Choosing food for our pets is tricky. Not only do you need to manage the hundreds of food options on the market, but you also have to figure out which is best for your hamster’s needs. If you have a picky hamster, things can get even more complicated. We understand how overwhelming the process can be, so we put together reviews of nine of the best dwarf hamster foods on the market, as well as a buyer’s guide to help you in choosing the best foods out there. You’ll definitely find something your hamster will like, regardless of your budget.
A Glance at Our Top Picks (2023 Update)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Blend Hamster Food
Key vitamins and minerals
Good source of omega-3 fatty acids
Encourages foraging
Check Price
Best Value
Kaytee Forti Diet Hamster Food
Probiotics and omega-3
No artificial colors or flavors
Great price
Check Price
Premium Choice
Brown’s Tropical Carnival Hamster Food
Good variety in the food mix
Encourages foraging
Hamsters enjoy this food
Check Price
Tiny Friends Farm Hazel Hamster Food
Nutritionally balanced
Made with zero sugar
Useful if your hamster struggles with weight gain
Check Price
VitaSmart Complete Nutrition Hamster Food
Great source of fiber
Lots of antioxidants
No artificial ingredients
Check Price
The 9 Best Dwarf Hamster Foods
The makeup of the Higgins Sunburst consists of mixed dried fruits, sun-cured hay, pre-cooked legumes, and flaked vegetables. With these natural ingredients, the food is packed with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. This particular food also contains omega-3 fatty acids.
At the top of our list is the Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Blend Hamster Food. Higgins makes an entire line of this Sunburst food for all small animals. Potentially our favorite thing about the Higgins Sunburst is the fact that it encourages foraging. We love food that helps foraging for animals that have this instinctual trait.
Check Price on Chewy
The Higgins Sunburst is manufactured in the USA and it is entirely natural as well, so you don’t have to feel guilty about giving your hamster this food. Lastly, the price is also very fair considering the health benefits.
Pros
Key vitamins and minerals
Good source of omega-3 fatty acids
Manufactured in the USA
Encourages foraging
Cons
Some bags have a lot of small seeds
Kaytee Food is rich in protein because of ingredients like sunflower, corn, wheat, and yucca. This food is also fortified with DHA and omega-3, which will help with heart and eye health.
Key vitamins and minerals
Good source of omega-3 fatty acids
Manufactured in the USA
Encourages foraging
- Key vitamins and minerals
- Good source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Manufactured in the USA
- Encourages foraging
Some bags have a lot of small seeds
- Some bags have a lot of small seeds
If the Higgins Sunburst is a bit too expensive for your taste, then you should seriously consider the Kaytee Forti Diet Hamster Food. The Kaytee Forti Diet Hamster Food is the best dwarf hamster food for the money.
Pros
Probiotics and omega-3
No artificial colors or flavors
Great price
Cons
Some hamsters will pick out the fattier foods from the mix
The Tropical Carnival hamster food is a great choice when it comes to getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients into your dwarf hamster’s diet. Hamsters seem to love this food; if you have a picky eater, this could be the way to go.
Probiotics and omega-3
No artificial colors or flavors
Great price
- Probiotics and omega-3
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Great price
Some hamsters will pick out the fattier foods from the mix
- Some hamsters will pick out the fattier foods from the mix
Next on our list is the Tropical Carnival Hamster Food, which is going to be quite a bit more expensive than other choices out there. Brown’s Tropical has a variety of shapes and textures made up of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and grains.
The only thing keeping this food out of our top spot is the price.
Pros
Good variety in the food mix
Encourages foraging
Hamsters enjoy this food
Cons
Expensive
Some of the more prominent ingredients include peas, maize, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. If you are worried about weight gain in your dwarf hamster, the Tiny Friends is a perfect option as it contains no extra fat or unnecessary treats. The only issue that some people have had with this food is that picky hamsters sometimes turn away from it.
Good variety in the food mix
Encourages foraging
Hamsters enjoy this food
- Good variety in the food mix
- Encourages foraging
- Hamsters enjoy this food
Expensive
- Expensive
Next on our list is the Tiny Friends Farm Hazel Hamster Food. This is another mixed type of food that will help keep your dwarf hamster quite busy while searching for their food. Tiny Friends food is nutritionally beneficial and made with zero sugar.
Pros
Nutritionally balanced
Made with zero sugar
Useful if your hamster struggles with weight gain
Cons
Picky hamsters seem to turn away from this food
From a nutritional standpoint, the Vitakraft food contains DHA and omega-3 fatty acids. This is a great food option if you have a middle-aged to adult hamster. Younger hamsters need some extra protein when growing, and this food does not have as much protein as other options.
Nutritionally balanced
Made with zero sugar
Useful if your hamster struggles with weight gain
- Nutritionally balanced
- Made with zero sugar
- Useful if your hamster struggles with weight gain
Picky hamsters seem to turn away from this food
- Picky hamsters seem to turn away from this food
The Vitakraft VitaSmart Complete Nutrition Hamster food is another great option if your hamster loves variety in their meals. The VitaSmart is made up of a mix of things like soybeans, alfalfa, flaxseeds, timothy hay, and beets.
Pros
Great source of fiber
Lots of antioxidants
No artificial ingredients
Cons
Not a lot of protein
Contains timothy hay, which some hamsters don’t like
From a nutritional standpoint, the Hartz Bonanza is packed with vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E. The combination of these vitamins will help improve eyesight and bone health as well as promoting healthy cells. The biggest downside to this product’s ingredients is that the main component is corn.
Great source of fiber
Lots of antioxidants
No artificial ingredients
- Great source of fiber
- Lots of antioxidants
- No artificial ingredients
Not a lot of protein
Contains timothy hay, which some hamsters don’t like
- Not a lot of protein
- Contains timothy hay, which some hamsters don’t like
The Hartz Bonanza Hamster and Gerbil food comes in at the number six spot on our list. This is a high fiber mix filled with grains. Some of the ingredients include nuts and fortified pellets.
The Hartz Bonanza is offered in a small container, but you only need about two tablespoons a day to keep your hamster healthy.
Pros
Fortified with vitamin A, vitamin D3, and vitamin E
Triple-fresh seal packaging
Cons
The main ingredient is corn
Smaller package size, not great if you have multiple dwarf hamsters
The Sunseed food is fortified with omega-3 and probiotics to help support digestion. The Sunseed food is quite crunchy, which will help keep your hamster’s teeth in great shape. One drawback is that its price is not as agreeable as some of the other options on our list.
Fortified with vitamin A, vitamin D3, and vitamin E
Triple-fresh seal packaging
- Fortified with vitamin A, vitamin D3, and vitamin E
- Triple-fresh seal packaging
The main ingredient is corn
Smaller package size, not great if you have multiple dwarf hamsters
- The main ingredient is corn
- Smaller package size, not great if you have multiple dwarf hamsters
Next on the list is the Sunseed Vita Prima Dwarf Hamster Food. The great thing about this food is that it has no added sugar. Feeding your hamster something healthy and natural is always win for you and your pet.
Pros
No added sugar
No artificial colors
Fortified with omega-3
Cons
Expensive
Some hamsters do not like the pellets
This blend is intended to promote nutrition, weight, digestive function, and dental health.
No added sugar
No artificial colors
Fortified with omega-3
- No added sugar
- No artificial colors
- Fortified with omega-3
Expensive
Some hamsters do not like the pellets
- Expensive
- Some hamsters do not like the pellets
Coming in towards the bottom of our list is the Oxbow Animal Health Hamster Fortified Food. This is a blend of timothy hay, oats, and barley. Oxbow food is generally excellent and often comes in at the top of our lists. The issue we have with this food is that it has no seeds, fruits, or vegetables mixed in. Although it’s possible to get these ingredients to your dwarf hamster in other ways, having a complete food solution is what most pet owners are looking for.
Pros
Good for digestive function
Helps with dental health
Cons
Expensive
Has no fruits or vegetables
Not suitable for picky hamsters
- Henry’s Hamster Food
Check Latest PriceLast on our list is Henry’s Hamster Food. This is not to say that Henry’s Food is terrible, it is just not a perfect fit for everyone. For starters, the food is a bit expensive. That’s probably because it is baked fresh to order and has some good nutritional value as well.
Henry’s Food does not have any artificial flavors or sweeteners. There are no pellets with this; it comes with just human-grade ingredients broken down into sizes for a hamster. Lastly, the packaging for this food is quite small. If your hamster likes it, be prepared to spend quite a bit.
Good for digestive function
Helps with dental health
- Good for digestive function
- Helps with dental health
Expensive
Has no fruits or vegetables
Not suitable for picky hamsters
- Expensive
- Has no fruits or vegetables
- Not suitable for picky hamsters
Check Latest Price
Last on our list is Henry’s Hamster Food. This is not to say that Henry’s Food is terrible, it is just not a perfect fit for everyone. For starters, the food is a bit expensive. That’s probably because it is baked fresh to order and has some good nutritional value as well.
Pros
Made with high-quality ingredients
No artificial flavors
Cons
Very expensive
A minimal amount of food for the money
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dwarf Hamster Food
Now that you have a great list of food choices, it is time to narrow in on which food will work for you and your hamster. There are some essential things to keep in mind and questions to ask yourself before making your final decision. Here is some of our best advice on how to properly feed your dwarf hamster.
Made with high-quality ingredients
No artificial flavors
- Made with high-quality ingredients
- No artificial flavors
Very expensive
A minimal amount of food for the money
- Very expensive
- A minimal amount of food for the money
What Makes a Good Dwarf Hamster Food?
There are lots of different hamster foods on the market, but not all of them are formulated for a dwarf hamster. This miniature hamster needs a bit more of a healthier diet than a standard hamster mix. Conventional hamster food is going to be more sugary than dwarf hamsters need.
You will want to supplement whichever food you give your dwarf hamster with fresh fruit, some insects, hay, and vegetables as well. Changing his diet from time to time will help your dwarf hamster stay interested in food and continue eating. The mix of food also helps provide balance.
- Related Read: Best Hamster Foods 2021 – Reviews & Top Picks
How Much Food Should I Give My Dwarf Hamster?
When purchasing food for your hamster, you will notice that it is sold in containers of many different sizes. If you are new to having a dwarf hamster, you may be unsure of how much food you need. If you end up buying food in bulk, some of it may go bad before you have a chance to use it.
The general rule of thumb is that you should give a tablespoon of dwarf hamster food to your pet each day. It is best to confirm this with your vet so that you can take into consideration other factors like age and activity. Also, remember that hamster food should be supplemented with natural fruits, vegetables, and insects as well.
What Else Should I Feed My Dwarf Hamster?
In addition to the pre-made food that you give your hamster, you should also be supplementing this diet. Some people don’t know that insects can be useful for dwarf hamsters. Some of the best insects for dwarf hamsters are grasshoppers and crickets.
When it comes to safe and healthy fruits and vegetables, there is a large variety of options that dwarf hamsters will likely enjoy. Some of the best fruits to share are pears, blueberries, and raspberries. If you also want to offer some vegetables, celery, broccoli and carrots can be great options.
What Is Harmful To Feed My Dwarf Hamster?
Although you should feed your hamster food outside of their manufactured dwarf hamster food, you do need to be careful of what you give them. Some foods are not tolerated well by dwarf hamsters and can even be toxic. A few of these foods include:
- Almonds
- Chocolate
- Garlic
- Pork
- Jam
- Onions
Anytime you decide to give your hamster a new food, you should do a quick online search as well as check with your vet before doing so. Even though you may have the best intentions and think you are giving your dwarf hamster a treat, the last thing you want to do is harm them unknowingly. This information should be shared with children as well, so they understand the dangers of sharing treats with hamsters.
- Here is a quick list outlining the foods you should never feed your hamster.
What About Treats?
Many dwarf hamster owners want to share treats with their pets. This is very common, and we completely understand wanting to bond with your pets over some treats. There are pre-packaged treats that are safe for hamsters in moderation. If you can use fresh ingredients for treats, it will likely be healthier for your pet in the long term. The last thing you want to do is get your hamster dependent on treats as a central portion of their diet.
What Is The Difference Between Cheap And Expensive Food?
Sometimes there is very little difference between cheap and expensive food, and other times there is a vast difference. Pay close attention to the size of the bag you are getting and try and compare pound for pound what you get to make sure you are getting a good deal.
What you will sometimes notice with the cheaper food is that there are less of the high-quality ingredients in the mixture. You may end up with something that is filling but not quite as nutritious as other choices.
Conclusion
We know that we offered a lot of information with these reviews, but you should have a much better idea of what food will work for you and your dwarf hamster after reading. Once you have your food picked out, and you test it on your pet, you will hopefully be set for years to come.
Our favorite options are the Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Blend. The Higgins Sunburst offers a great balance of quality ingredients, beneficial vitamins, and a fair price. This is a food that will keep your dwarf hamster both interested in eating and healthy as well. If the price of the Higgins Sunburst is a bit more than you would like to spend, you may want to look at the Kaytee Forti. Kaytee is the best dwarf hamster food for the money. This product will be a great way to balance your budget and the needs of your beloved pet.
For more posts on Hamster gear check these out:
- Best Hamster Treats
- Best Chew Toys for Hamsters
- Best Hamster Wheels
- Best Hamster Toys
Featured image credit: Weepic, Shutterstock
