Feeding - how much and how often?

[Frida]

No, haven't used that one. My dwarfs like the Little One mix so i'm going to stick with that one.

I'm going to keep my eye out for the little one mix.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Some hamster owners use this data base to check out the nutrition of popular hamster mixes.

Foodmix Calculator and Database | The Hamingway

A database of different hamster foodmixes. A calculator to mix hamster foodmixes. Which hamster foodmix is best for you?

www.thehamingway.com

 

[Frida]

Some hamster owners use this data base to check out the nutrition of popular hamster mixes.

Foodmix Calculator and Database | The Hamingway

A database of different hamster foodmixes. A calculator to mix hamster foodmixes. Which hamster foodmix is best for you?

www.thehamingway.com

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it

 

[Maz]

The one from pets corner says it’s a “complementary “ mix so not really a full mix. I use the bunny dream dwarf one for our Robo. It is only available online bevause it’s made in Germany. But it is very very good! However the protein is a little low for a hamster under 1 year of age so the occasional protein treat is needed (nuts are an easy protein supplement). Over 1 year the protein content is right.

I get it from vetsend.

Bunny Nature Dwarf Hamster Dream Expert | Shop Now

Bunny Nature Dwarf Hamster Dream Expert is formulated specifically to correspond to the nutritional needs of dwarf hamsters. Shop online here!

www.vetsend.co.uk

The Rodipet mix is only available online too - direct from Rodipet. I prefer the bunny dream one personally but the Rodipet hybrid mix is specifically tailored to hybrid dwarf hamsters and does have the correct protein level.

The Little One dwarf hamster mix probably is available from shops. The ingredients are good but it only has 13.7% protein which is low and it would need the protein supplementing more than the bunny dream mix (which is 15%). Hamsters need 18 to 20% protein minimum in the first year of life and 12 to 15% in the second year of life.

So I would think you’d need a protein supplement daily to ensure the hamster gets enough protein. Or mix it with something with higher protein levels and only supplement the protein once or twice a week then.

Mealberry

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[Maz]

I think it’s worth getting the Rodipet one online to ensure the protein levels. But supplementing is ok too.

 

[Maz]

When I used to get the Rodipet one for Syrians, I would get three tubs at the same time to save on postage

It’s annoying the best ones are only available online - there used to be a very good, easily available dwarf mix in the U.K. by Burgess but they stopped making it some years ago. The Little One Mix does seem more easily available but the protein content is very low really. It might need calculations to work out protein supplementation as opposed to just giving the odd protein treat.

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[Maz]

Having said all that - a hamster may not like one of the mixes! I’ve never known a hamster not like the Bunny Dream one though. It actually smells nice even to a human! It has mealworms in too.

 

[Member ID2]

The hamsters i had at the time weren't that keen on the Rodipet because it's so herby. I think that the Bunny Dreams may be a better choice and the postage from Belgium (Vetsend) isn't as high as from Germany. I used to buy a few pouches of Bunny Dreams in one order to save on delivery charges.

Most dwarfs like mealworms. Wouldn't a few mealworms daily balance out the protein?

 

[Maz]

Pip’s food bowl is overflowing sometimes (Robos sit in the food bowl and a lot gets kicked out!). He can have food in his bowl and all over his shelf but he will go frantic if new food isn’t put out. He will sit by the bowl and wait for it. It’s another reason not to be overzealous about spot cleaning their poops. They rely on poops as a supplementary nutrition source if there’s a shortage of food. Our first hamster used to actually poop in his food bowl at first.

 

[Maz]

Not sure if you knew already but hamsters are corophagic - they eat their poops sometimes. They have two stomachs and can redigest nutrients from their poops. Presumably hard wiring from when food is scarce in the wild.

 

[Maz]

The hamsters i had at the time weren't that keen on the Rodipet because it's so herby. I think that the Bunny Dreams may be a better choice and the postage from Belgium (Vetsend) isn't as high as from Germany. I used to buy a few pouches of Bunny Dreams in one order to save on delivery charges.

Most dwarfs like mealworms. Wouldn't a few mealworms daily balance out the protein?

I can’t remember which one is the herby one - whether it’s the hybrid one or the standard dwarf hamster one. One of them was definitely a bit herby.

 

[Maz]

Yes it’s partly why I get the bunny dream one but it still needs the protein supplementing for the first year of life. The correct protein level is essential in that first year, to longer term health - to build muscle etc.

 

[Maz]

science selective is an all in one pellet diet with the correct levels of protein. Adding one or two pellets of that could help increase the protein level of a mix in addition to supplementing - if the hamster likes them and eats them. I think most hamsters do - they have a kind of yeasty gravy smell that seems to attract them. The pellets are not too big for a dwarf hamster either.

 

[Frida]

Thank you everyone. Lots to think about

 

[Frida]

I buy the Little One dwarf hamster food in an aquatic shop. I don't like ordering online either and use it as a very last resort.

Does this aquatic shop have a website? Do they sell products online?

 

[Maz]

I think Beryl might mean Porton Aquapet. They do sell hamster stuff online but apparently have actual shops as well although not in our area.

 

[Frida]

I think Beryl might mean Porton Aquapet. They do sell hamster stuff online but apparently have actual shops as well although not in our area.

Thank you. I'll have a look

 

[Member ID2]

Porton Aquatics near Salisbury sells online but the other i go to is a smaller shop. I'll check if they sell online.

 

[Member ID2]

They don't but it's available on sites like pet planet, viovet etc

 

[Frida]

They don't but it's available on sites like pet planet, viovet etc

Thank you Beryl