Zooply food: the right food for every species

A rabbit, a guinea pig, a Syrian hamster and a degu each have a different digestive system and need a different menu. That is why Zooply, our own premium brand, has a separate food for each species. In this category you will find the complete Zooply food range, divided into two subcategories: food for rabbits and guinea pigs, and food for small rodents.

Zooply was created because the products that worked best for our own animals were not always available from other brands. We feed it every day in our shop in Bodegraven and in our breeding facility. For each product group we deliberately keep the range small, with only the options we fully stand behind.

At a glance

• ✓ Always choose the food for your species; food is not interchangeable between species.
• ✓ For rabbits, guinea pigs and degus, unlimited hay is the main food; the food is a supplement.
• ✓ Rabbits and guinea pigs get uniformly pressed pellets; for rodents a seed and grain mix is normal.
• ✓ Zooply muesli for rabbits and guinea pigs is given on top of the pellets, never instead of them.
• ✓ Always switch gradually, spread over 1 to 2 weeks.

What will you find in the Food category?

Zooply Rabbit & Guinea Pig Food

In the Zooply Rabbit & Guinea Pig Food subcategory you will find three uniformly pressed pellets: Zooply Rabbit Food (3 and 10 kg), Zooply Rabbit Food with Digestive Support (3.5 and 10 kg) and Zooply Guinea Pig Food with added vitamin C (3 and 10 kg). There are also two complementary mueslis for rabbits and guinea pigs: the Support Muesli for daily use and the Energy Muesli that you can also give daily, especially when your animal could use a little extra.

Zooply Rodent Food

In the Zooply Rodent Food subcategory you will find food for each species: Syrian Hamster Food, Dwarf Hamster Food, Gerbil Food, Mouse Food, Rat Food and Degu Food, each in a small and a larger pack. There are also two general mixes for hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats: Zooply Rodent Food and Rodent Food Excellent.

Which Zooply food suits your animal?

• Rabbit: Zooply Rabbit Food or Rabbit Food with Digestive Support, alongside unlimited hay and fresh greens.
• Guinea pig: Zooply Guinea Pig Food with vitamin C, alongside unlimited hay and fresh vegetables containing vitamin C.
• Syrian hamster: Zooply Syrian Hamster Food.
• Dwarf hamster: Zooply Dwarf Hamster Food, with smaller seeds; no sweet snacks on the side.
• Gerbil: Zooply Gerbil Food.
• Mouse: Zooply Mouse Food.
• Rat: Zooply Rat Food, with small amounts of fresh vegetables and some protein now and then.
• Degu: only Zooply Degu Food, alongside unlimited hay and without sugar.

Two ways of feeding

Rabbits and guinea pigs are herbivores that eat hay all day long. Their pellets are a supplement providing vitamins and minerals. That is why at Zooply they get uniformly pressed pellets: every pellet is the same, so they cannot pick out the tastiest bits. We advise against a loose mix of grains and pellets as their main food.

Hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats are natural foragers and sorters. For them, a varied seed and grain mix is exactly right: shelling, sorting and hoarding are part of their natural behaviour. The Zooply food for these animals is therefore a mix, tailored to each species. It is important, though, that you only top up the bowl once it is empty.

Zooply Support Muesli and Energy Muesli for rabbits and guinea pigs are not a mix to use as the main food, but deliberate additions on top of the pressed pellets and hay. According to the label, you give about 75 grams of the Support Muesli per animal per day; the Energy Muesli can also be given daily.

Keeping snacks and food in balance

Snacks are handy for taming your animal and for enrichment, but they count towards what your animal eats in a day. A rabbit or guinea pig that gets lots of snacks eats less hay; a rat or hamster that gets lots of snacks quickly becomes overweight and leaves its normal food untouched. So keep snacks small, preferably choose sugar-free herbs or, for omnivores, an insect, and do not cut back on the food to make room for snacks. You will find the Zooply snacks and herbs in the dried herbs category.

Hay and water always belong with it

However good the food is, for rabbits, guinea pigs and degus unlimited hay remains the most important thing. Offer it in a hay rack and top it up every day. For all animals: always fresh, clean drinking water, checked daily, with the bottle or bowl cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.

Fresh food alongside Zooply

Zooply food is the fixed basis, but most animals also need something fresh. Rabbits get some fresh greens and leaves every day, built up gradually. Guinea pigs get fresh vegetables every day, especially vegetables rich in vitamin C, such as bell pepper. Rats enjoy small amounts of vegetables and an occasional protein-rich bite, such as a piece of boiled egg. Hamsters, mice and gerbils get an occasional mealworm or insect as animal protein. Degus get no fruit, carrot or other sweet vegetables. For all animals, keep fresh food and snacks as a supplement, and with rodents remove perishable leftovers in good time.

Nutrition for each life stage

Young animals grow fast and have a sensitive digestion. Give them their own Zooply food from the start and, where appropriate, unlimited hay, and introduce new things extra slowly. According to the label, the Support Muesli may make up a larger part of the menu for young rabbits and guinea pigs. With adult animals the main aim is a stable weight. With older animals, keep an eye on their teeth and appetite: if an older animal eats less or leaves its food, have its teeth checked by a vet.

How can you tell the food suits your animal?

A well-fed animal eats with interest, is active at its usual times, has a glossy coat and a stable weight. In rabbits and guinea pigs you will see plenty of round, dry droppings. If you notice soft droppings, a dull coat, weight loss or, on the contrary, an animal that is quickly gaining weight, first look at the amount of food and snacks. If the problem persists, consult a vet.

Switching to Zooply

Every change of food is a change for the gut. So first mix a small amount of Zooply into the old food and increase that share step by step, spread over 1 to 2 weeks. Keep an eye on droppings and appetite. In rabbits and guinea pigs, an animal that stops eating or no longer produces droppings is an emergency: go straight to a vet with knowledge of rabbits or guinea pigs.

Storing food

Store all Zooply food in a dry, cool and dark place in a well-sealing bucket or food bin. Choose a pack size that suits the number of animals: for one hamster a small pack is most practical, for a group of rabbits or degus the bulk pack makes more sense. That way the food is not left open for longer than necessary.

Handy combinations

• Zooply hay and straw: the main food for rabbits, guinea pigs and degus.
• Zooply dried herbs for variety and enrichment.
• Zooply bedding to hide rodent food in.
• Zooply bathing sand for hamsters, gerbils and degus.

Frequently asked questions about Zooply food

Can I give rabbits and guinea pigs the same food?

No. Guinea pigs cannot make vitamin C themselves and need food with added vitamin C. Zooply Guinea Pig Food contains it, Zooply Rabbit Food does not. The Support Muesli and Energy Muesli are suitable for both, as a supplement to their own pellets.

Why does a dwarf hamster need different food from a Syrian hamster?

Dwarf hamsters are smaller and eat smaller seeds. In addition, Campbell's and Russian dwarf hamsters in particular are sensitive to sugar. Zooply Dwarf Hamster Food is therefore made up of smaller seeds such as millet and panicum. Syrian Hamster Food contains coarser grains that a Syrian hamster loves to gnaw on.

Is the general rodent food suitable for my degu?

No. Degus are sensitive to sugar and only get Zooply Degu Food alongside unlimited hay. The general mixes are intended for hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats.

How much food do I give per day?

That is stated on the label of each product. For the Zooply rabbit pellets it is about 30 to 35 grams per kilo of body weight per day, for Zooply Guinea Pig Food about 25 to 30 grams per kilo. For hamsters, mice and gerbils the label gives a fixed amount per animal. Weigh your animal now and then and adjust the portion if it noticeably gains or loses weight.

Why does Zooply only have a few kinds per animal?

Because for each product group we only offer the option we fully stand behind. We would rather have one good food per species than ten variants you have to choose between. What you find here is what we feed to our own animals. That way you know we use every product ourselves every day with the animals it is intended for, and you do not have to compare endlessly to make a good choice for your animal.

Can I mix Zooply food with food from another brand?

During a switch that is exactly the idea: you mix gradually. After that, we recommend sticking to one food. With rabbits and guinea pigs this prevents the pellets from being diluted with a mix they eat selectively from; with rodents you keep a better overview of what your animal is eating.

Zooply food at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza you will find the food we use ourselves every day for the rabbits, guinea pigs and rodents in our shop and breeding facility. Choose the Zooply food for your species, combine it with unlimited hay where appropriate and fresh water, and switch over calmly.