Why do people take out corn from food

[biffyclyro89]

What is bad about corn for hamsters. Because its in all the food mixes and my hammy seems to love it. Why should i take it out?

[animalmagic]

People who have dwarf hamsters tend to/should take out the corn from seed mixes. This is because dwarves are prone to getting diabetes and eating things like corn and sugary food increases the risk :)

[Chaos]

The corn thats in the seed mixes often has harmful bacteria on it. Plus its been linked to causing cancer in rodents. I don't feed seed mixes, but if I did, I would take it out.

[TiaMaria]

I've never taken it out and I've fed it to all of my hams, dwarf and syrians. None have diabetes and all have lived 1 1/2 years + but some people prefer to take it out just incase. It depends on preferance.

[LMDH]

I must admit I dont take it out either, and I have diabetes free Campbells.

So far diabetes with hamsters seems to be genetic so I dont see a real need to alter their diet if they are healthy. I do stay away from high sugar treats etc but thats more because I prefer to feed a healthy diet to my hamsters. I dont eat a lot of chocolate myself, so dont see why i should fill my hamsters full of rubbish either.

Any ham that does have diabetes will get a corn free diet though - I have had a few rescues in the past with it, but nothing at the moment.

[biffyclyro89]

well i have a syrian hamster and he seems to love it and he has been perfectly healthy since i started feeding it to him which was a year ago so i guess il just leave it in there then.

[animalmagic]

I think it's fine for your Syrian :)

[TiaMaria]

It's fine for a syrian, it's the dwarf hammies people worry about most.

[phreakyacidride]

i leave the corn in my dwarf hamsters' food mix. they dont seem to like corn very much & leave it back. but i have to pick out the sunflower seeds or they hoard them & fight over them.

[bubblz]

I wouldn't worry about corn with a syrian. They are not prone to diabeties as is the case with Campbell's dwarf's