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Which brand of hamster food has animal protein (meat)?
Most, but not all, people think that hamsters are herbivorous (vegetarian; only eat plants). But that's WRONG! Hamsters are OMNIVOROUS, that means they eat BOTH plants AND animal protein (meat). Approximately 51% of a hamster's healthy diet is plants (grains, seeds, fruits, vegetables, leaves, grass, nuts) and the rest (49%) is animal protein (crickets and other insects, chicken, egg, beef, dry dog/cat food, cheese).
But why don't hamster foods from the pet store contain any animal protein? Do the people that made those foods even know that hamsters ALSO need protein? Why don't they just add dried insects (crickets, grasshoppers, etc.) or dried/pelleted meat (chicken or beef [like dry dog/cat food]) to the hamster foods?
Hamsters will be very UNhealthy without eating any animal protein! So, can I just mix dry dog/cat food to the food that I buy from the pet store?
@Awesome and @Claudia, hamsters ARE OMNIVOROUS!!! Buy a Hamster Handbook from your pet store or bookstore and read it!
Here's proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamster#Characteristi...
It says:
"Hamsters are omnivorous. They eat most things, and although they should regularly be given a diet of normal hamster food, it is enjoyable for both the owner and the hamster to experiment with other things, such as vegetables, fruits (though these should be removed once they go rotten or bad), seeds, and nuts. Hamsters are hindgut fermenters and must eat their own feces in order to digest their food a second time. This practice is called coprophagy and is necessary for the hamster to obtain the proper nutrients from its food.[1]
One characteristic of rodents that is highly visible in hamsters is their sharp incisors. They have two pairs in the front of their mouths and these incisors never stop growing and thus must be regularly worn down. Hamsters carry food in their spacious cheek pouches to their underground storage chambers. When full, their cheeks can make their heads double (or even triple) i
3 Answers
- ?Lv 79 years agoFavorite Answer
Some foods do but they are usually low quality. You will see by products, unnamed meat products (like "meat meal") which could be anything etc. Its best to get a vegetarian food and add dried bugs or feed fresh proteins like chicken. Dried bugs would be most natural. They should not make up 49% of their diet. That is way too much protein. Considering hamster food already has protein added keep extra proteins to a minimum. If you want to feed more feed part homemade mix (I went over that more in your other question).
- Anonymous9 years ago
HAMSTERS SHOULDN'T EAT MEAT!!
No soy or milk what so ever.
No meat!