What Can Hamsters Eat as a Treat?
What Can Hamsters Eat as a Treat? Hamsters, for the most part, do not need a wide variety of diets. To fulfill your pet’s nutritional demands, however, a high-quality commercial pellet is required as a primary meal. However, in addition to their regular meals, it’s enjoyable to provide them with some variation in the shape of other treats.
Remember that treats should never make up more than 10% of your pet’s entire diet and that drastic changes to your hamster’s food should be avoided as they may stress your hamster and cause them to develop damp tails. If you want to change their main diet, do it gradually.
Latest: What Can Hamsters Eat?
You may be shocked to learn that your hamster does not overeat, so keep her food dish full at all times. A well-balanced hamster diet includes high-quality hamster food that has been professionally made to give the right amount of vitamins and minerals each day, as well as all the other important nutrients that a hamster needs.
Table of Contents
Foods that the hamsters can eat:
- Grains
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Timothy hay
- Cucumbers
- Nuts and seeds
- Crickets
Grains
Hamsters are omnivores. That implies they can and will eat everything, including plant-based foods, grains, meat, and insects. This holds true for all types of hamsters, including Syrian, Robo, Campbell, and Chinese.
When you open a box of hamster feed, you’ll normally find grains, a few seeds, and a few vitamin pellets. However, if you flip the box and look at the contents, you’ll see that protein sources such as chicken, fish, beef, and shrimp are often used.
You may prepare an omnivorous diet for your hamster or buy a ready-made mix that will last for many weeks, if not a couple of months.
Vegetables
Hamsters like leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and bok choy. They not only give many vitamins, including vitamin A, but also a fantastic supply of water. Some more green vegetables to try are Swiss chard, dandelion leaves, and kale.
You may need to experiment with a few green veggies to figure out what your hammy likes. Broccoli and cauliflower are popular among hamsters, but you may find that your furry friend likes zucchini or cucumbers. Celery, asparagus, and a little bit of cabbage are also suitable.
Fruits
Some fruits are edible to hamsters. Fruits, on the other hand, should be consumed in very tiny quantities and seldom by hamsters. The majority of fruits are safe for hamsters to consume, but citrus fruits are not. They are too acidic for the hamster’s digestive tract. The most common fruits, such as apples, plums, cherries, and grapes, are safe. However, all hamsters, everywhere, have a negative reaction to fruit seeds. The seeds are usually toxic.
As a result, it’s ideal if you never offer your hamster any form of fruit with seeds in it. Then, particularly sweet fruits such as bananas, apricots, peaches, mangoes, pineapples, papayas, and the majority of yellow fruits should be fed in teeny-tiny quantities.
These fruits are excellent for us, with the nicest flavor and scent. However, they are much too sweet and savory for hamsters. As a result, it’s better if your hammy only gets a very small number of them, though.
Timothy Hay
Hamsters can eat hay, but they do not need it in the same way as guinea pigs do. Instead, kids will only consume it if it goes well with their normal meals. Hay has some nutritional benefits for hamsters, but it doesn’t do a lot to change their food balance.
Some hamsters prefer to chew on hay rather than consume it. Because they will not be able to swallow, the fibrous materials will aid in the filing down of their teeth. They’ll make something similar with wood in their cage, which works better in any case. Some hamsters just dislike the taste of hay. If that’s the case, they won’t give it a second glance after the first time they try it.
Most hay kinds may be eaten by hamsters, but it is usually preferable to stick to the more popular variety. Timothy hay, clover, alfalfa, and orchard grasses are suitable for them to consume. Alfalfa and Timothy hay are the finest for hamsters, owing to the fact that more hamsters love their flavor.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are high-fiber and nutrient-dense vegetables. Cucumbers are an excellent supplement to the diet of any hamster. The majority of cucumber contains water, which may help your hamster stay hydrated and healthy throughout its life. Cucumbers also have high fiber content, which can help keep your hamster’s digestive system healthy. Cucumbers include essential elements that promote a healthy immune system in hamsters, just as they do in people.
Nuts and seeds
Whole grains, which are perfect snacks for a hungry hamster, will either be consumed immediately or stored in his cheeks for later consumption. Most Syrian hamsters like unsweetened whole-grain cereals, whole wheat bread, cooked and cooled brown rice, and similar items; they also enjoy sunflower seeds and almonds.
On a weekly or every three to four-day basis, little quantities of grains, seeds, and nuts are a nice treat. Because they may be fatty, overindulging in these delightful sweets may result in health concerns. One piece of whole-wheat bread, one or two almonds, or around one-eighth to one-quarter teaspoon of seeds should be enough to keep your hamster from becoming fat.
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.
Keep an eye out for pesticides or any other dangerous chemicals when purchasing insects from a pet shop.
What not to feed your hamsters?
The vegetables your hamster should not touch are just as crucial as the ones he should. Hamsters, for example, should not be fed eggplant or raw potatoes. Start with a small quantity and wait 24 hours to make sure he doesn’t have diarrhea. Some hamsters may be allergic to or have stomach problems after eating certain vegetables, even though such vegetables are normally good for most hamsters.
You should know that certain foods might be harmful to your pet hamster if you give them to it. The nicest thing about chocolate is that it’s delicious. Hamsters are poisoned by theobromine, a chemical found in chocolate. Caffeine in chocolate may cause your hamster to overheat, so avoid giving it any. Caffeine should be avoided in any meal.
Also avoid foods such as peanuts and beans, as well as oranges and the leaves of tomatoes. These foods are considered to be dangerous. ‘ Do your homework before you introduce a new food to your hamster. If you’ve tried different meals and they did not go down well with your pet’s stomach, keep a running list of those that you attempted and failed to give him in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are some frequently asked questions related to what a hamster can eat as a treat.
1. What is a hamster’s favorite food?
Apples, pears, strawberries, and bananas are all favorites among hamsters. As a supplement, they should be used in moderation. Remove any veggies or fruits that have not been consumed within 24 hours after purchase.
2. Can hamsters eat cheerios?
Cheerios should only be eaten in moderation as a reward. Because the risk of blood sugar increases from the high sugar content, these products should not be consumed on a daily basis. The odd serving is OK, but don’t make them a regular part of your pet’s diet.
3. What human treats can hamsters eat?
Romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, carrot tops, broccoli spears, spinach, artichokes, and other dark green vegetables are all excellent alternatives. Iceberg lettuce and other foods with a lot of water, like watermelon, should be avoided because they might make you nauseous.
4. Can hamsters eat pellets?
Corn, nuts, seeds, or colorful “poofies” should not be fed to your pet hamster. Obesity and nutritional deficiency may result from them. Hamsters need a diet rich in fiber to keep their digestive tracts moving. It’s Oxbow’s Healthy Handfuls that we were most fond of.
Conclusion
A pellet diet combined with a range of other safe and human foods is the optimum diet for a hamster. You can add seeds to the pelleted food or choose a seed diet that already has pellets in it if your hamster won’t eat it.