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Posted 07 September 2014 - 05:47 AM
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This thread is part of a multi-thread series on hamster nutrition. Originally Parts I, II, III, and IV were originally written as one thread, but were split due to length. For this reason, the guide works best if the threads are read in their numbered order. However this is not strictly necessary, as each thread can stand on its own as well.
Below, you will see a listing of the different threads in the series and links to them:
Credits - Sincere thanks to Christmas_hamster, the creator of the original Master Food List which inspired this project. Next, nebit had an enormous role in developing, editing, and improving these threads. Finally, HoppingHammy and tbiM20 also offered tons of editing, advice, and contributions. Thank you all for your help--this wouldn't have been possible without you!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A special thanks goes out to CaliforniaCole, Christmas_hamster, Lucas, HoppingHammy, LunarFlame, and tbiM20 for all of their assistance and the knowledge they invested in this project. Without these users, this thread would not have been possible.
This is the fourth version of the hamster food thread. The previous three versions are linked above for reference. This version consists of some major content changes.
Changes to this version (from previous versions) were made by HoppingHammy, tbiM20, and Taxonomist.
INTRODUCTION
Hamsters thrive on a high-variety diet. Unfortunately, when it comes to commercially-available hamster foods, there seems to be a trade-off between variety and quality.
Because of this, it is strongly recommended to supplement your hamster's diet with a variety of fresh / whole foods. All hamsters should be fed seeds (ideally, at least 2 - 3 different types) and vegetables. Meats, insects, fruits, and nuts are highly beneficial additions for most hamsters, because they add nutrients like protein, antioxidants, and healthy fats to the diet. Feeding recommendations for such additions are found in the charts below.
DISCLAIMER
Any food you give to your hamster is at your own risk. The foods on this list should generally be safe for most hamsters. However, there is no way to guarantee that any single food is absolutely safe for all hamsters. This list is intended as a guideline. Neither Hamster Hideout nor any of its members assume responsibility for the outcome of feeding any food.
This is great- thanks! I've sort of been wondering about fruit, because it was obviously not processed, and that, like you said, is what causes diabetes in humans, all the processed stuff!
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what, then, causes diabetes in hamsters? Is it something common to various types of foods?
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Posted 11 September 2014 - 03:55 AM
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what, then, causes diabetes in hamsters? Is it something common to various types of foods?
It's not quite so simple. There isn't anything that outright "causes" diabetes. It's not a simple cause-and-effect where "If ABC is present, the hamster will definitely get diabetes. If ABC is not present, the hamster will definitely not get diabetes."
A very, very big part of diabetes is genetic. It sometimes it's just having the right (or wrong) combination of genes. So a hamster could be in great physical shape, have a great diet...and still get diabetes. Conversely, an obese hamster on a junk food diet might not get diabetes.
Now, there are what we call "risk factors." That is, things that increase the risk of developing diabetes. Obesity is a big one, as mentioned in the original post. However, we have to be careful not to mistake "risk factor" with "cause." It is not guaranteed that an obese hamster will automatically get diabetes. All it means is that having extra weight might make it more likely that the hamster will develop diabetes than if it were a healthy weight.
