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Feeding your hamster a well-balanced diet is just about one of the most essential things that you can do to keep them healthy and happy. Whether you own a Syrian, Roborovski or Chinese hamster, you should pay close attention to what they are eating and whether their food is meeting their nutritional needs.
We’ve previously covered a lot of the treats that you can give your fluffy bundle of joy, but these should only be given to your hammie infrequently. If you’re looking for a main staple of your hamsters diet, one of the most popular foods to provide is hamster pellets.
What do hamster pellets usually contain?
Hamster pellets are a specially formulated blends of food shaped into a nugget that look like tiny multicoloured cookies! Don’t worry though, they’re not full of sugar like cookies, however, they are packed with lots of good stuff that will keep your hammie healthy. Ingredients often include corn, peas and wheat. Some pellets are also fortified with essential vitamins, minerals and fats.
Are they good for your hamsters’ diet?
Depending on your pet’s requirements, pellets can be a fantastic option for your hamster. You can buy different kinds of pellets, each tailored to the type of hamster you own and their age.
Another staple food option for hamster is ‘mixes’, which provide a wide variety of foods which haven’t been processed into small nuggets. On paper, this variety seems a great idea for all hamsters, but in reality if your hamster is picky they can often end up leaving what they don’t like (probably the healthy stuff) and eating the sweeter foods. Pellets eliminate this issue, because the foods are processed together and you hamster can’t pick and choose between them.
A downside to pellets is that they can be quite plain in taste and hamsters may leave them if there is other food in their cage or tank. You can often get around this by ensuring you only feed your hamster pellets when the rest of the cage has no food in, which may mean cleaning out any leftover food first. Once the hammie has finished their pellets, you may want to supplement them with some fresh vegetables or an occasional treat, but remember not to feed them too much as this can lead to significant health issues.
Where can I get hamster pellets?
Our favourite brand of pellets is Burgess, which you can get from Amazon. Their high-protein nuggets contain lots of good ingredients including wheat, barley, peas and linseed. The pellets are also fortified with nutrients including;
- Vitamin A – important for your hamsters eyesight and immune system • Vitamin D – helps keep bones and muscles healthy
- Vitamin E – great for healthy skin and eyes
- Iron – helps maintain healthy blood
Are there alternative foods to hamster pellets?
As we’ve mentioned, a popular alternative to pellets is hamster mixes, like this one. Mixes do help to provide a nice variation in types of food and if your hamster isn’t picky, then they are a great option.
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