fortified vitamins and minerals and contains whole peanuts in their shells (monkey nuts) and hamsters seem to enjoy it. There are other mixes with more variety of ingredients however, but for a beginner owner this can be a mix to start with if you want to keep it simple and not think about supplementing protein. Dwarf hamsters can also eat Harry Hamster, but do much better with a dwarf specific hamster mix, with smaller pieces and small seeds.
Available online from Viovet and Wundapets also in two pack purchases from Amazon (affiliate links).
Supreme Science Selective Hamster Food (for Syrian and Dwarf Hamsters) This is an all-in-one pellet mix and is not recommended as the main mix for a hamster, as there is no variety. However, it is always useful to have some because it can be used to supplement vitamins/protein in more natural mixes (only 2 or 3 pellets a day needed) and it is invaluable for older hamster when they start to have eating difficulties (toothache, arthritic jaw etc) as a few pellets can be soaked to make a soft mush for them and give them all the nutrients required. Hamsters tend to like Science Selective - it seems to smell yeasty or of gravy. It contains everything needed - the correct protein levels and fortified vitamins and minerals.
Available from Viovet and Pets at Home and Amazon (affiliate links).
Dwarf Hamsters (Uk and Europe):
Bunny Nature Dwarf Hamster Dream Expert - There are not many dwarf specific commercial hamster mixes easily available. Bunny Dream however, have a specific dwarf hamster version of their Hamster Food, which is suitable for all dwarf species - Russian Dwarf hamsters, Roborovski Hamsters and Chinese Hamsters. It seems popular and enjoyed by Hamsters. It has good variety, with small seeds and contains mealworms. Protein is a bit low at 15.5% so would need supplementing in the first year of life (see below). It contains fortified vitamins and minerals.
Available from Vetsend and eBay (affiliate links).
Available in the Uk from Hopes Healthy Treats and direct from Mixerama in Germany.
Recommended US Hamster Mixes
Syrian Hamsters (USA):
Available online from Chewy.com (affiliate link)
Available online from Higgins Vita Garden - Petco (affiliate link)
Available online from Chewy.com (affiliate link)
Available online from Chewy.com (affiliate link)
Dwarf Hamsters (USA):
Available online from Chewy.com (affiliate link)
Non-commercial mixes
There are also a number of non-commercial "home made" mixes available online, in both the Uk and the USA, with a wide variety of ingredients but it's important to check the ingredients carefully - many contain lentils and rely on them for protein. Firstly hamsters may not eat the lentils and therefore not get the protein needed. Secondly there is some debate on whether or not lentils are suitable for hamster digestion and could cause other nutrients not to be digested properly. Some "home made" mixes will adjust a mix for you or swap some ingredients if you request them. Some "home made" mixes also contain red clover, which is not recommended for pregnant hamsters due to uterine effects, and probably best avoided for female hamsters for the same reasons. These mixes also tend not to have fortified vitamins included, like commercial mixes, so if using one of these mixes, it's advisable to also give 3 science selective pellets daily (separate dish so they get taken) to ensure correct nutrition, while still having variety of ingredients.
Supplementing protein
1) Easy option: Give 3 science selective pellets daily on a separate dish or on a platform - but separately from other food, so they get taken. This ensures the correct nutrition and protein if the main mix is low in it.
2) Nicer option: Fresh human food. Chopped hard boiled egg (or a tiny bit of scrambled egg) a couple of times a week and, half a shelled walnut once or twice a week. Instead of egg you could use plain cooked roasted chicken or beef (no skin or spices or gravy/sauces) if you have some - again a very tiny piece no bigger than their ear to make sure it gets eaten. Hamsters love fresh human food! This is in addition to daily veg (see below regarding daily veg).
Daily Veg
As well as a good hamster food mix daily, 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 this article on Safe and Unsafe veg and other foods for Hamsters.
