Yesterday I bought these pumpkin seeds to add to my breakfast mix I gave Pete a couple yesterday he loves them but read somewhere that 3 per day is the max he the can have and I think there are already some in his pre made hamster muesli. I want to get his nutrition right and am thinking of making my own hamster muesli buying all the nuts and seeds and whatever he needs for a well balanced diet obviously everything needs to be completely suger free which rules out anything from my protein granola has anyone here made up there own hamster mix or can anyone advise what to add into his versele-laga crispy muesli as he leaves the nugget pieces and they probably contain the protein he needs I already supplement with tiny bits of egg chicken and cheese but minute quantities and not daily. So far I now have 2 bags of hamster food one is Burgess pellets which original I thought was a complete diet but then read its not really suitable now I have the verese-larga but he doesn't eat certain things in it hence my idea of creating the perfect mix (no plans to go on dragons den just want the best for Pete).
Home made mix
- Thread starter Jain
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E
elusive
I know it seems like a nice idea to make your own mix but there is a lot of work & research involved & it’s by no means simple, I have done it but it took me a long time to work out a really good mix for them.
Unless you know a lot about nutrition & want to spend a fair bit of time working on spreadsheets I really wouldn’t recommend it.
The foods you mentioned aren’t the best but there is another available in some shops as well as online which is pretty good & has been used by some people here, it’s the Little one dwarf hamster mix. Still a little low in protein especially for a young hamster but most mixes are & it’s easy enough to add a little extra protein.
https://www.mealberry.com/catalog/little-one-feed-for-dwarf-hamsters/
Unless you know a lot about nutrition & want to spend a fair bit of time working on spreadsheets I really wouldn’t recommend it.
The foods you mentioned aren’t the best but there is another available in some shops as well as online which is pretty good & has been used by some people here, it’s the Little one dwarf hamster mix. Still a little low in protein especially for a young hamster but most mixes are & it’s easy enough to add a little extra protein.
https://www.mealberry.com/catalog/little-one-feed-for-dwarf-hamsters/
E
elusive
Daisy has been working on a database which she posted a link to recently, this might give you an idea of the type of information yo need to make a mix.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1oH8nWDI8asHVOnPnzEaPUsTOGUfXx6eQZkJeImXGoG4/htmlview
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1oH8nWDI8asHVOnPnzEaPUsTOGUfXx6eQZkJeImXGoG4/htmlview
F
Frida
That looks like a lot of hard work.
M
Member ID2
I use the Little One dwarf hamster mix for my dwarfs but stock in shops is low at the moment due to increased demand. I have a delivery of 5 bags coming today from viovet.
Like you, i'm not keen on internet shopping but will use it when i have no other option available to buy what i need.
As for making your own mix, i think that could work out expensive and it may be difficult to source all the individual ingredients from local shops.
I haven't met a hamster yet who eats everything in a mix. Like humans they have preferences.
Like you, i'm not keen on internet shopping but will use it when i have no other option available to buy what i need.
As for making your own mix, i think that could work out expensive and it may be difficult to source all the individual ingredients from local shops.
I haven't met a hamster yet who eats everything in a mix. Like humans they have preferences.
Interesting but complicated for my ageing brain
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Likewise, I once wanted to make my own, healthy, sugar free, organic mix. I started trying to work one out and the ingredients were going to be massively expensive to make enough for 6 months. So I bought a good organic, sugar free mix instead 
Which had just come out at the time.
The other main issue with a home made mix is - even if you get everything right (and there have been some sad stories where people didn't) it won't include the fortified vitamins that a commercial mix includes and supplementing vitamins isn't an easy thing to do (and you could give too much or too little again).
Working out the protein in particular is incredibly hard. Plus the percentage of fats and roughage etc, It's a great idea and I think a lot of people like the idea, but hamsters have such fast metabolism that it's fairly critical to get the balance and content right.
These days people consider a muesli mix is much better as it encourages the natural foraging instinct and it's nicer for hamsters - yes they may not eat all of it or eat some bits more than others, but hamsters do have an instinct so they only eat what they need and I have never had one with any nutritional issues despite leaving the odd thing. You actually never know which bits they eat as they tend to eat from their hoard. Most of what they take from the bowl, they hoard and then eat as and when from the hoard.
I use the Bunny Dream dwarf expert mix - it is very very good - it even smells nice unlike most pet foods! The trouble is most of the good mixes are German (including the Little One although at least that's available in Uk pet shops). And are only available online. But I like the Bunny Dream one a lot so I just put up with ordering it online and get it from Vetsend. A bag lasts a long time but I get two at a time to save on postage.
www.vetsend.co.uk
It contains mealworms. Like the Little One, it is a bit low in protein at about 15%. This is fine once they are a year old but during their first year the protein needs supplementing a bit - but you're already doing that with giving some egg and bits of chicken etc. (A nut once or twice a week goes down well as well - half a half walnut is appreciated as a treat!). I tend to use plain cashew nuts (which you can split in half for a dwarf hamster) and walnuts. They are protein supplements too.
I haven't tried the Little One Mix but it sounds good and has good ingredients too - if it's more easily available. But I'm happy with the Bunny Dwarf one. Which has mealworms in as well and the right sized pieces and seeds for a dwarf hamster.
Back to Pumpkin seeds as treats - that is fine - I also use healthy treats rather than sugary ones, and pumpkin seeds are a good option. I wouldn't worry about how many to give - they will only eat what they want and hoard the rest. Eg with a bit of walnut - I often find them put in a special place and just nibbled at occasionally. Sunflower seeds are good for treats and taming treats too but maybe not too many of those as they can be a bit fattening if they have too many. But they'd need to eat quite a lot for that to happen! So a few a week is fine too
Not sure if anyone has mentioned freezing the food for a week first?
Which had just come out at the time.The other main issue with a home made mix is - even if you get everything right (and there have been some sad stories where people didn't) it won't include the fortified vitamins that a commercial mix includes and supplementing vitamins isn't an easy thing to do (and you could give too much or too little again).
Working out the protein in particular is incredibly hard. Plus the percentage of fats and roughage etc, It's a great idea and I think a lot of people like the idea, but hamsters have such fast metabolism that it's fairly critical to get the balance and content right.
These days people consider a muesli mix is much better as it encourages the natural foraging instinct and it's nicer for hamsters - yes they may not eat all of it or eat some bits more than others, but hamsters do have an instinct so they only eat what they need and I have never had one with any nutritional issues despite leaving the odd thing. You actually never know which bits they eat as they tend to eat from their hoard
. Most of what they take from the bowl, they hoard and then eat as and when from the hoard.I use the Bunny Dream dwarf expert mix - it is very very good - it even smells nice unlike most pet foods! The trouble is most of the good mixes are German (including the Little One although at least that's available in Uk pet shops). And are only available online. But I like the Bunny Dream one a lot so I just put up with ordering it online and get it from Vetsend. A bag lasts a long time but I get two at a time to save on postage.
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
It contains mealworms. Like the Little One, it is a bit low in protein at about 15%. This is fine once they are a year old but during their first year the protein needs supplementing a bit - but you're already doing that with giving some egg and bits of chicken etc. (A nut once or twice a week goes down well as well - half a half walnut is appreciated as a treat!). I tend to use plain cashew nuts (which you can split in half for a dwarf hamster) and walnuts. They are protein supplements too.
I haven't tried the Little One Mix but it sounds good and has good ingredients too - if it's more easily available. But I'm happy with the Bunny Dwarf one. Which has mealworms in as well and the right sized pieces and seeds for a dwarf hamster.
Back to Pumpkin seeds as treats - that is fine - I also use healthy treats rather than sugary ones, and pumpkin seeds are a good option. I wouldn't worry about how many to give - they will only eat what they want and hoard the rest. Eg with a bit of walnut - I often find them put in a special place and just nibbled at occasionally. Sunflower seeds are good for treats and taming treats too but maybe not too many of those as they can be a bit fattening if they have too many. But they'd need to eat quite a lot for that to happen! So a few a week is fine too
Not sure if anyone has mentioned freezing the food for a week first?
M
Member ID2
My advice would be to change from Versele Laga muesli to a specific dwarf hamster mix and reserve the pellets for much later when he's old. People use pellets soaked in water for elderly hamsters as a soft food. Science Selective would be a good choice for that.
Having read all of your replies on this subject I think I will be buying yet another bag of food going for Little One Mix just out of convenience not in preference to Bunny Dwarf. The pumpkin seeds I bought don't resemble what I thought were pumpkin seeds they are size of a round pin head I thought all pumpkin seeds were striped and almond shaped this added to my confusion regarding pumpkin seeds 
I did read about freezing food to kill off any bugs but I forgot to do that too eager to put some in Petes bowl hopefully if there were any they would be extra protein and not harmful. Also (sorry I just keep remembering things I want to mention) I was told by hamster man that dried meal worms are not a good source of protein it's like us eating pork crackling just fat and crunch I've also got a bag of those as I can stomach the live one so guess they are going to be used as occasional treats but not nutritional value
I did read about freezing food to kill off any bugs but I forgot to do that too eager to put some in Petes bowl hopefully if there were any they would be extra protein and not harmful. Also (sorry I just keep remembering things I want to mention) I was told by hamster man that dried meal worms are not a good source of protein it's like us eating pork crackling just fat and crunch I've also got a bag of those as I can stomach the live one so guess they are going to be used as occasional treats but not nutritional value
M
Member ID2
Looks like hamster man is more knowledgeable than Rodipet.
E
elusive
Mealworms are around 20% protein although it varies a bit, it is complete protein too unlike nuts & seeds which is also important.
Pumpkin seeds aren’t striped, they are almond shape & green if shelled or white in the shell, larger than sunflower seeds too.
Pumpkin seeds aren’t striped, they are almond shape & green if shelled or white in the shell, larger than sunflower seeds too.
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I think those are sunflower seeds Rather than pumpkin seeds. (From your top photo). I have also been surprised that they come like little round brown things rather than the bigger striped ones. I think the small round brown ones are sunflower seed hearts. Mine are also like that (got them from the supermarket) - whereas the ones in mixes are usually the whole/striped ones. The hearts are still fine though.
They are fine anyway. Pumpkin seeds are usually bigger, flatter and green coloured. I just get both from the supermarket bakery counter (or via online food shopping).
Rather than pumpkin seeds. (From your top photo). I have also been surprised that they come like little round brown things rather than the bigger striped ones. I think the small round brown ones are sunflower seed hearts. Mine are also like that (got them from the supermarket) - whereas the ones in mixes are usually the whole/striped ones. The hearts are still fine though.They are fine anyway. Pumpkin seeds are usually bigger, flatter and green coloured. I just get both from the supermarket bakery counter (or via online food shopping).
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My mix has mealworms in and they're popular. I don't give them as treats though - partly because they're already in the mix and if buying them the quality varies I found - and some had a funny smell! It's best not to use live ones anyway as they can actually bite.Having read all of your replies on this subject I think I will be buying yet another bag of food going for Little One Mix just out of convenience not in preference to Bunny Dwarf. The pumpkin seeds I bought don't resemble what I thought were pumpkin seeds they are size of a round pin head I thought all pumpkin seeds were striped and almond shaped this added to my confusion regarding pumpkin seeds
I think Beryl is saying the breeder is perhaps not correct with that as they are a verified source of protein in hamster mixes. As are other insects. Some people give dried crickets as well. I tried that but the hamster turned his nose up ha ha. Just because they eat insects in the wild doesn't mean they don't prefer a bit of roast chicken! My view is they have no option in the wild and prefer cooked chicken
Some people think hamsters are vegetarian but they're actually omnivores.
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You'll get there We all started somewhere. I had the odd disaster with food at one time (a moth outbreak - I now keep it stored in airtight containers as well as freezing it first). Don't worry if you forgot to freeze it, it'll probably be fine - but I would put the rest of the bag in the freezer for a week and just get the daily amount out each day, a bit earlier - it defrosts very quickly - within an hour usually.
Interestingly, considering hamsters are supposed to eat insects, ours didn't attempt to eat the blooming moths that hatched out in his cage!
We all started somewhere. I had the odd disaster with food at one time (a moth outbreak - I now keep it stored in airtight containers as well as freezing it first). Don't worry if you forgot to freeze it, it'll probably be fine - but I would put the rest of the bag in the freezer for a week and just get the daily amount out each day, a bit earlier - it defrosts very quickly - within an hour usually.Interestingly, considering hamsters are supposed to eat insects, ours didn't attempt to eat the blooming moths that hatched out in his cage!
Sorry not meaning to name and shame but was my original source of info before joining this forum I found Google searches a bit contradictory and so thought asking someone who breeds hamsters for a hobbies was going the right way obviously not in some cases. Thank you for your patience with me and all the information you helpfullyseek out it is appreciated. The good news is Pete will not just enjoy his dried mealworms but they will also be doing him good win win
You'll get there
Interestingly, considering hamsters are supposed to eat insects, ours didn't attempt to eat the blooming moths that hatched out in his cage!
Another Ooops moment I meant to say sunflower seeds I think it's my brain going to seed.I think those are sunflower seeds
They are fine anyway. Pumpkin seeds are usually bigger, flatter and green coloured. I just get both from the supermarket bakery counter (or via online food shopping).