Zooply rodent food: food that suits your species

A hamster, a gerbil, a mouse, a rat and a degu are all rodents, but they do not eat the same things. A Syrian hamster drags a hefty stash to its nest, a dwarf hamster tolerates little sugar, a rat is an omnivore that quickly becomes overweight and a degu should have no sugar at all. That is why in this category you will not find a one-bag-fits-all, but food from Zooply that is put together for each species.

Zooply is our own premium brand. It was created because the products that worked best for our own animals were not always available from other brands. We feed these mixes every day to the rodents in our shop in Bodegraven and in our breeding facility. For each product group we deliberately keep the range small: only the option we fully stand behind.

At a glance

• ✓ Choose the food for your species: Syrian hamster, dwarf hamster, gerbil, mouse, rat or degu.
• ✓ A seed and grain mix is normal for these rodents; foraging and sorting are part of their natural behaviour.
• ✓ Only top up the bowl once it has been properly emptied, otherwise only the favourite bits get eaten.
• ✓ Switch to a different food gradually, spread over 1 to 2 weeks.
• ✓ Degus always get sugar-free food, with unlimited hay alongside.

What will you find in the Zooply Rodent Food category?

Zooply Syrian Hamster Food

Zooply Syrian Hamster Food is a complete mix for Syrian hamsters. According to the product information it contains wheat, maize, milo, barley, peas, carrot, parsnip, pumpkin and apple cubes, among other things, topped off with a flower mix of marigold, chamomile, rose and cornflower. The food is intended as the daily main food. The label recommends about 15 grams per animal per day, preferably in the evening when your hamster wakes up. You can choose between a small pack of 550 grams or a 1.6 kg bucket.

Zooply Dwarf Hamster Food

Dwarf hamsters have their own mix. Zooply Dwarf Hamster Food is made up of smaller seeds such as millet and panicum, with barley, peas, carrot, parsnip and pumpkin, and the same flower mix of marigold, chamomile, rose and cornflower. Here too the label gives about 15 grams per animal per day, given in the evening. The food comes in 600 grams and in a resealable 1.5 kg bag. Campbell's and Russian dwarf hamsters in particular are sensitive to sugar. So do not give them sweet snacks or fruit alongside their food.

Zooply Gerbil Food

According to the product information, Zooply Gerbil Food contains millet, panicum, peas, carrot, parsnip, pumpkin, alfalfa and dandelion, among other things, with the flower mix of marigold, chamomile, rose and cornflower. The label recommends about 25 grams per animal per day. Gerbils live in pairs or small groups, so calculate for the whole group. You can choose between 500 grams or a resealable 1.5 kg bag.

Zooply Mouse Food

Zooply Mouse Food is a fine mix with small seeds such as millet and panicum, supplemented with barley, peas, vegetables and the flower mix. According to the product information, linseed and spelt add extra variety. The label gives about 15 grams per animal per day. The 600 gram pack is handy for a small group; the resealable 1.5 kg bag suits a larger group.

Zooply Rat Food

Rats are omnivores and get their own Zooply mix with wheat, maize, milo, barley, peas, carrot, parsnip and pumpkin, among other things, plus the flower mix. It is intended as the daily basis, supplemented with small amounts of fresh vegetables and some protein now and then, such as a piece of boiled egg or an insect. You can choose between 550 grams or a 1.6 kg bucket. Rats quickly become overweight; weigh them regularly and adjust the portion to what you see.

Zooply Degu Food

Zooply Degu Food is a complete basis for degus. According to the product information it contains mealworms and blue cornflower, among other things, for variety in scent, taste and texture. Always give degu food together with unlimited good-quality hay. The food comes in a 1 kg or 2.5 kg bucket and as a 5 kg bulk pack for those who keep a larger group of degus.

Zooply Rodent Food and Rodent Food Excellent

Alongside the species-specific mixes, this category has two general mixes for hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats. According to the product information, Zooply Rodent Food Excellent contains wheat, carob, barley, maize, maize flakes, sunflower seeds, vegetable chips, pea flakes, mealworms, carrot chips and pumpkin seeds, among other things. The label recommends about 10 to 15 grams per 100 grams of body weight per day. Zooply Rodent Food (1750 grams) is an extensive mix with grains, pulses, various pellets made from grass, alfalfa and oats, linseed, sunflower seeds, mealworms and pieces of carrot. If you keep one species, the species-specific Zooply mix is usually the better fit. For dwarf hamsters, it is better to choose the Dwarf Hamster Food, and for degus only the Degu Food.

Why a seed mix works well for these rodents

For rabbits and guinea pigs we advise against a loose mix of grains and pellets as the main food, because they selectively eat the tasty bits. For hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats it is different. In the wild these animals gather their food from all over: seeds, grains, herbs, insects. A varied mix matches that. Sorting, shelling and carrying food away are not a problem for them, but actually part of their daily activity.

What you do need to watch: do not keep topping up the food bowl. If you top up while there is still food in it, your animal will only ever eat its favourite bits and leave the rest. Give the daily portion and only top up once the bowl has genuinely been emptied. With hamsters, also check the stash in the nest.

How much food do you give per day?

The product information gives a guideline for each species: about 15 grams per day for a Syrian hamster, a dwarf hamster or a mouse, and about 25 grams per day for a gerbil. That is a starting point, not a fixed rule. A young growing animal, an old animal or an animal that runs a lot may need slightly different amounts.

So weigh your animal now and then on a kitchen scale. If its weight stays stable and your animal looks fit, the portion is right. If it noticeably gains weight, give a little less and also take a critical look at the snacks. If it loses weight, or suddenly eats poorly, contact a vet with knowledge of rodents.

Degus and sugar

Degus are prone to diabetes. So do not give them fruit, dried fruit, carrot, honey or sweet snacks. Their menu consists of unlimited hay, Zooply Degu Food and, if you like, sugar-free herbs. Do not use a general rodent mix for degus: it is not tailored to their sensitivity to sugar.

Switching to Zooply rodent food

Small rodents have a sensitive digestion. So switch gradually, spread over 1 to 2 weeks. Start by mixing a small amount of Zooply into the old food and increase that share every few days. During that period, keep an eye on droppings, appetite and behaviour. If the droppings are softer than normal, take more time over the switch.

Scatter feeding as enrichment

You do not always have to give rodent food in a bowl. Scatter part of the daily portion through the bedding or hide it in the hay. Your animal will then search, dig and sniff around, just as it would in the wild. That keeps it busy and helps prevent boredom. A deep layer of Zooply bedding is ideal for this. Do not scatter more than the daily portion, so you keep track of what your animal eats.

Handy combinations

Food is just one part of a good enclosure. These Zooply products complete it:

• Zooply bedding to dig in and hide food in.
• Zooply hay and straw as the main food for degus, and for hamsters, gerbils and mice as nesting material and something to nibble on.
• Zooply dried herbs to mix into the food or hide for variety.
• Zooply bathing sand for the coat care of hamsters, gerbils and degus.

Frequently asked questions about Zooply rodent food

Can I give one kind of food to all my rodents?

You can with the general Zooply Rodent Food, but the species-specific mixes are a better fit. A dwarf hamster needs smaller seeds and less sugar than a rat, and a degu must eat completely sugar-free. If you keep several species, ideally give each species its own Zooply food. That way you do not have to guess whether the composition suits them.

Is Syrian hamster food also suitable for dwarf hamsters?

Preferably not. Zooply Syrian Hamster Food contains larger grains and apple cubes, and dwarf hamsters are more sensitive to sugar. Zooply Dwarf Hamster Food is made up of smaller seeds such as millet and panicum and better suits their size and eating behaviour. The other way round, a Syrian hamster can eat dwarf hamster food, but it will miss the coarser pieces it loves to gnaw on.

My hamster keeps leaving bits behind. Is that a problem?

Not necessarily. Hamsters sort their food and carry part of it to their nest. It often looks as if they are not eating anything, while the stash in the nest keeps growing. Only top up the bowl once it is empty and check the nest too. If the same components keep being left while your hamster otherwise eats normally and stays at a healthy weight, there is little to worry about. If it loses weight, go to a vet with knowledge of rodents.

Is rat food alone enough for rats?

Zooply Rat Food is intended as a complete daily basis. Rats are omnivores and also enjoy small amounts of fresh vegetables and an occasional protein-rich bite, such as a piece of boiled egg. Keep those extras small, because rats quickly become overweight. Preferably use snacks to tame or train your rats, not as a regular meal.

Can my degu also eat hamster food or rodent food?

No. Degus are sensitive to sugar and can develop diabetes. The other mixes in this category contain ingredients such as maize, apple, banana or carob that do not suit a degu. Give your degus only Zooply Degu Food, unlimited hay, fresh water and, if you like, sugar-free herbs.

Can I give mealworms or other snacks as well?

Yes, in moderation. Hamsters, mice and rats benefit from some animal protein, and a mealworm is a good snack for that. Several Zooply mixes already contain mealworms. Keep snacks a small extra and use them to tame your animal or hide them as enrichment. Never give dwarf hamsters or degus sweet snacks.

Zooply rodent food at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza you will find the Zooply food we use ourselves every day for the hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats and degus in our shop and breeding facility. Zooply is our own premium brand, with one mix per species that we fully stand behind. Choose the food for your animal, build up the switch calmly and combine it with a good layer of bedding and some hay.