316 replies to this topic

[Taxonomist]

Armstrong Milling Indoor Friends – Small Animal Mix

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

15% protein

4% fat

15.5% fiber

 

Variety – 7 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 1 (safflower)

Probiotics – No

Added Sugars – No

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – No

 

Small dent corn, Alfalfa pellets, Oats, Hard Red Wheat, striped Sunflower, Safflower, White Millet, Red Millet, Milo

 

Nutrition – Protein is a bit low at 15%.  Fat is reasonable at 4%, but fiber is a tad high at 15.5%

 

Variety – The variety of this food is average at 7 whole ingredients.

 

Quality – The quality of this food is a bit questionable.  It does not contain any artificial colors, added sugars, or questionable preservatives.  It contains a unique ingredient in the form of safflower.  This food does contain a lot of filler, as corn is the first ingredient.  However, the main concern is that it does not list any added nutrients.  European brands often do not list added vitamins and minerals, even if they do contain them.  The problem is, this is not a European food - it's a Canadian brand, which generally does list added nutrients.  The fact that this food doesn’t list any nutrients implies that it does not contain any, which would make it unsuitable.

[Taxonomist]

Best Friend Festival

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

13% protein

6% fat

8.5% fiber

 

Variety – 15 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 6 (beans, carob, safflower, papaya, mango, rose hips)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Yes

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Rodent pellets, wheat mix, alfalfa mix, oats, dari, pea chips, carrot pellets, carob, corn chips, sunflower seeds, molasses, wheat, beans, carrot, peeled peanuts, safflower seeds, papaya, mango, rose hips, banana, sugar. Additives: Vitamin mix (Vitamins A, D, E and C), minerals, E330, E320, E321, E324, E172, E131, E124.

 

Nutrition - Protein is too low at only 13%.  Fat is reasonable at 6%, and fiber is good at 8.5%.

 

Variety – This mix actually does have a good amount of raw variety at 15 whole ingredients.  However, given that molasses is listed before several of these, the true variety is probably more around 7 whole ingredients.

 

Quality – The quality of this mix is very questionable.  This food does have good variety, and a few unique ingredients (beans, carob, safflower, papaya, mango, rose hips).  However, molasses is listed above not just some, but most of the whole ingredients!  This can mean one of two things: (1) this mix has extremely high levels of molasses or (2) this mix has very few of the ingredients listed after molasses.  Given that this food also contains sugar and has a lot of fruits in it, this is likely a very sugary mix.  This food does contain artificial colors.

Edited by Taxonomist, 06 December 2016 - 11:30 PM.

[Taxonomist]

Brown’s Classic Encore

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

13.75% protein

5% fat

13% fiber

 

Variety – 7 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – None

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – No

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – No

 

Milo, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, White Proso Millet, Oat Groats, Wheat, Stripe Sunflower Seeds, Flaked Corn, Flaked Peas, Wheat Flour, Ground Corn, Ground Oats, Corn Gluten Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Brewed Dried Yeast, Calcium Carbonate, Algae Meal, Fructooligosaccharide, L-Lysine, Salt, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, DL-Methionine, Zinc Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Product, Biotin, Folic Acid, Lecithin, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary and Carotene.

 

Nutrition – The nutrition for this food is so-so.  Protein rather low at only 13.75%.  Fat and fiber are fine at 5% and 13% respectively.

 

Variety – The raw variety of this food is average at 7 whole ingredients.  The true variety is pretty decent, as this is a seedy mix.

 

Quality – The quality of this food is not a concern.  This food contains no added sugars, artificial dyes, or risky preservatives and has added probiotics.  Milo is interesting as a first ingredient; however, this food does not contain any unique ingredients.

[Taxonomist]

Brown’s Encore Gourmet Foraging Feast

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

14% protein

13% fat

10% fiber

 

Variety – 15 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 6 (squash seeds, papaya, pineapple, sweet potato, safflower, pumpkin seed)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – No

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Oat groats, safflower seeds, white proso millet, wheat, black oil sunflower seeds, milo, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried papaya, dried pineapple, peanuts, flaked corn, flaked peas, dried sweet potato, pumpkin seeds, squash seeds, raisins, wheat flour, ground corn, ground oats, corn gluten meal, dehulled soybean meal, soybean oil, dicalcium phosphate, brewers dried yeast, calcium carbonate, algae meal, fructooligosaccharide, l-lysine, salt, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, thiamine mononitrate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, vitamin B12 supplement, choline chloride, manganese proteinate, iron proteinate, dl-methionine, zinc proteinate, sodium selenite, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium thermophilum fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried aspergillus niger fermentation product, biotin, folic acid, lecithin, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), yucca schidigera extract, rosemary, carotene, artificial banana flavor, color added (titanium dioxide, red 40, blue 1, yellow 5, yellow 6), sulfur dioxide (a preservative)

 

Nutrition – The nutrition of this food is very questionable.  It’s low in protein at only 14%.  Fat is unbelievably high at a whopping 13%.  Fiber is fine at 10%, however.

 

Variety – Variety is pretty good at 15 whole ingredients.

 

Quality – This food contains a few unique ingredients in the form of squash seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower, papaya, pineapple, and sweet potato.  This food does not contain added sugars or risky preservatives, but does have artificial dyes.  It also contains added probiotics.

[Taxonomist]

Brown’s Fruit Bites Banquet

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

12% protein

5% fat

5% fiber

 

Variety – 13 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 3 (papaya, apricot, pineapple)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Yes

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Oat groats, maize grain flaked, white proso millet, wheat, split green peas, white milo, striped sunflower seeds, dehydrated alfalfa meal, carrots, peanuts, pineapple, papaya, banana, apricots, wheat flour by-product less than 9.5%, fiber, maize grain ground, dehulled soybean meal, maize gluten meal, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, dried beet sugar molasses, yeast brewers dehydrated, salt, whey solids, vitamin A palmitate, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), alpha tocopherols (source of vitamin E), ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), thiamine mononitrate, menadione sodium bisulfate (source of vitamin K activity), biotin, choline chloride, manganese proteinate, iron proteinate, DL-methionine, zinc proteinate, sodium selenite, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus product, dried lactobacillus bulgaricus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus lactis fermentation product, lecithin, natural mixed tocopherols (a preservative), yucca schidigera extract, rosemary extract, beta-carotene, titanium dioxide, orange oil, and artificial colors

 

Nutrition – The nutrition of this food is pretty poor.  Protein is very low at only 12%.  Fat is fine at 5%, but fiber is low at only 5%.

 

Variety – Variety is pretty decent at 13 whole ingredients

 

Quality - The quality of this food is not great.  On the positive side, it does have unique ingredients in the form of papaya, pineapple, and apricot and contains added probiotics. This food does contain some added sugar.  It also has filler in the form of maize (corn), which is very high on the ingredients list. However, most concerning is the fact that this food contains unspecified artificial dyes.  Because the dyes are not named, we cannot rule out the possibility that it contains dangerous dyes.  This food does have orange oil as a preservative as well, which is of questionable safety.

[Taxonomist]

Brown's Tropical Carnival Gourmet Food for Hamsters and Gerbils

NOT RECOMMENDED 

MAY BE USED AS A VARIETY BOOSTER IF MIXED VERY CAREFULLY

 

12.5% protein

7.5% fat

8.5% fiber

 

Variety – 21 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 9 (lentils, safflower, pineapple, papaya, sweet potatoes, pumpkin seeds, Canadian peas, pasta, squash seeds)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Yes

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Oat Groats, White Proso Millet, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Wheat, Milo, Corn, Safflower Seeds, Dried Pineapple, Dried Papaya, Barley, Peanuts, Stripe Sunflower Seeds, Dried Canadian Peas, Squash Seeds, Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, Dried Banana, Dried Carrots, Dried Lentils, Flaked Peas, Semolina Flour, Pumpkin Seeds, Raisins, Dried Sweet Potato, Pasta Product, Wheat Middlings, Wheat Flour, Ground Corn, Ground Oats, Ground Barley, Corn Gluten Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Soy Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Brewers Dried Yeast, Cane Molasses, Calcium Carbonate, Algae Meal,Fructooligosaccharide, L-Lysine, Salt, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, DL-Methionine, Zinc Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product, Biotin, Folic Acid, Lecithin, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Yucca schidigera Extract, Rosemary, Carotene, Artificial Banana Flavor, Color Added (Titanium Dioxide, Red #40, Blue #1, Yellow #5, and Yellow #6), Sulfur Dioxide (a preservative).

 

Nutrition – Protein is rather low at only 12.5%.  Fat is a little high at 7.5%, and fiber is good at 8.5%.

 

Variety – This food has excellent variety at 21 whole ingredients.  The true variety is good as well.

 

Quality – This food has added probiotics, and also has several unique ingredients in the form of lentils, safflower, papaya, pineapple, sweet potato, pumpkin seeds, Canadian peas, squash seed and pasta.  It does not contain any risky preservatives, but does have added sugars and artificial dyes.  It also contains some filler in the form of corn, which is high on the ingredients list.  This food would be an excellent variety booster, but must be very carefully mixed with a higher-protein diet.  Due to how low protein is, this food is completely unsuitable if not properly supplemented.

[Taxonomist]

Carefresh Complete Farmer’s Garden

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

17% protein

3.5% fat

10% fiber

 

Variety – 11 whole ingredients (in truth, only 2 in significant quantities)

Unique Ingredients – 7 (cranberry, celery, flaxseed, apple, sweet potato, papaya, carrot)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Yes

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – No

 

Wheat  middlings, dehulled soybean meal, ground corn, alfalfa meal, whole peas, whole corn, soy hulls (not more than 5%), ground wheat, cane molasses, calcium carbonate, vegetable oil, flaxseed, apple chunks dehydrated, banana chunks dehydrated, carrots chunks dehydrated, sweet potato dehydrated, papaya dehydrated, soybean oil, lignin sulfonate, salt, zucchini dehydrated, cranberry dehydrated, celery flakes dehydrated, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, vitamin E supplement, selenium yeast, ferrous sulfate, niacin, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, biotin, choline chloride, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, calcium, rice bran, cobalt sulfate, monocalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, yeast culture, propionic acid (a preservative), ascorbic acid, diatomaceous earth, L-lysine, DL-methionine, dried yucca schidigera powder

 

Nutrition – Protein is at a good level at 17%.  Fat is low at only 3.5%, and fiber is on-target at 10%.

 

Variety – This food appears to have good variety based on the number of whole ingredients.  However, it should be noted that nearly all of the whole ingredients are listed after cane molasses, vegetable oil, and the mineral calcium carbonate.  What this means is that these whole ingredients are found in very minuscule quantities.  Functionally speaking, the only whole ingredients found in notable quantities are corn and peas.  This food is mostly pellets, and actually has very poor true variety.

 

Quality – This food contains quite a few unique ingredients...however, as stated earlier, these ingredients are a very tiny part of the mix, so realistically, they don't count for much at all.   This food lacks risky preservatives and added dyes, and has added probiotics.  Its pellets contain ground corn which is filler.  This food also contains added sugar in the form of cane molasses.

[Taxonomist]

Country Wide Hamster and Gerbil Mix

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

13.5% protein

8% fat

6.5% fiber

 

Variety – 7 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 1 (locust beans)

Probiotics – Undetermined

Added Sugars – Undetermined

Risky Preservatives – Undetermined

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Micronised cooked Wheat, Micronised cooked Barley, Whole wheat, whole barley, Flaked Peas, Flaked Maize, Locust Beans, Sunflower Seeds, Extruded Wheat Discs, Peanuts, Pellets, Permitted EEC Colourants

 

Nutrition – Protein is low at 13.5%.  Fat is a little high at 8%, and fiber is a bit low at 6.5%.

 

Variety – Variety is average at 7 whole ingredients.

 

Quality – The quality of this food is difficult to assess.  It does contain locust beans, which are a unique ingredient.  It does not appear to contain added sugars or risky preservatives, but it is difficult to tell for sure due to varying labeling laws.  This food does contain unspecified artificial dyes.

[Taxonomist]

Drs. Foster and Smith Signature Series Hamster Food

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

13% protein

4% fat

10% fiber

 

Variety – 9 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 2 (carob, papaya)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Yes

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Timothy Grass Hay, Soybean Hulls, Wheat, Ground Corn, Milo, Whole Corn, Sunflower Seed, Steel-Cut Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Carob Pods, Flaked Wheat, Split Green Peas, Flaked Peas, Peanuts, Wheat Middlings, Steam-Rolled Barley, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Wheat, Yeast Culture, Cane Molasses, Calcium Carbonate, Dehydrated Papaya, Ground Flax Seed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Ground Carrots, Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Ground Oat Groats, Salt, L-Lysine, Vegetable Oil, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Oxide, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, Algae Meal, Ground Steam-Rolled Oats, DL-Methionine, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Torula Dried Yeast, Yucca schidigera Extract, Fructooligosaccharide, Ground Papaya, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Biotin, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, and Color Added (Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40, Titanium Dioxide).

 

Nutrition - Protein is quite low at only 13%.  Fat and fiber are within range at 4% and 10% respectively.

 

Variety - Variety is average at 9 whole ingredients.  

 

Quality - This food contains a few unique ingredients in the form of carob and papaya. It does have added probiotics, and lacks any risky preservatives.  However, it does contain added sugar and artificial dyes.  This food does contain filler in the form of corn, which is high on the ingredients list.  The pellets in in this food contain a bit of filler, as ground corn is a major ingredient.

[Taxonomist]

Hartz Bonanza Hamster and Gerbil Diet

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

12.5% protein

5.5% fat

11% fiber

 

Variety – 15 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 4 (papaya, navy bean, pumpkin seeds, soybeans)

Probiotics – No

Added Sugars – Yes

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Wheat middlings, whole wheat, whole corn, ground corn, dehydrated alfalfa meal, red milo, cracked corn, white millet, green split peas, oat groats, black oil sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, soybean hulls, soy flour, striped sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, toasted corn flakes, soybean oil, roasted soybeans, dehulled soybean meal, dried bananas, corn gluten meal, rolled oats, raisins, calcium carbonate, beet molasses, dried papaya, dried carrots, navy beans, cane molasses, dicalcium phosphate, wheat flour, dried whey, choline chloride, salt, brewers dried yeast, mineral oil, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, Vitamin E supplement, potassium chloride, L-lysine, ferrous sulfate, kaolin, magnesium oxide, calcium propionate (a preservative), color added (Yellow #5, Blue #1, Yellow #6, titanium dioxide, Red #40, Red #3), corn distillers dried grains, sodium selenite, DL-methionine, niacin supplement, copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, zinc oxide, calcium pantothenate, manganous oxide, Vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, manganese sulfate, rice hulls, biotin, zinc sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, propionic acid (a preservative), folic acid, Yucca Schidigera extract, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), cobalt carbonate, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, silicon dioxide, Vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, citric acid (a preservative), vegetable oil, rosemary extract, sodium selenate, calcium iodate.

 

Nutrition - This food’s protein is a very low at only 12.5%, but the nutrition is otherwise decent with 5.5% fat and 11% fiber.

 

Variety - Variety for this food is quite good at 15 whole ingredients. 

 

Quality – The major problem with this food is its very low quality.  It does have some good points, as it has unique ingredients in the form of papaya, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, and navy beans.  However, molasses is found prior to several of the whole ingredients, indicating a high level of sugar and/or less variety than what is implied.  There is also a second type of molasses listed shortly after the first.  This food does contain filler in the form of corn, which is both very high on the ingredients list and split.  The pellets also contain ground corn, which is filler.  The dyes in this food are concerning.  Red 3 is considered a risky dye.  Not only that, but the dyes are in the middle of the ingredients list, as opposed to at the end, indicating a very high level of dye. 

[Taxonomist]

Hartz Small Animal Diet for Hamsters, Gerbils, Mice, and Rats

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

15% protein

5% fat

7% fiber

 

Variety – 9 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 2 (Canadian trapper peas, squash seed)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Yes

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Red milo, whole wheat, wheat middlings, whole corn, dehydrated alfalfa meal, black oil sunflower seeds, dehulled soybean meal, Canadian trapper peas, toasted corn flakes, yellow split peas, shelled peanuts, striped sunflower seeds, soybean hulls, ground corn, calcium carbonate, squash seed, corn gluten meal, beet molasses, soybean oil, dicalcium phosphate, vegetable oil, salt, oat groats, mineral oil, potassium chloride, lignin sulfonate, l-lysine, choline chloride, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, dl-methionine, vitamin E supplement, propionic acid (a preservative), saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast culture, rice hulls, sodium selenite, ferrous sulfate, vitamin A supplement, natural and artificial apple flavor, yucca schidigera extract, color added (yellow #5, yellow #6), zinc oxide, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, copper sulfate, vitamin D supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, magnesium oxide, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, pyridoxine hydrochloride, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite

 

Nutrition – Protein is a bit low at 15%.  Fat is fine at 5%, and fiber is a little low at 7%

 

Variety – Variety is average at 9 whole ingredients.  However, it should be noted that one whole ingredient is found after molasses and salt.

 

Quality – This food’s quality is fairly low.  It does not contain any risky preservatives, and does have an added probiotic.  It also two unique ingredients in the form of trapper peas and squash seed. Having milo as the first ingredient is unique itself.  This food does contain added sugar.  It also contains artificial dyes, which are found around the middle of the ingredients list (as opposed to at the end).  This could indicate unusually high levels of dye.  This food does contain filler in the form of corn, which is both very high on the ingredients list and split.  The pellets in this food contain ground corn, which is filler.

[Taxonomist]

JR Farm Adult Hamster Food

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

(Thank you Emma&Chester for updated information!)

 

11.4% protein

5.8% fat

5.7% fiber

 

Variety – 18 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 11 (canary grass seed, linseed, mealworms, spelt, plantain, beets, rice, parsnips, peppers, zucchini, and cucumber)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Undetermined

Risky Preservatives – No 

Artificial Dyes – No

 

Corn, wheat, red millet, corn flakes, pea flakes, oats, carrots, wheat ears 5%, bananas, wheat flakes, red millet, yellow millet, canary grass seed, extruded maize flour, meal worms 1.6%, linseed, spelt, plantain, chicken, beets, beef, rice flakes, parsnips 0.6%, cheese, fish, peppers, zucchini,cucumber.

 

Nutrition – Protein is extremely low at only 11.4%.  Fat is fine at 5.8%.  Fiber is low at 5.7%.

 

Variety – This food has excellent variety at 18 whole ingredients.

 

Quality – The quality of this food is difficult to assess due to varying labeling laws.  This food has quite a few unique ingredients (canary grass seed, mealworms, spelt, plantain, beets, rice, linseed, parsnips, peppers, zucchini, and cucumber).  It also contains several sources of animal protein.  This food does not contain any artificial dyes or risky preservatives, as per the label on the bag.  It does contain probiotics, though they are not explicitly listed in the ingredients.  It does not appear to contain any added sugars, however, it is hard to tell due to varying labeling laws.  This food does contain a lot of filler in the form of corn.  Not only is corn first on the ingredients list, but it’s split as well.

[Taxonomist]

JR Farm Hamster Feast

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

(Thank you Emma&Chester for updated information!)

 

12.9% protein

3.1% fat

6.2% fiber

 

Variety – 11 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 4 (buckwheat, mung beans, shrimp, canary seed)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Undetermined

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – No

 

extruded corn flour , wheat , corn , oats, red millet, yellow millet, puffed wheat , dari , carrot, canary seed 3 % , buckwheat, sorghum , mung beans , chicken, beef , shrimp 1 % , cheese, fish 

 

Nutrition - Protein is rather low at only 12.9%.  Fat and fiber are both on the low side as well, at 3.1% and 6.2% respectively.

 

Variety - Variety is pretty good at 11 whole ingredients.

 

Quality - This does have some unique ingredients in the form of buckwheat, canary seed, mung beans, shrimp, and the various protein sources.  This food does not contain any artificial colors or risky preservatives, as per the packaging.  It also contains probiotics, though they are not listed in the ingredients.  This food does not appear to contain any added sugars, but it is difficult to know for sure due to varying labeling laws.  This food does contain a large amount of filler in the form of corn.  Corn flour is the first ingredient, which means that the pellets are primarily corn.  In addition, loose corn is very high on the ingredients list.

[Taxonomist]

JR Farm Dwarf Hamster Feast

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

(Thank you Emma&Chester for updated information!)

 

15.2% protein

8% fat

7.6% fiber

 

Variety – 12 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 5 (canary seed, flaxseed, mung beans, rice, shrimp)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Undetermined

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – No

 

Extruded corn flour, yellow millet, red millet, corn, oats, wheat, flax seed, rice 4.8%, peanuts, wheat flakes, mung beans, popped wheat, canary seed, Dari, shrimp 2%, chicken, beef, oats, fish.

 

Nutrition – Protein is a little low at 15.2%.  Fat is quite high at 8%, and fiber is good at 7.6%.

 

Variety – Variety is pretty good at 12 whole ingredients.

 

Quality – This food has several unique ingredients in the form of canary seed, mung beans, flaxseed, shrimp, and rice.  It is also unique in having several sources of animal protein.  This food does not contain any artificial dyes or risky preservatives, as per the label.  It does contain added probiotics, though they are not listed on the ingredients list.  It does not appear to contain any added sugars, but due to varying labeling laws, it is difficult to tell for sure.  This food does contain a large amount of filler in the form of corn.  Corn flour is the first ingredient, which means that the pellets are primarily corn.  In addition, loose corn is very high on the ingredients list.

[Taxonomist]

Kaytee Chunky Gourmet Diet (Fiesta Chunky)

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

13.5% protein

6% fat

10% fiber

 

Variety – 15 whole ingredients

Unique Ingredients – 3 (apples, sweet potato, pumpkin seeds)

Probiotics – Yes

Added Sugars – Yes

Risky Preservatives – No

Artificial Dyes – Yes

 

Corn, Oats, Wheat, Ground Corn, Milo, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Sunflower Seed, Millet, Sun-cured Alfalfa Meal, Ground Oats, Green Split Peas, Oat Groats, Ground Wheat, Peanuts, Dehydrated Carrots, Dried Bananas, Pumpkin Seed, Barley, Raisins, Oat Hulls, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes, Dehydrated Apples, Soy Oil, Salt, Dried Cane Molasses, Ground Flax Seed, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, Wheat Germ Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Algae Meal (source of Omega-3 DHA), Fructooligosaccharide, Ferrous Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Yeast Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of vitamin K activity), Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Cobalt Carbonate, Beta-Carotene, Sodium Selenite, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1

 

Nutrition – Protein is extremely low at only 13.5%.  Fat and fiber are within range at 6% and 10%, respectively.

 

Variety – This food actually has decent variety at 15 whole ingredients.

 

Quality – This food does have unique ingredients in the form of apples, pumpkin seeds, and sweet potato.  It does not contain any risky preservatives.  It also contains added probiotics.  However, this food does have added sugars and artificial dyes.  This food contains a large amount of filler in the form of corn.  Loose corn is the very first ingredient.  In addition, ground corn is the first pellet ingredient, meaning that the pellets are mostly corn.