what to feed your hamster daily

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

Jul 9 2022

Full Answer

What foods can I give my hamster?

What Hamsters Can Eat

• Dry pellets
• Seed mixture
• Food blocks
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Cucumbers
• Celery
• Bok choy

More items...

How much should you feed a hamster each day?

[Feeding Chart & Guide] Hamsters are small animals, and it can be difficult to gauge exactly how much to feed them, especially if you are a new hamster owner. The amount that you feed your hamster largely depends on their weight and age, but in general, a hamster will eat around 2 tablespoons of food mix per day.

What foods are hamsters the most attracted to?

• Apple seeds and skins
• Grape seeds
• Fruit pits
• Almonds
• Peanuts
• Garlic
• Onions
• Eggplant
• Chocolate (or any other sugary sweet)

How often should I Feed my hamster fresh vegetables?

Vegetables your hamster can eat in moderation include:

• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Sprouts
• Sweetcorn
• Dandelion greens
• Peas

What should I feed my hamster everyday?

A hamster should have fresh, unspoiled food offered every day. Hamsters do hoard food, so an empty bowl does not have to be topped up. However, be sure she has food offered daily in the form of a commercial food, fresh fruit and vegetables, and an occasional treat.

How much should you feed a hamster a day?

So, How Much Do Hamsters Eat? Hamsters eat, on average, only about one to two tablespoons full of food per 24 hours. They avidly put everything else into storage. Syrian hamsters—the larger ones, also called Golden Hamsters—may eat a little more; dwarf hamsters eat a little less.

How often should you feed your 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.

What is the best food to give your 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.

Can hamsters eat vegetables everyday?

Hamsters, like other pet rodents, require a varied diet to meet their full spectrum of nutritional needs. In addition to commercially produced pellet food, hamsters need small amounts of vegetables daily. Be mindful of the amounts, limiting the daily serving to about a tablespoon.

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.

Do hamsters get periods?

She will be ready for pregnancy at about 8 weeks. Hamsters don't have a menstrual period in the same way women do, but you may notice a discharge during your pet's predictable, four-day reproductive cycle.

Do hamsters need a night light?

Hamsters typically eat their meals at night, and they also typically get their exercise at night. Darkness makes them feel energetic and ready to conquer their "days." Because of that, hamsters need to have the lights off at night.

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.

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 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...

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...•

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 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 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?

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?

[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 Food Should I Feed My Pet Hamster?

A hamster’s diet [1] consists of hamster pellets, a small amount of fruit and veg, and a constant clean water supply.

What Treats Can I Feed My Hamster?

The best and healthy hamster treats for you to give your hammy are fresh fruits and veggies, especially those not full of sugar.

Things Hamsters Can Chew and Gnaw

Your hamster must have things to gnaw on because his teeth are constantly growing.

What Vegetables Can Hamsters Eat?

There are plenty of vegetables that your hamster can eat and enjoy. These foods tend to be low in calories and high in fiber and other nutrients.

What Fruits Can Hamsters Not Eat?

Your hamster can eat a wide variety of fruits, with most of them being perfectly safe. Some fruits are toxic or upset their gastrointestinal system and should be avoided at all costs.

What Vegetables Can Hamsters Not Eat?

Most vegetables are safe for your hamster to eat. You should however avoid some exceptions to keep your hamster healthy and happy.

How Much Fruit and Vegetables Should I Feed My Hamster?

Any fruits you offer to your hamster should be limited and should not be unripe or overripe, which can be toxic or increase the risk that they will spoil.

How much food should a dwarf hamster eat?

Dwarf hamsters will need a little less, and Robo or Chinese hamsters may only need a single tablespoon of food once per day due to their tiny size.

When do hamsters snack?

And your hamster will be ‘snacking’ at intervals during the night, and sometimes during the day, whenever he feels hungry. But you may be wondering whether or not to fill up the bowl again, or whether to wait until the hamster has eaten what is in his store.

Why do hamsters have cheek pouches?

Hamster cheek pouches. Those hamster cheek pouches don’t just add to the cute appeal of a hamster, in wild hamsters they serve a very useful purpose. Every hamster likes to keep a store of food in a safe place. Usually close to his or her nest. This helps wild hamsters survive during times when there are food shortages.

How do you know if a hamster is emptying his food bowl?

You’ll probably notice your hamster emptying his food bowl quite soon after you fill it up. He’ll stuff the contents into his cheeks and then return to his nest to empty the food into his store.

How to stop hamsters from getting fat?

How to stop your hamster getting fat. In addition to providing him with an exercise wheel, you need to make sure he doesn’t eat too much as this can lead to obesity too. It’s important that your hamster doesn’t get fat, as this can make him sick. So don’t be tempted to fill the food bowl every time it is empty.

Why is my hamster's food stale?

This is because if the food is stored in his nest for long, it may go ‘stale’. You’ll need to check your hamster’s store from time to time and if it is getting much bigger, it means you are putting too much food in his bowl, or filling it too often.

Can you take hamster food out of a cage?

It’s okay to remove your hamster’s food store and throw it away when you clean out the cage. At least once a week. He won’t approve, but he doesn’t need it in the same way that wild hamsters do, and he’ll soon make another. If you leave the store in his bed, then the food will go mouldy and potentially make him unwell.

When Should you Feed Your Hamster?

Pet experts that champion for evening feeds contend this as the best time because hamsters are most active at night and will thus feed better.

What Should You do With Leftover Food?

Your hamster will, at times, not finish the food you give them. Remove the leftover food before refilling the bow. You should also clean the bowl before providing a different food variety.

How Much Should You Feed a Hamster?

Hamsters should eat throughout their active hours to match their high metabolism rates. In the wild, food is scarce, and hence hamsters store some in their cheek pouches when they find it.

Can a Hamster Get Fat From Too Much Food?

Yes. Obesity is one of the main risks to which you expose your hamster with too much food or unhealthy feeds like those containing too much fat. Periodically weigh your hamster to ensure it is within normal weight ranges.

How Often Should You Give a Hamster Fresh Food?

There exist two primary reasons to add something different to your hamster’s diet from time to time. It helps your pet reach optimal nutritional levels and wards off the boredom caused by the same foods daily.

Wrapping Up

With these guidelines, you are sure to keep your hamster well-fed and healthy. When cleaning the hamster cage, you will often come across food stashes even if you give the animal just enough food.

How Often Should I Feed My Syrian Hamster?

Ideally, you should feed your hamster every day. This applies to all hamster breeds, not just Syrian hamsters. All hamsters require fresh food and water every day.

What Can Syrian Hamsters Eat?

There are many foods that hamsters can eat, and many foods that hamsters shouldn’t eat. In this section, we’ll be covering everything you should feed your hamster, and we’ll be covering the foods you should avoid in the next section.

What Are Syrian Hamsters Allergic To?

There are many foods that you should never feed your hamster, but it’s also possible that your hamster, as an individual, has developed an allergy to something. Here’s a list of things you shouldn’t feed your hamster.

How Long Can Syrian Hamsters Go Without Food?

This applies to all hamsters: hamsters can’t go for longer than three to four days without food and/or water. It depends on when did they have their last meal, what did they eat, how much did they eat, and how active they have been for the past few days.