What Bugs Can Hamsters Eat?
The general consensus is that hamsters are unable to eat bugs. They’re incorrect. Hamsters eat a wide variety of things. Plant and animal matter will be consumed by them. In any case, wild hamsters consume a variety of soft invertebrates, including crickets, small worms, and maggots. In spite of this, domestic hamsters may be averse to insects. Half-eaten worms shouldn’t be kept in cages! You can bet that the scent would swiftly spread as it rotted! If you feed domestic hamsters hamster chow, wild hamsters will eat their worms.
Table of Contents
Bugs that the hamsters can eat:
Cockroaches
Cockroaches may be eaten by hamsters, but it is not advised. Chitin, found in roaches, is poisonous to hamsters because of the nutrients it provides. When chitin decomposes in the digestive fluids, it prevents the body from using it as a source of nutrients.
Also read: What vegetables can hamsters eat?
If you feed your hamster cockroaches on a daily basis, he will ultimately become malnourished or perhaps starve to death. Because cockroaches are hard to break down, hamsters prefer mealworms because they have all the nutrients they need. Mealworms contain less fat and protein than cockroaches, so don’t feed them to your hamster.
Worms
Adding worms to a hamster’s diet can be beneficial. If eaten in moderation, they can even be beneficial to your health. Living worms are more difficult to obtain than dried ones.
You should only feed your hamster’s dried worms. When it comes to using live worms, the stakes are much higher. Because they are alive, they have the ability to sting. The cheek pouch is the most likely place where your hamster will store any consumed live worms. In order to avoid harming my hamster, I remove the live worm from its cheek pouch.
What do you need to know about feeding your hamster live worms safely? For some reason, some people have reported crushing the worm’s head first, then feeding their hamsters. It’s much simpler and safer to use dried mealworms instead.
Mealworms
Mealworms are perfectly safe for my hamsters. This does not, however, mean that we feed it to them on a regular basis. Mealworms should only be given as a special treat. We must also keep in mind that pests sometimes bite our hamsters. If your pet has the habit of storing food in his cheek pouches, shatter the worm’s head before feeding it to them.
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Mealworms should only be given to your hamsters as a snack. This is significant because mealworms tend to accumulate a lot of fat. As a consequence, if we do not regulate the number of worms, our hamsters will get obese.
Mealworms have a high protein level, which might be difficult for my hamsters at times. Our hamsters also don’t get fat because I only give them one or two mealworms at a time.
Crickets
Crickets are safe for hamsters, but it is possible that introducing live crickets into the hamster’s diet may pose some dangers. They may be infected with parasites, which may have a negative impact on their health. Pesticides and other potentially harmful substances are a constant threat.
Pet shops that sell reptile food should be your first stop if you want to give your reptiles a diet that is free of parasites and dangerous chemicals. We feed little lizards crickets, mealworms, and other insects.
Your hamster’s capacity for consumption must be taken into consideration. When it comes to hamsters, “too much of a bad thing” is always a valid concern. If you give too many crickets to your hamsters, you may upset their sensitive nutritional balance. You should only feed your dwarf hamster the least number of crickets, since Syrians may eat most of them.
Beetles
Beetles may be fed both alive and dead. The dried beetles, on the other hand, are the safest alternative. Live beetles may sometimes be harmful to our hamsters. Even though beetles have many health benefits for our hamsters, overfeeding them could cause them to get sick.
Hamsters have a very sensitive digestive system. As a result, they struggle to adapt to change. If this is the first time you’ve added beetles to your hamster’s food, you need to be careful.
Lavender
Lavender is generally safe to feed to hamsters. Having said that, not all lavender varieties are safe for hamsters to eat.
As a first step in determining if your hamster can eat lavender, carefully investigate the source of the plant for indications of harm and parasites.
If lavender has been exposed to certain chemicals, it may be poisonous to hamsters. I feed my hamster two or four lavender leaves a few times a week after I have determined that it appreciates them and that they have no harmful effects on its digestive system.
If you want to offer them while they’re still connected to the stem, offer fewer leaves. Some hamsters like chewing on the harder stem piece, so keep track of whether your hamster consumes it or leave it alone.
What not to feed your hamsters?
If you’re feeding your pet hamster, you should be aware that certain foods might be dangerous. Chocolate is the best. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is poisonous to hamsters. Adding chocolate to your hamster’s diet might cause it to overheat since it includes caffeine. Any meal containing caffeine should be avoided.
Aside from that, stay away from foods like peanuts and beans, as well as citrus fruits and tomato leaves. These foods are deemed harmful. Before giving your hamster a new meal, do extensive research on it. Keep a running record of foods that should not be provided to your hamster, as well as meals that have been tried and failed to agree with your pet’s stomach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are some frequently asked questions related to what bugs the hamster can eat.
- Can hamsters eat live bugs?
Yes, they can. But make sure your hamsters get their protein from something other than bugs. Yogurt drops are a good choice.
- Can hamsters eat ladybugs?
Despite their safety for hamster eating, ladybugs and moths are in danger of extinction, so I highly advise against feeding them to your pet. Mealworms, as stated by Souffle, are only one of several sources of protein.
- What types of bugs do hamsters eat?
Live and dried bugs, which may be given as a treat to Hamsters, are favorites of most of them. Pet stores that specialize in reptile food are the best places to get these insects. A reward for your hamster may be anything from mealworms to super worms to crickets.
- What are the dangers to hamsters caused by bugs in hamster food?
No need to fret about whether or not it’s okay to feed little bugs to your hamsters, as long as you don’t overfeed them! Weevils tend to be the most common kind of insect in hamster chow. Your hamsters will likely consume them since they seem to be harmless.
Having bugs in your meal indicates that it’s not of the highest quality or that the bugs may have eaten all or most of the food’s nutritional value. Furthermore, while bugs do not pose a health risk to your hamster, they may quickly grow and take over your home. As a result, storing food in the freezer immediately after purchasing it is the best way to keep pests at bay.
- Can a hamster eat cockroaches?
Cockroaches aren’t perfect, but he’ll be alright if he eats them. Hamsters love crickets and mealworms as excellent sources of protein. Buying food insects from a pet shop is the safest option, but you may not be able to get them from your garden or yard.
Conclusion
If you’re acquainted with most of the things on your hamster’s diet, keep in mind that hamsters aren’t exactly known for their culinary preferences. For hamsters that prefer a natural diet, insects like mealworms, waxworms, and crickets may be included. You don’t need to feed insects to your hamster if you feed him seeds, pellets, and vegetables in his cheeks.
