Mr Johnson’s is a UK brand that sells two main hamster and gerbil foods: Supreme Hamster & Gerbil Mix, a seed-and-grain muesli, and Advance Hamster & Gerbil, a nugget food. Both are sold as complementary foods, meaning they are meant to be served with fresh vegetables and clean water, not on their own.
According to a UK retailer listing, Supreme is a mix of cereals, flaked peas and beans, extruded pieces, sunflower seeds, peanuts, dried carrot, dried banana, and mealworms, with added vitamins and an herbal blend. The listed analysis is about 18% protein, 4.5% fibre, and 5.5% fat. Formulas change, so always read the label on the bag you buy.
The upside is variety and foraging fun. The downside is the same as with any muesli-style mix: pets can pick out the tasty, fatty pieces (sunflower seeds, peanuts, banana) and leave the rest. The UK animal charity PDSA recommends pellets over muesli mixes for gerbils for exactly this reason.
Advance: the nugget option
Advance is a nugget food. Because every nugget has the same makeup, your pet cannot cherry-pick favorites. The retailer listing says it has no added colorings, flavorings, or preservatives and includes prebiotics and an herbal blend for gut health. It does not publish a full ingredient list on that page, so check the packaging.
Which should you choose?
Picky eater who leaves half the bowl? Try the nuggets, or feed the mix in measured portions and only top up once the bowl is empty.
Active forager who needs enrichment? A mix can work if you scatter it around the cage rather than filling a bowl.
Overweight pet? Skip peanuts and sunflower seeds as extras and stick to the nuggets.
How to feed it
Give a small portion once a day, following the bag’s guidance, and adjust to your pet’s weight.
Add a small piece of fresh vegetable daily. Wash it and remove uneaten pieces within a day.
Offer protein treats sparingly: a piece of boiled egg or a few dried mealworms once or twice a week.
Keep fresh water available at all times.
Do not mix in other brands’ seed mixes all at once. Change foods gradually over about a week.
Mr Johnson’s Advance nuggets are the safer pick if your pet sorts through its food. Supreme Mix is fine as a foraging food if you control portions. Either way, add fresh vegetables and water, and call your vet if your pet stops eating, loses weight, or has loose droppings.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk to a vet who sees small pets about any health concern.
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