If you just adopted this adorable little animal and now you're wondering: What do hamsters eat?, What fruits do hamsters eat? o Which diet is best suited for a Campbell hamster, a Roborowski or a Russian ?.
Here we offer you a list of foods that can be fed to a hamster as well as those forbidden foods that you should never eat.
What do hamsters eat?
You must ensure that your hamster has water and food available all day and within reach. While a hamster can be fed with commercial food, bought at pet stores, it is not the best option. Like any mammal if you eat fresh fruits and vegetables, such as lettuce, cucumber, pear, apple. It will be the best for you to have a healthy diet and avoid diseases.
How to introduce new foods in the hamster's diet?
All new foods should be introduced slowly to avoid problems with the hamster's stomach and / or cause diarrhea.
A good way to introduce these foods is to give a piece of fruit / vegetable one day, spend a day or two and then give them another piece of fruit / vegetable.
Once your system gets used you can start giving it that food more often. Do not give him the same, it is better to intersperse fruit, vegetables and other foods.
Be sure to rinse fruits and vegetables with water and let it sit at room temperature for a minute or two before giving them to hamsters. If there is something that you must be absolutely sure is that no pesticides in fruits and vegetables. If you are not sure it is better to avoid wild plants, vegetables and fruits.
Below you will find several reference lists so you know what can a hamster be fed.
Keep fresh water and food in your cage, so you can feed whenever you need it. Try to avoid giving it the most in commercial food and incorporate fresh fruit, vegetables and some meat into your diet.
Benefits of fruits and vegetables for my hamster
To keep our hamster in perfect condition, it is essential to provide a varied diet, rich in fiber and with a low fat index. Keep in mind that these small rodents have a tendency to obesity if we do not measure the amount of food or the products we offer, that is why we must pay close attention to their diet and follow the best diet for them.
Hamster preparations sold in specialized pet stores, made from seeds, cereals, nuts and green foods, are rich in fiber, antioxidants and carbohydrates, so your diet should consist mainly of this type of feed On the other hand, fruits and vegetables are a great source of essential vitamins, fiber and minerals for your body, among other benefits.
As you can see, basing the hamster's diet solely on fruits and vegetables is a big mistake, since they lack many properties that we can only offer them through the aforementioned preparation. However, not introducing them in their diet is also, since we would deprive the animal of multiple essential nutrients for its correct evolution, resulting in a poorly developed intestinal flora. Also, many of the fruits contain a high percentage of sugars, beneficial in small quantities but very harmful in large measures. Therefore, it is essential to be well informed about fruits and vegetables that are good for them, as well as the correct way to provide them.
Fruits good for my hamster
In addition to covering some of the nutritional deficiencies of dry feed, fruits help provide our hamster with the amount of fluid that your body needs. In this sense, it is vitally important that your drinking fountain is always filled with fresh water. Here are the best fruits for hamsters:
- Pear. With a very low caloric intake, rich in fiber, vitamin A, B, C and E, the pear is one of the best fruits for these small rodents because it helps them regulate their intestinal transit and purify the body. To give it, you must clean it well, leave the skin, remove the seeds, the stem and the heart, chop it into small cubes and provide it in small quantities>
Vegetables good for my hamster
As we said, vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber to our hamster and, above all, are low in fat. The best vegetables for hamsters are the following:
- Green peas. They favor the cardiovascular health of our hamster, have a low caloric intake and regulate blood sugar levels. In this way, we see how peas are very beneficial for them, especially for those who need to reduce their body weight.
- Spinach. Being a great natural source of fiber and antiox>
How to give fruits and vegetables to my hamster
As we mentioned at the beginning, fruits and vegetables help properly develop intestinal flora of our hamster. An incorrect feeding can cause the appearance of digestive problems, such as diarrhea, product of the lack of essential nutrients.
Ideally, begin to introduce these foods in the diet of our rodent since childhood, just wean them. For this, it is best to follow a gradual process, that is, introduce fruits and vegetables little by little so that your body adapts and assimilates them correctly. Of course, before getting down to work, remember to make sure that your pet is completely free of parasites, so do not hesitate to take it to the veterinarian to examine it and advise you on the best foods for him.
When we start giving our hamster fruits and vegetables for the first time we will one by one to check if there is any intolerance or allergy. That is, we will not prepare a bowl of food with mixed fruits or assorted vegetables until we are completely sure that these foods are good for him. To verify that everything is correct, we will try to give it a specific fruit or vegetable for two or three days in a row, always as a complement to the feed and in small quantities. If we observe any negative behavior or symptom of digestive disorder, we will immediately remove that food.
It is essential to always give the right amount that the hamster will eat during the day, neither more nor less. In case of leftover fruit or vegetables, we will remove it so that it does not get in poor condition and generate an intoxication to the animal. Remember that we should not give this type of food to our little rodent every day, after three days of testing we will leave a few days of rest and try another food.
Each breed of hamster requires particular needs, which is why it is essential that consult with the veterinarian Before providing any homemade diet, he will know how to give you fruits and vegetables and how often.
If you want to read more articles similar to Fruits and vegetables for hamstersWe recommend that you enter our section on Homemade Diets.
What other features does a hamster have?
Hamsters usually have a very short life span. While there are differences between races. For example, the Syrian hamster lives between two and three years, while the dwarf varieties have a life of between a year or two.
Of course, they are rodents that have great vitality. As in the desert they have to look far for their food, They are prepared so that their movements adapt to all the circumstances of the terrain.
These small animals, capable of storing large amounts of energy, they need to exercise a lot. That is why your pet will spend a lot of time playing on his wheel. In that sense, it is recommended that in your cage there are also tunnels, toys and other accessories to preserve your physical and mental health.
On the other hand, They are nocturnal animals. One tip is that you don't place your cage in a place where your activities and movements can wake you up. The sound they make when they play is, of course, not conducive to falling asleep. During the day, these little rodents sleep and tend to have a bad mood. In fact, a tired hamster is prone to bite children who want to play with him or bother him.
If you want to have more than one, it is best to buy two cages andthat each rodent has his home separately. Why? Because they are quite aggressive with each other. Especially if it's two hamsters of different race. However, there are exceptions. For example, living two Syrian specimens in the same cage is impossible. However, you can keep together those that belong to the Chinese or Russian variety.
Remember: do not mix different races to inhabit the same cage.
The care of a hamster
Hamsters They are very clean creatures. You should not place your plate of water and food near the area where they need it as it will feel uncomfortable.
In addition, it is recommended that add your cage thoroughly at least twice a week. Remember that hamsters are quite hoarders, so be sure to remove all leftover food during cleaning as they may have stored and accumulated part under their "bedding" that is no longer in good condition.
Finally, provide your hamster with safe toys that can be entertained, preferably made of wood, and do not forget to place a shelter in the cage as a house, so you can hide there during the day.
What fruits can hamsters eat? 20 fruits for hamster
We will give them fresh, raw and well washed. The best fruits for hamsters are:
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Boneless cherries
- Kiwis
- Lychees
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Seedless apple
- Pear without seeds
- Boneless peach or peach
- Boneless plums
- Mango
- Papaya
- grapes
- Banana or banana
- Dates
- Figs
- Avocado or avocado, peeled and seeded
The more caloric fruits, such as bananas, dates, figs and avocado, we will give them occasionally or in very small portions. If we do not do it this way, we will end up causing our hamster gain weight, and ultimately suffer from obesity, which can make you sick and shorten your life.
Instead lAs fruits with less caloric intake, such as watermelon, apple, pear or strawberries, we can give them more often and in slightly larger portions, since they contain much more water, less fat and sugars, and therefore fatten less.
What foods do hamsters eat?
If you want to know what food hamsters eat, the easiest thing is to buy hamster food at an animal store. This can be in granola or granules. It is also a good idea to buy food that seems natural because very colored foods are usually full of additives.
Hamsters like fruits and vegetables, but you have to be careful with the amount you are giving them. Hamsters are obviously only small creatures and excess fruits and vegetables in their diet can cause diarrhea. A small cube of apple, carrot or cucumber is enough.
If it's about knowing what food hamsters eat, it's no secret to anyone that these little ones usually like carrots. However remember that they are high in sugar, so you should not give it too much. Also other fruits and vegetables that your hamster can eat are chicory, cauliflower, broccoli, pear, peach and banana. You should never give your furry friend any citrus or onion as they are rich in acid and your hamster could end up with a digestive discomfort.
If you want to give your hamster a treat, once a week you can provide some hard boiled egg, or some flour worms. Additionally these are both a great source of protein and is part of the response to what food hamsters eat.
It is easy to provide a healthy diet for your hamster, but one thing that is very important to remember is that no matter how tempted you may be, never give a hamster any food that can be sharp or sticky. As a result this can get trapped inside your retention bags and cause real damage. Other than that, as long as you provide a balanced and fresh diet every day, your hamster should be a very happy pet.
How much food should be given to a hamster?
Not only is it enough to know what food hamsters eat, it is also important to know how much food to give. This is why it is suggested to feed a Syrian hamster 10g dry hamster food twice a day. Of course you will have to take note of what your hamster eats, since not everyone has exactly the same appetite. Surprisingly, when it comes to the question of how much dwarf hamsters eat, the answer is, almost the same as Syrian hamsters. The metabolism of dwarf hamsters is much faster!
When should a hamster be fed?
There is some disagreement as to when you should give your hamster food. There are a lot of people who think it is better to feed a hamster at night when they are active. That is not necessarily true. Wild hamsters leave their burrows at night, and that is when they begin the search for food. However, this is mainly to protect against daytime predators.
Like domestic hamsters in their cage, wild hamsters collect food in their cheek pouches and then store them for later eating. As a result, hamsters wake up several times during the day to chop the food they have stored. Although it is not found in nature, your hamster can also enjoy snacks throughout the day, so make sure you have enough food to do this.
When it comes to what foods the hamsters eat, it is important to remember that you should never leave traces of past food in the cage. Fresh foods should be provided at each time of feeding. Fresh water should also be provided every day and ensure that the beverage bottle is thoroughly cleaned at least once a week. If the tap water has a high chlorine content, then it is a good idea to give your hamster filtered water to drink.
Know on this list what foods the hamsters eat:
- Apple (without seeds)
- Banana
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Grapes (without seed)
- Mango
- Cantaloupe
- Peaches (seedless)
- Plums (no holes)
- Raspberries
- Raspberry leaves (useful for diarrhea)
- Strawberries
- Asparagus
- Bean sprouts
- Broccoli
- Cabbage (cant> Meats and Proteins
- Cooked minced meat (Rinse well in hot water to remove any remaining fat)
- Chicken coc> Other meals