Hamster Feeding Chart
| Veggies and Green | Grains | Fruits | Proteins | Fats |
| Lettuce | Cooked brown rice | Apple (no seeds) | Hard-boiled eggs | Pumpkin seeds |
| Kale | Whole-grain cereal | Cantaloupe | Mealworm | Sunflower seeds |
| Dandelion green | Cooked whole-wheat pasta | Banana | Crickets | Pistachios |
| Spinach | Oats | Blueberries | Cooked chicken | Pecans |
- Commercial hamster pellets (not a muesli-style mix). You can buy these in pet shops.
- Small amounts of fresh fruit, vegetables or herbs.
- Timothy hay. ...
- Occasional treats, like nuts, boiled egg or mealworms.
- You hamster will also need constant access to clean, fresh water.
What foods are bad for a hamster?
Freshoods Not Suitable For Hamsters (NOTE: this list is non-exhaustive):
- Aubergine
- Acorns
- Buttercups
- Bluebells
- Bindweed
- Citrus fruits
- Elder
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Privet
What fruits and vegetables are safe to feed hamsters?
- Pear – Pears are thought to be healthy and digestible for hamsters. ...
- Although many hamsters don’t like to eat it, it is still healthy and safe for Syrian hamsters. ...
- Apple – Apart from the dry palettes, you can feed Apple to your Syrian hamster in a small quantity as a treat.
- Apricot – Dried Apricot and its stone/seed should be avoided. ...
What type of foods can you feed a hamster?
- Apple seeds and skins
- Grape seeds
- Fruit pits
- Almonds
- Peanuts
- Garlic
- Onions
- Eggplant
- Chocolate (or any other sugary sweet)
What vegetables can you feed a hamster?
Cruciferous vegetables belonging to the brassica family that includes cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussel sprouts, and broccoli. They’re high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and low in calories. As with all vegetables you can give to hamsters, it’s best to start with a very tiny amount – half a teaspoon is plenty – to avoid diarrhea. 2.
What is a hamsters favorite food?
Hamsters enjoy leafy greens such as dandelions and clover, and fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, carrots and cabbage.
What should I feed my hamster everyday?
A balanced diet for hamsters A compound pellet ration or mixture of different seeds formulated to meet their needs. Small quantities of greens, cleaned root vegetables and pieces of fruit such as apples. Don't give them grapes or rhubarb, as these can be poisonous to rodents.
What human foods can hamsters eat?
What Human Foods Can Hamsters Eat?Sugarless breakfast cereals or grains.Greens.Seeds.Carrots.Apples.Raisins.Peas.Pepper.More items...•
What fruits and veggies can hamsters eat?
Speaking of fruits and vegetables – hamsters need them too! Fresh (rinsed with water) veggies are good, and examples include carrots, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, romaine lettuce, spinach and other greens. Fresh fruits (rinsed in water) are good too, such as apples, pears, bananas, grapes and most berries.
Can I feed my hamster cheese?
Many hamsters love the taste of cheese, but its high fat and sodium content is not especially healthy for hamsters. If your hamster enjoys cheese and seems to tolerate it well, you can offer it occasionally in small amounts. Hamsters should get no more than a pea-sized amount of cheese just once or twice a week.
Do hamsters need baths?
Hamsters are fastidious groomers and do a good job keeping themselves clean, baths, as we tend to think of them, are not necessary. However, it is possible to spot-clean them, if they truly need it. It is especially important to check their bottom as sometimes bedding can stick after going to the bathroom.
What do hamsters love as a treat?
Hamsters love apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, grapes and bananas. Fruit should be offered in moderation, as a supplement to their regular pelleted diet. Remove any vegetables or fruits that are not eaten within 10-12 hours so they don't spoil.
What can hamsters drink?
Hamsters should only drink water. Water provides them with all they need to survive and stay hydrated, and there really is no other substitute. Whether you give your hamster tap water or filtered bottled water depends on the quality of the tap water where you live.
What is poisonous to hamsters?
While fresh fruits and vegetables are an important part of a hamster's diet, there are certain foods that are toxic to hamsters. These include tomato leaves, almonds, avocado, potatoes, onion, garlic, chocolate, and apple seeds.
What can I feed my hamster if I run out of food?
Proteins and Grains Cooked eggs, tofu, flax or pumpkin seeds will be welcomed protein sources. Whole-wheat toast, millet sprays and whole oats are a good diet replacement for a day or two. Alfalfa and timothy hay are acceptable as a treat and to substitute for kibble for a day or so.
How often should I feed my hamster?
To feed your hamster, give it 1 tablespoon of hamster food, which you can buy from a pet store, once a day either in the morning or the evening. Additionally, feed your hamster a small portion of fruit, vegetables, or protein every day or every other day.
How can I make my hamster happy?
If you're looking to make your hamster a bit happier, here is a list of things you can try.Provide a Bigger Cage. ... Provide a Complete Diet. ... Fresh Water is Always Better. ... Use an Exercise Wheel. ... Add a Tunneling System. ... Consider Treats – in Moderation. ... Provide Deep Bedding. ... Enrichment is Essential.More items...•
Feeding Your Hamster: General Guidelines
The easiest and safest approach to feeding your hamster is to go with a complete meal that you can find at a pet or store. “I recommend one of the...
Can Hamsters Eat Carrots?
Carrots are safe for hamsters to eat, however, they should be given in moderation, said Dr. Carol Osborne, owner of Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center...
Can Hamsters Eat Tomatoes?
Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family and un-ripened tomatoes, along with the plant’s stems and leaves, contain tomatine, a solanum alkaloi...
What Other Fruits and Vegetables Can Hamsters Eat?
The following foods are safe for your hamster to eat: 1. Broccoli 2. Cauliflower 3. Kale 4. Cucumbers 5. Celery 6. Bok choy 7. Sweet potatoes (shou...
What Shouldn’T You Feed Your hamster?
While it may seem like you can give a hamster just about anything, there are some foods to steer clear of, including: 1. Apple seeds and skins 2. G...
What to feed hamsters?
[2] Leftovers can rot, contaminating the cage. Good vegetables to feed your hamster include: turnips, carrots, chicory, spinach, parsley, pumpkin, endive, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, and asparagus.
What does it mean when a hamster is feeding in the morning?
Feeding in the evening, when the hamster is awake and most active, means that she has access to food when it's freshest. Feeding in the morning means she has access to food for a snack when she wakes sporadically during the day.
How to keep hamsters from scratching plastic?
2. Purchase a small ceramic bowl. Hamsters can scratch up plastic bowls, creating crevices which foster the growth of bacteria. A small bowl is preferable to a large one, because it will leave space in the cage for your hamster to play.. Place the bowl at the opposite side of the cage from your hamster’s bathroom area.
How to tell if a hamster is obese?
Monitor your hamster's weight. Because they have so much extra skin, it can be difficult to tell when a hamster is becoming obese. A Syrian should weight approximately one ounce per inch of length. Also, if your hamster appears slow and sluggish, it is possible you should modify its diet.
How to keep hamsters from knocking over water?
Purchase a water bottle. Hamsters are liable to knock over a water dish, creating sanitary problems. At the pet store purchase a bottle that can hang on your hamster’s cage. Refill regularly with bottled water. Be sure to clean the water bottle at least once a week.
Do hamsters need to be washed?
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. No. Hamsters are fastidious creatures and keep themselves clean, so they usually don't need to be washed. There are also risks associated with bathing a hamster, such as his inhaling water, drowning, or catching a chill.
Can hamsters eat sunflower seeds?
After a few weeks, slowly transition it to a different food source, should you choose to. If you are feeding your hamster a seed mix, make sure that it does not only eat the sun flower seeds. Hamsters prefer these, but they will not satisfy all of your hamster’s nutritional needs. ...
What is the best diet for hamsters?
The Best Hamster Diet. The ideal diet for a hamster is a pelleted diet that is supplemented with a variety of other safe and human foods. If your hamster won't eat the pelleted diet then sprinkle some seed mixture onto the pellets or find a seed diet that already has pellets in it.
What do hamsters eat?
Pelleted hamster foods offer a completely balanced diet in every bite, and they are often recommended for this reason. 1 Pelleted diets can come in many shapes but usually look like small biscuits, cookies, or cereal.
Can hamsters eat honey?
Store-bought treats such as yogurt drops and honey/seed sticks are too sugary for a hamster and they should be avoided. Since dwarf hamsters are somewhat prone to diabetes it is also especially prudent to avoid sugar in their diet, so avoid fruits altogether as treats for them.
What foods are risk-free for my hamster to consume?
What should I feed my hamster? There are a whole host of fruits, vegetables as well as herbs that are suitable for your hamster as well as which they will certainly find genuinely scrumptious when washed in advance as well as given up small amounts. These consist of:
What foods my hamster should not eat?
Whilst your hamster may be happy to chomp or anything, particular foods can be unsafe, as well as you need to stay away from using them. These consist of:
How usually should I feed my hamster?
Hamsters are not such as human beings and also do not call for three meals a day. In the wild hamsters forage and also shop food in their cheek pouches and near to their nest, as a survival impulse for when food is limited.
How much should I feed my hamster?
Some hamsters are a lot more active than others, as well as for that reason you need to observe your hamster to get a good understanding of their feeding behaviors. Ideally, a regular sized Syrian hamster will consume around 1-2 tbsps of food a day.
When is the best time to feed my hamster?
There is still much debate over the very best time to feed a hamster. Personally, I would say pick a time, either morning or evening, that fits you finest and adhere to it to ensure that your hamster ends up being utilized to the very same routine.
What do dwarf hamsters consume besides hamster food?
Surprisingly a dwarf hamster can consume the very same quantity of food as a Syrian hamster, regardless of the dimension difference as their metabolism is a lot quicker! Dwarf hamsters can eat the same diet regimen as a Syrian hamster, nevertheless, their dimension puts them more in jeopardy of diabetic issues.
What to feed hamsters to keep them healthy?
Still, this can get monotonous for your hamster, and you should supplement this with seeds, nuts, vegetables, and fruits occasionally.
How much food do hamsters need?
Dwarf hamsters will need a bit less, roughly 1 tablespoon, while larger hamsters like Syrians will likely need a bit more. If your hamster is gaining weight and storing loads of food, you may need to reduce the amount. If your hamster is finishing all their food and not storing much, you’ll need to slightly increase their daily amount.
What to do if your hamster is not eating?
However, they could also simply be hoarding their food! Check their bedding for food that they may be keeping for a late-night snack, but do not remove it.
Can you remove hamster food from a cage?
In general, you should not remove your hamster’s stash. This will cause them stress when they find that their stored food has suddenly vanished! Dry, pelleted food and seeds can last for quite some time, and it’s advisable to put their stash back exactly where you found it after cleaning their cage.
Can hamsters hold food?
Hamsters can hold a large amount of food inside their cheeks. Some people estimate that they can hold as much as the equivalent of their own bodyweight in cheek storage! Stashing food away is perfectly normal behavior for hamsters, but if you notice them storing large amounts of their food away, you are probably giving them too much. ...
Do hamsters need vitamins?
Some hamster owners give their hamster extra vitamin supplements, but with a healthy lifestyle, these won’t help much. Also, it’s exceedingly difficult to judge how much they need, and they could end up having too many certain vitamins.
Is vitamin C safe for hamsters?
Water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C, are safe, though arguably unnecessary in healthy hamsters. The only time when supplements are potentially helpful is when your hamster is having certain health issues and they are recommended by a vet. YouTube. Victoria Raechel.
What do hamsters eat?
Regarding edible vegetables, hamsters can eat carrots, celery, cucumber, green peppers, lettuce, pumpkin, spinach, and squash. Similar to when feeding fruits, skins and seeds should be removed from vegetables prior to being given to a hamster.
How much pellets should a hamster eat?
Captive hamsters of both species should be fed about 10 grams of hamster pellets twice per day, or one tablespoon once per day. Although dwarf hamsters are smaller, their metabolism is much faster, which is why they eat similar amounts to those of Syrian hamsters.
Can hamsters eat grapes?
Unlike dogs, hamsters can eat grapes. They can also eat apples, bananas, blueberries, figs, pears, strawberries, and watermelon. If you feed your hamster grapes, apples, or pears, be sure to first remove the skin and any large seeds, and cut the fruit into reasonably sized pieces. One cube of fruit should be enough of a treat for one day.
Do hamsters eat meat?
Since wild hamsters eat insects, you might feed your hamster live or dried crickets or mealworms. If you’re too squeamish to handle insects, hamsters can also eat some cooked meats. Cooked chicken and cooked beef are safe to feed ...
Can you feed hamsters raw meat?
Raw meat should never be given to hamsters, and meat should be cooked without any seasonings. You can also feed canned (wet) dog food to a hamster. Regardless of which meat you choose to give your hamster, don’t give them too large of a portion.
Do hamsters store food?
All hamsters store food in their cheeks, which they sometimes save for later. Hamsters will eat a lot, so you must be careful to not overfeed them. There are two types of hamsters usually kept as pets: Syrian hamsters and dwarf hamsters.
What to feed a hamster?
When your hamster deserves a little treat, consider some of the following: 1 Grains. This is the primary food for hamsters. You should provide approximately a tablespoonful daily. Grains offer protein and carbohydrates and can come from prepared hamster mixtures. Do not over feed fatty nuts (peanuts and sunflower seeds) as they promote obesity. These should be only a small part of the mixture. 2 Vegetables. Fresh, organically grown greens are the best. Romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, carrot tops, broccoli spears, spinach, artichokes and any other dark green veggies are great choices. Avoid iceberg lettuce and other veggies or fruits (like watermelon) that are high in water content as they can cause diarrhea. Remember to wash the vegetables thoroughly to remove traces of harmful pesticides. 3 Fruits. Hamsters love apples, pears, strawberries and bananas. They should be given in moderation, as a supplement to the regular diet. Be sure to remove any vegetables or fruits that are not eaten within 24 hours. 4 Timothy hay. Hay is a great gnawing food that can help keep your hamster's teeth in good condition. 5 Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily. 6 Treats! Yes, you can reward your hamster with her favorite hamster treats, just keep them in moderation.
What is a good diet for hamsters?
A well-balanced hamster diet consists of a high-quality hamster food that is specially formulated to provide the proper balanced nutrition with the ideal daily dosage of vitamins and minerals, plus all the other essential nutrients . When your hamster deserves a little treat, consider some of the following: Grains.
How to keep hamster teeth in good condition?
Timothy hay. Hay is a great gnawing food that can help keep your hamster's teeth in good condition. Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water , changed daily.
What are the best foods for hamsters?
These should be only a small part of the mixture. Vegetables. Fresh, organically grown greens are the best.
Can you give hamsters treats?
Treats! Yes, you can reward your hamster with her favorite hamster treats, just keep them in moderation. Just as important as what is safe to feed your pet, do not feed your hamster the following, as they are harmful to their health and can cause serious medical conditions: Chocolate. Caffeine.
Do dogs need pellets?
However, your pet does need a high-quality commercial pellet as a main diet to meet their nutritional needs. However, in addition to their daily meals, it's fun to offer them a bit of variety in the form of different treats. Remember, treats should never make up more than 10% of your pet's overall diet and not make a dramatic changes ...
What do hamsters eat?
Hamsters can eat a lot of different fruits and vegetables, as well as a number of seeds and grains . We’ve made a list of some great foods that hamsters can enjoy safely, on the following page. Prev Next.
Can hamsters eat seeds?
Other Foods Not Suitable For Hamsters. Hamsters can eat a lot of different fruits and vegetables, as well as a number of seeds and grains. We’ve made a list of some great foods that hamsters can enjoy safely, on the following page.
Can you feed hamsters?
What Not To Feed A Hamster. When it comes to feeding hamsters, it might be best to stick to a list of what hamsters can eat rather than what they can’t. If you’re not sure whether or not your hamster can eat a certain food, it’s better to be safe than sorry and to not offer it to them.
What vegetables should I feed my hamster?
Even if they’re the veggies your hamster should be eating, like cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, or chicory, if they’re not clean, your hamster shouldn’t have them.
What to do if hamster is dehydrated?
The best thing you can do is take your hamster to an exotic animal vet if you notice your hamster is showing signs of dehydration, as by the time it is clinically apparent, it is very severe and your hamster likely needs fluid support. Read more about dehydration in hamsters in our health guide here.
What does almond do to hamsters?
These almonds contain emulsin, an enzyme, that produces essential oils, cyanide, and glucose. Compared to sweet almonds, bitter almonds have 42x the cyanide. If your hamster eats too much cyanide, it will kill them.
Can hamsters have diarrhea?
Instead, the hamster will come down with diarrhea. When severe enough, all that diarrhea can cause dehydration. In hamsters, excessive dehydration can kill. Your hamster’s eyes will look sunken, they’ll be weak and slow, and they won’t want to eat if they’re dangerously dehydrated.
Do hamsters like candy?
We hope this goes without saying, but your hamster does not want chips, candy, cakes, cookies, or any other junk food. The same goes for your cats, dogs, and other household pets. The high sugar and/or salt content in these foods can lead to upset stomachs, diarrhea, and dehydration.
Can hamsters eat tomatoes?
If your hamster were to munch on too much of one, they’d end up with diarrhea. Now, tomatoes , when fed in very small amounts , are permissible.
Can hamsters eat bell peppers?
This can affect the red blood cells of a hamster. As for actual peppers – some types have varying degrees of spiciness. Avoid those at all costs. As for sweet peppers, such as bell peppers, they’re best consumed in moderation. They are acidic and can upset a hamster’s delicate system if consumed in high amounts.
