
Hamster Feeding Chart
Veggies and Green | Grains | Fruits | Proteins | Fats |
Spinach | Oats | Blueberries | Cooked chicken | Pecans |
Cucumber | Barley | Peaches (no pit) | Dubai roaches | Brazil nuts |
Daily 1-2 tsp. | Daily 0.5-1 tsp. | Every other day < 1tsp. | 2-3 times/week 0.5 tsp. | 2-3 times/week 0.5 tsp |
- 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 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 should I feed my hamster everyday?
The ideal hamster diet will include: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.
Do hamsters need food every day?
0:053:40How MUCH & how OFTEN should you feed your hamster? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd how often should I feed them because there's a lot of websites that will say a bunch ofMoreAnd how often should I feed them because there's a lot of websites that will say a bunch of different things like some people will say you should feed your hamster daily or you should always keep your
What is good to feed a hamster?
Romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, cauliflower, carrot tops, broccoli spears, spinach, sweet potato, squash, artichokes and any other dark green veggies are great choices. Avoid iceberg lettuce and other veggies or fruits—such as watermelon—that are high in water content and have little nutritional value.
How often should I feed my hamster?
People are fond of regular meals and we often tend to put our pets on a similar system of two or three meals a day. At a minimum, most pets are fed at least daily.
How often should I feed my hamster vegetables?
The recommended serving for fresh foods (listed below) is not more than two servings per day, one fruit/veggie and one protein/other per day, especially for smaller breeds of hamsters such as winter white, dwarves and robos.
Can you overfeed a hamster?
In the wild, a hamster can be quite a pest, hiding up to 60 pounds of grain in underground stores for winter. While a hamster with his cheeks full may be hard to resist, try to avoid overfeeding your hamster. The food he stores may soon become moldy if he urinates on it to mark it as his own.
Can hamsters eat banana?
Bananas are not toxic for hamsters, and they can have bananas in moderation. However, the key word here is definitely “moderation.” Hamsters are very small animals, and they shouldn't be gorging themselves on any food. For a healthy hamster diet, they should only have good foods in small amounts.
How do I give my hamster the best life?
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...•
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.
What fruit and veg 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.
How often should I change my hamsters water?
Make sure you check the water bottle daily for leaks and/or blockages and change your hamster's water at least once a day. You should also make time to regularly clean the bottle and nozzle properly to avoid contamination.
How long can hamsters go without food?
Most hamsters can survive for around 3-4 days without any food or water. That's because in the wild, hamsters are typically desert animals who will stash away resources for times of famine and drought, which means they likely already have some food hidden in their cage that you're not aware of!
How long can hamsters go without food?
Most hamsters can survive for around 3-4 days without any food or water. That's because in the wild, hamsters are typically desert animals who will stash away resources for times of famine and drought, which means they likely already have some food hidden in their cage that you're not aware of!
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 change my hamsters water?
Make sure you check the water bottle daily for leaks and/or blockages and change your hamster's water at least once a day. You should also make time to regularly clean the bottle and nozzle properly to avoid contamination.
How often do hamsters drink water?
Hamsters need to drink about two teaspoons (or 10ml) per 100 grams of their body weight each day. Most hamsters weigh roughly 200 grams; therefore, this means your hamster should consume 20 ml or 4 teaspoons of water daily.
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 do hamsters eat?
Round out the diet with greens in the forms of lettuces, grasses, fruits, and vegetables.
What do hamsters need to keep going?
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates in your food mix is a must. Carbohydrates are what an active hamster needs to keep going. If your lab blocks or seed mixes don’t have them or not enough, you can provide additional carbs of the following in small amounts.
How do hamsters drink water?
Hamsters in nature rarely drink water but instead get their water from the things they eat (This does NOT mean you don’t need a water bottle though). Fresh greens, fruits, and vegetables not only provide your hamsters with the water they need, but they also provide extra vitamins and minerals they need. With that said, you need to be careful how much greens you add into the hamster food; too many greens and they can get a case of diarrhea. A rough guide calls for only feeding it about one square inch (2.54cm) of greens per day. There are greens, fruits, and vegetables that are great for hamsters and there are also ones that should be avoided. The following are some of the greens that are acceptable and some of the greens to avoid (If you collect these from outdoors, make sure there are no pesticides or toxic chemicals that could be on them. Always thoroughly wash them before placing them in your hamster’s cage.)
How much food does a Syrian hamster eat?
A Syrian hamster will only eat one to two tablespoons of food per day . Dwarf hamsters have higher metabolisms so they will consume the same amount. Expired bags of hamster food might have moth eggs hatch inside. Store the feed in a cool dry location to ensure freshness.
What is lab block for hamsters?
A lab block usually contains a mixture of seed and grains and vitamins and minerals. These are a preferred type of hamster food if you want to make sure your little guys or girls are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. If you could only get one type of dry food, these would be them.
How long does hamster food last?
Most feed won’t last more than three months before it goes bad. A Syrian hamster will only eat one to two tablespoons of food per day.
Why do hamsters lick rocks?
In the wild you could observe a hamster licking different rocks or minerals that contain salt. They need salt to help retain water and stay healthy. You can provide your hamster with a salt lick or a mineral salts. These come in various forms and are sometimes added to their accessories as a form of play.
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.
Your hamster's diet
Hamsters love to hoard their food. They pack extra food into special cheek pouches and then store it around their cage for later.
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Make feeding fun
Hamsters in the wild spend a lot of time searching for food. Making them work for their meal is a great way to keep them occupied and stop them getting bored. You can try things like:
Healthy fruit, veg and herbs
These fruits, vegetables and herbs are all suitable for your hamster. Make sure you give them a good wash before you feed them to your hamster and only feed a small amount each day.
Things to chew and gnaw
Hamsters love to chew and gnaw on things. It’s a natural behaviour that helps keep their teeth healthy and stops them getting overgrown. It also gives your hamster something to do and helps to stop them getting bored.
