Winter White Dwarf Hamster Food and Diet
- – Seed Hamster Food. Whatever kind of food you choose to purchase, ensure that it has the proper combination of seeds, grains, and nuts with 12 – 15 percent protein ...
- – Pelleted Hamster Food. This feed ensures your pet gets all the necessary vitamins it requires. Pelleted hamster food is currently considered a better choice.
- – Feeding Treats. You can include “normal” food as a major part of your hamster’s diet. Hamsters enjoy having treats, just like humans.
What vegetables are best for a dwarf hamster?
- Leafy vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, bok choy, and lettuce
- Kale, swiss chard, dandelion leaves, broccoli
- Cauliflower, cucumbers, zucchini, asparagus
- Celery, carrots, squash
- Radicchio, bell peppers, parsnips
- Sweet potatoes, cooked potatoes, hay, squash
- Melon, figs, parsley, turnip, green beans, etc.
How much should you feed your dwarf hamsters?
- Commercial hamster food has a high nutritional value, but should not be the only type of food you feed your dwarf hamster.
- The pellet formulation allows your dwarf hamster to gnaw on his food, which can be good for his dental hygiene.
- Choose a commercial food that has about 15 to 20% protein.
What is the best food for dwarf hamsters?
List of the best grains, seeds and nuts for a dwarf hamster:
- Barley
- Cashew
- Flaxseed
- Lentils
- Millet
- Oats
- Peanut
- Popcorn (unsalted)
- Pumpkin seed
- Sesame seed
What treats are good for dwarf hamsters?
- Fruit Treats. Often prepared with yogurt, these sweet fruity treats are easy to digest and a solid source of calcium for your hamster.
- Chewy Treats. Hamster chew treats are actually prepared with fortifying ingredients such as apple wood, which your hammie can nibble and gnaw upon to their heart’s content; strengthening their teeth ...
- Treat Sticks. ...
What food is best for dwarf hamsters?
Green leafy Romaine or other lettuces are ideal, as well as spinach leaves. Broccoli, cauliflower and kale are crunchy additions to his diet. Other examples of healthy vegetables include cucumbers, celery, red and green peppers, bok choy and sweet potatoes. Beans and legumes are also an acceptable treat.
What fruits can winter white hamsters eat?
Fruits ˇ 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 dwarf hamsters eat everyday?
Feeding your hamster one nut a day or one every two to three days is recommended, as overfeeding them nuts can lead to obesity .Bran & Wheat Germ.Cooked Pasta, dried.Cooked Rice, dried.Dry toast.Flaxseed.Oats.Peanuts (ideally raw and in shell, hamsters love it as a chew)Popped Quinoa.More items...•
Do winter white hamsters like to be held?
Does the winter white dwarf hamster like to be held? Many winter white dwarf hamsters can learn to tolerate gentle handling quite well, though they never will be fully tame animals.
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.
How do I bond with my winter white hamster?
Hold your hamster for a few minutes each day. Going days without interaction will make it harder for your hamster to trust you. Playing with your hamster regularly will make it feel more comfortable around you and confident in its new surroundings.
What do hamsters need in their cage?
For a quick look at the basics to set up a happy home for your hamster, you'll need the following:Small animal habitat.Small animal bedding and nesting fluff.Small animal bed or sleeper.Hamster hideaway.Exercise wheel and/or ball.Water bottle.Food bowl.High-quality hamster food.More items...
Can hamsters have 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 do hamster like to play with?
What Do Hamsters Like to Play With?Exercise Wheel. Hamsters love to run on exercise wheels. ... Chew Toys. Chew toys serve dual purposes: they provide amusement, but they also provide a surface for your hamster to gnaw on. ... Tunnels. Tunnels are a great source of amusement and exercise for hamsters. ... Hamster Balls.
Do winter white hamsters need sand baths?
Because hamsters naturally clean themselves, they shouldn't need sand baths. However giving your hamster a sand bath can actually help it clean itself. Additionally, whilst sand baths are allowed for hamsters, dust baths are not recommended, as they could give your pet respiratory problems.
Will winter white hamsters bite?
Do Winter White Hamsters Bite? Yes, hamsters can bite – just like most animals!
Can winter white hamsters eat apples?
The short answer is yes. Hamsters can eat apples provided you follow some basic rules of feeding apples to your hamster. If your hamster likes the sweet taste of apple, it can even become one of the best treats for hamsters.
Can winter white hamsters have apples?
Apples can be an excellent treat for your hamster, but it's essential to keep them just that- an occasional treat. Making apple part of your hamster's staple diet does more harm than good. Also, make sure to remove any seeds before feeding apples to your hamster.
What can winter whites eat?
Like all hamsters, Winter Whites eat fruit, veg, seeds, nuts and insects. A combination of all these foods is your best bet. Here's a more detailed guide on feeding a dwarf hamster. Pick up a good hamster food mix and feed this to your Winter White daily.
Can winter white hamsters eat peaches?
Yes, Hamsters Can Eat Peaches! Domestic hamsters have the same dietary needs as their wild cousins, which we usually meet by giving them high-quality hamster food. However, hamsters can enjoy treats and foods outside their normal diet from time to time. The short answer is yes, hamsters can eat peaches!
Can winter white dwarf hamsters eat apple?
Dwarf hamsters are also highly susceptible to diabetes, making fruits with especially high sugar content poor choices for offering often. Keep figs, grapes, mango, bananas, cherries and apples to a minimum.
What do dwarf hamsters eat?
Dwarf hamsters love their natural foods which is why sweet fruits are perfect for treat time. You can also provide safe insects, seeds and any other foods your hamster loves to eat!
What is the best food for a picky dwarf hamster?
The Tiny Friends food mix is perfect for a picky dwarf hamster. It’s a great tasting mix of seeds, mealworms and other healthy treats. Having mealworms incorporated into the food mix really packs some extra protein and it’s the perfect way to get a dwarf hamster eating healthy without any fuss – all hammies love their mealworms!
How often do hamsters wake up?
The truth is, dwarf hamsters are active during the day, waking up every few hours for a stretch, drink and a bite to eat. In the wild, hamsters will forage for food during the night and wake up throughout the day to enjoy their findings. Morning feeds or evening feeds are perfectly fine, just keep each feed around 24 hours apart.
How to keep hamsters interested in food?
Mix it up! Keep food time interesting for your pet by providing different types of fruit veg and nuts on a regular basis. It’s always fun watching a hamster chow down on its favorite foods. Also, don’t be scared to reduce portion sizes if your hamster is on the larger size, or increase portions to fatten him up!
Why are dwarf hamsters so vulnerable?
Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes. Their small bodies struggle to cope with high sugar levels which is why they’re so vulnerable. The main cause of diabetes is poor feeding habits and high-sugar treats that are provided by the owner.
How to keep dwarf hamster healthy?
The best thing you can do to keep your dwarf hamster healthy is provide a balanced diet. Use a mixture of the food suggestions listed above to create a nutrient-rich diet that’s packed with energy.
Why do hamsters hide food?
Hamsters like to fill their cheek pouches with food and build secret food store s close to their bed. This is to keep their food safe and hidden from other animals who may steal it. You may even find dwarf hamsters hiding food from each other when kept in the same cage!
What to use for winter white hamster?
The alternative is a glass aquarium for your Winter White. This is just as good as a wire-top cage and can make a great home for your pet. Just be sure to provide enough ventilation for the hamster inside.
How long do winter white dwarf hamsters live?
As mentioned, the average lifespan for a Winter White dwarf hamster is 1.5-2 years. Hamsters have fairly short lifespans in general and Winter Whites have one of the shortest lifespans of the hamster family. That being said, a shorter lifespan can sometimes be ideal for new pet owners or children.
What is a hybrid hamster?
These are Campbell’s, Winter Whites and hybrids. If Winter White and Campbell’s hamsters are bred together, their offspring is called a ‘hybrid’. These hamsters can be quite controversial in the pet industry.
What is the most popular hamster?
The Winter White dwarf hamster is one of the most popular hamster breeds out there and makes a perfect first pet. They are very closely related to the Campbell’s dwarf hamster and are often confused with this species but there are a few small differences that we will touch on. Keeping a Winter White hamster is pretty simple ...
How big should a hamster cage be?
The minimum is usually considered as 24 inches long and 12 inches wide . A 20-gallon aquarium is the equivalent of these measurements.
What to do with a hamster house?
A ceramic hamster bowl is also a must. The only other thing to remember is weekly cage cleaning! A weekly clean and bedding changeover is all that’s needed to maintain cleanliness in your cage. Try to avoid placing your hamster cage in direct sunlight and you’re good to go.
How to tell if a hamster is a Campbell's dwarf?
If there is a cream color between the transition of body color to belly color then you likely have a Campbell’s dwarf.
What Do Winter White Dwarf Hamsters Eat & Drink?
For your pet's primary diet, pick a commercial hamster food that's specifically formulated for dwarf hamsters. Follow the label and your vet's instructions for how much to feed. Hamsters should always have some of this food available, as they tend to graze. Many owners put a full day’s worth of food in a small ceramic bowl in the enclosure and discard any uneaten food after 24 hours before refilling the bowl.
How to buy dwarf winter white Russian hamster?
To be sure that you are buying a dwarf winter white Russian, get your hamster through a reputable breeder. Many reputable breeders belong to local or regional clubs (or to less formal groups) with members that breed and show hamsters in a particular geographic area. You can often meet breeders and buy hamsters at the exhibitor tables of hamster shows or pet expos.
How much does a dwarf Russian hamster cost?
They usually sell from $15 to $25.
How to keep hamsters happy?
Hamsters need activity and exercise wheels are a great way to keep your pet fit and happy. You can also provide climbing structures and tubes, but do not create a structure from which your hamster can take a significant fall. Tubes, while fun, can be tricky to clean. Also, make sure you choose a type that provides ventilation. Offer a little house or nesting box inside the cage for your pet to hide or sleep.
What should a hamster look like?
It should have bright eyes, a shiny coat, dry tail, and no nasal or eye discharge . Check the quality of the bedding to be sure it's clean, and be sure that your potential pet's cage-mates are in good health.
How to keep a pet warm in a tank?
Cover the bottom of the tank with 2 to 3 inches of soft bedding. Your new pet may enjoy burrowing into the bedding to stay warm, especially during the winter. The substrate can include woods shavings, shredded paper, or a commercial brand of bedding. Avoid cedar or pine wood shavings, since they release volatile compounds which may harm your pets. 1
How big should a hamster cage be?
Your best option is an aquarium-type tank for housing. While a minimum size is 24 inches long and 12 inches wide (about the size of a 20-gallon aquarium), a bigger tank is preferable. Be sure that the top allows for ventilation, and make sure it is secure.
What is the best food for a dwarf hamster?
Typically hamster mix contains nuts, seeds, pellets and grains. The pellet nature allows your pet to gnaw on the food making it beneficial to dental hygiene. It is advisable to choose a commercial hamster mix that meets all nutritional requirements.
What to feed a hamster?
Supplement your hamster’s diet with fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. It is important not to go overboard with the fresh foods because they can go rotten in the cage, and also hamsters like to store food away. Excess fruit and veg can also cause stomach upsets and diarrhea. Wash any fruit and Veg before giving to your hamster in case it contains ...
What is Vitakraft for hamsters?
Vitakraft Formula is a well-respected formula that will provide your hamsters with a nutritionally complete diet. Most foods are designed for the larger Syrian hamster, whereas they are acceptable, they are not ideal. Dwarfs and Syrians have different nutritional requirements and preferences. Dwarf hamster mix tends to contain a lot of small millet seeds that dwarf hamsters love, but Syrians tend to ignore. Dwarf hamster mix often includes mealworms that are a healthy protein source that Syrian hamsters will ignore.
How much protein does a dwarf hamster need?
Resealable Bag to keep Fresh. A balanced diet for a Dwarf Hamsters consists of 16-24% protein, 60-65% carbohydrates, and 5–7% fat, with access to fresh water at all times.
What are some foods that are toxic to hamsters?
Some foods are very harmful and toxic to hamsters. Prominent ones include chocolate, candy, and sweets. Avocados contain a dangerous substance that can cause animal heart failure. Bitter Almonds and Apple Seeds contain a substance called glycoside amygdalin, that when eaten can turn into hydrogen cyanide.
Do dwarf hamsters have diabetes?
Unlike Syrian hamsters, dwarf hamsters are quite prone to diabetes, so they have a different dietary requirement to Syrians. Many commercially available hamster food formulas have ingredients that could upset the Dwarf Hamster blood sugar levels.
Can hamsters eat vegetables?
Bear in mind hamsters like to take their food and store it in their nests, so it’s a good idea not to feed fresh every day. Rotting vegetables in the nest isn’t good for hamster hygiene ...
What to feed a hamster in the winter?
A few times a week, offer your hamster a few bites of a healthy snack like cauliflower, broccoli, diced pears, or banana. Sugar isn’t good for your Winter White, because they tend to develop diabetes.
How to keep a winter white dwarf hamster safe?
Also, hamsters are sensitive to heat, so keep it away from windows where the sunlight will be strong.
How big should a hamster cage be?
Choose a cage that's at least 2 sq ft (0.19 m2) and 12 in (30 cm) tall. Hamsters love to run and climb, so the bigger the cage that you can provide for them, the happier they’ll be. A 20 US gal (76 L) aquarium is typically a good size for a hamster cage, since at a minimum all sized hamsters need at least 450 square inches of flat land to run around on. A wheel can't be used as a shortcut for that, make sure it has a secure mesh top so your hamster can’t escape.
What is the best pet for a cold winter?
If you want a pet that’s relatively low-maintenance but still cute and cuddly, a Winter White dwarf hamster might be right for you! These tiny hamsters hail from Russia, and when they live in the wild, their coat turns a snowy white during the cold winter months. Although their coat may not change in captivity, they’re still adorable, and they often have charming personalities that make them great pets!
How to keep a hamster from getting stuck?
Opt for a plastic or glass cage over a wire one for safety. Some wire hamster cages are made with the bars too far apart to keep a dwarf hamster. Even if your hamster can’t get all the way out, it could squeeze its way between the bars enough to get stuck. A cage with smooth sides will prevent that from happening. Also, make sure you never use a cage with a wire floor, as your hamster’s delicate legs and feet could be injured.
How to dispose of old hamster food?
Include a food bowl and a water bottle for your hamster. If you put your hamster’s food directly onto its bedding, it will be harder to dispose of old food when you add more. To avoid this, place a shallow tray inside of the cage, and place the food on the tray whenever you feed your hamster.
When is the best time to pet a hamster?
Let the hamster get comfortable with your hand for a few days before you try to pet it, then wait a few more days before the first time you try to pick it up. Tip: Since Winter White Dwarf Hamsters are nocturnal, the best time to handle them is in the evening.
What is the best food for a dwarf hamster?
Protein is an important nutrient for your dwarf hamster. Fortunately, there are several great protein sources from which you can choose. For example, raw and unsalted seeds, such as sunflower, flax, and sesame, are high in protein. Lentils are another good protein source.
How to feed a dwarf hamster?
This is especially important for fruits and vegetables, since they can quickly become spoiled and moldy. Feed only the amount of fruit that your dwarf hamster can eat in a day. This may take some trial and error before you determine what that amount is.
What to do if my dwarf hamster is not eating?
If you notice that he's consistently not eating a certain food, switch it out for something else . For example, if you notice that he doesn't like one kind of fruit (e.g., apple), replace with it another fruit (e.g., banana).
What to do if hamster eats muesli?
Try pellets! Pellets prevent the hamster from selectively eating the tasty, but less nutritious, part of their food. The muesli-type hamster foods are a balanced diet only if the hamster eats all of it, rather than leaving the less tasty bits in the bowl.
What is the best fiber for hamsters?
Natural sources of fiber, such as timothy hay and alfalfa hay, are good sources of fiber. Your dwarf hamster may not be a fan of hay, but you can give him a small amount to see if he will like it. ...
What to feed hamsters?
Give your hamster fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables add extra nutrition as well as variety to your hamster’s diet. Make sure to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly with fresh water to remove any pesticides or other chemicals.
Can you feed a dwarf hamster pellets?
Commercial hamster food has a high nutritional value, but should not be the only type of food you feed your dwarf hamster. The pellet formulation allows your dwarf hamster to gnaw on his food, which can be good for his dental hygiene. Choose a commercial food that has about 15 to 20% protein.
What is the best food for a dwarf hamster?
Here are some of the best options when it comes to hamster food that’s best for dwarf hamsters: Kaytee Fiesta Hamster Food – this food mix is actually great for both dwarf hamsters and larger Syrian hamsters. It has natural veggies and fruits to add some variety and improve the nutrient content of the mix.
What Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat?
Firstly, we’ll let you take a look at a list of literally all things that dwarf hamsters are allowed to eat, and following that, we’ll explain things you should focus on.
How Often Should I Feed My Dwarf Hamster?
You should feed your hamster daily, they require fresh food every day. However, this depends on what you’re feeding it.
How Long Can Dwarf Hamsters Go Without Food?
So, you’re going to stay at work until late and you’re wondering whether your hamster will feel hungry? Don’t worry, hamsters can go three to four days without food, depending on when have they eaten last and how much have they eaten.
Why is my dwarf hamster diabetic?
The main cause of diabetes is poor feeding habits and high-sugar treats that are provided by the owner. This means that the responsibility of keeping your hamster diabetes-free befalls exclusively on your shoulders. Provide your hamster with a healthy and balanced diet, and avoid too much sugar in the pet’s food.
Why do hamsters hide food?
Hamsters also have the habit of filling their cheek pouches with secret stashes of food to build secret food stores near their bed. This is a natural instinct to keep food hidden away from other animals who may try to steal it. If you have more than a single hamster in the same cage, you may even find hamsters hiding food from one another.
What is the most popular hamster?
Dwarf hamsters definitely top the group for the most popular hamsters in the world. They’re immensely popular all around the world, and their numbers only grow by the day. If you’re an owner of this furry species, then you have to know their dietary requirements, how much they need to eat, and what they’re eating.
What to feed a dwarf hamster?
Grains, Seeds, & Nuts. Whole grains make for a great healthy snack for dwarf hamsters. When it comes to cooked pasta, whole-grain rice, and wheat toast, make sure that they are cooled before you serve them to your pet.
What is the bulk of hamster food?
Hamster mixes and pellets should make up the bulk of your hamster’s food as they come with more or less the complete nutritional requirements needed by your pet.
Do dwarf hamsters have diabetes?
Roborovski dwarf hamsters, however, are less likely to develop diabetes.
Can dwarf hamsters eat hamster seed?
While hamster seed mixes are appropriate for dwarfs, oftentimes they would pick only the ones they like and this could also lead to malnourishment as they would miss some of the nutrients in the seed mix.
Can hamsters eat fruit?
When it comes to fresh food, experts advise hamster owners to feed their pets fruits with high water content. However, this doesn’t mean you should go overboard with feeding your hamster high-water containing fruits because doing so might result in diarrhea – a disease which is all too common in the hamster world.
Is eating almonds bad for hamsters?
Almonds, for example, contain cyanide which is poisonous to hamsters. Garlic, onion, and chocolate are also toxic to hamsters just as they are to cats and dogs.
Can dwarf hamsters eat?
Dwarf hamsters can eat a variety of food but some are safer than most. Here is a comprehensive list of food that your dwarf hamsters would be able to eat without any risks to their health. This should be the main food group that you feed your dwarf hamster because it contains the essential nutrients your pet needs.