Food

Lab Blocks

CSH and all of the other ethical breeders we work with use Harlan Teklad lab blocks. We use formula 8640. It is an excellent diet and our animals do exceptionally well on it. If you are interested in learning more about this food, we encourage you to read the California Hamster Association's article on the topic. UPDATE: Harlan Teklad formula 8640 is no longer available. For now we are recommending Mazuri Rat and Mouse. 

Seed Mix

We also offer our hamsters a seed mix for dietary variety and to encourage natural foraging behaviours. Higgins Sunburst is a suitable mix (as treats, not the main source of nutrition) to purchase at Petco. We offer a handful of this once a week, simply sprinkled over the bedding.

Fresh Foods

Fresh fruit and veggies a couple times a week will make your hammy very happy as well! Find safe fresh food options below!

We practice free feeding. You hamster should always have access to their staple diet (blocks). When the bowl is empty, simply fill it up! Hamsters regulate their own diet and exercise extremely well.

For seed mixes, offer a handful, once or twice per week. We recommend scattering it over the bedding.

UPDATE: Harlan Teklad formula 8640 is no longer available. For now we are recommending Mazuri Rat and Mouse. This can be purchased at most pet food stores like Chewy and Petco. 

Do not buy pet food off of Amazon. 

You should avoid hay-based foods, seed mixes, and low protein diets. Unfortunately, this eliminates most foods on the market--including the most popular, Oxbow.

We particularly dislike the Oxbow diet because it is completely inappropriate for hamsters. It is hay-based and extremely low in protein. Hamsters do not digest hay well, so most of the nutrients the food does provide is passed right through the body. While most hamsters are able to survive on this formula, they never thrive. Hamsters on this diet often have poor size, condition, and health overall.

Seed mixes, as discussed above, are great for providing variety. However, they allow the hamster to pick and choose their diet, and in doing so, they often leave the healthiest bits behind. Additionally, this means the diet is very unbalanced from day to day, which is rather undesirable. For these reasons, a seed mix should never be a staple diet.

For more info on foods to avoid, check out the article from the California Hamster Association.