One of the most important parts of pet parenting is feeding your furry friend a high-quality diet packed full of the right nutrients. As far as hamsters are concerned, these omnivorous rodents will thrive on a daily diet of commercial hamster pellets, Timothy hay, and the occasional fruit, veggie, or grain treat.
As a hamster owner, you may be wondering what types of human foods your little pal can eat. Fortunately, there is a long list of human foods that your hamster can safely consume.
If you want to add a tasty tidbit to your hamster’s next dish, here are some human food options that are perfectly safe for hamsters to eat in moderation.
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A Pet Hamster’s Diet
Wild hamsters are omnivores. However, as pets, this doesn’t mean that they should be offered anything you find in your pantry. As pets, hamsters do best on a diet that consists primarily of pellets made specifically for them. Pellets intended for other rodents are often acceptable for hamsters. However, pellets intended for lab animals are not good for pet hamsters, as they often contain too much fat for the long-term management of a pet.
A dietary staple of pellets should be supplemented with high-fiber foods (such as Timothy hay) and vegetables. Hamsters also benefit from the inclusion of high-protein items in their diet (freeze-dried insects, nuts, and seeds) in moderation.
Fruits might seem like a healthy option for hamsters on the surface. However, they are often not the best for them. Hamsters have a knack for hoarding foods, and fresh fruits can quickly sludge and spoil when a hamster hides them in their enclosure.
Hamsters also don’t fare well with the naturally occurring sugars found in many fruits. In addition, though hamsters do possess large cheek pouches for hoarding fruits, they lack salivary glands within the cheek pouches themselves. A moist food item such as a piece of fruit may therefore become lodged in their cheek pouches.
It’s also worth noting that the guidelines above are for a healthy adult hamster in maintenance. The nutritional needs of juvenile, senior, pregnant, lactating, overweight, or underweight hamsters, or those diagnosed with medical conditions, are different. As such, it’s best to discuss your pet’s needs with your veterinarian to formulate a meal plan that is specifically catered to your pet’s needs.
The Following Fruits Are Safe for Hamsters to Eat
Here are some hamster-friendly fruits that you can safely feed your hamster.
- Apples: You can safely feed the flesh of fresh apples to your hamster. However, you should not offer them apple seeds.
- Bananas: Garnish your cereal with this delicious fruit and while you’re at it, share a tiny slice with your hamster!
- Peaches: Yes, you can treat your hamster to a peach! Just forgo feeding them the stone.
- Tomatoes: The flesh of ripe tomatoes is safe for hamsters
- Watermelon: Your hamster will enjoy munching on the flesh of this gourd.
With all of these fresh fruit options, you should always feed them to your hamster in extreme moderation, and as treats only. We also recommend consulting a veterinarian to find out more about your hamster’s individual nutritional needs.
The Vegetables That Hamsters Can Safely Eat
Not only will your little rodent pal love to dine on fruits, but they will also eat vegetables. These are preferred to fruits, as they are much lower in sugar. Here is a list of some common greens that you can safely feed your hamster.
- Celery: This crisp, green veggie is great for hamsters.
- Corn: Corn on the cob is safe for hamsters in moderation.
- Cucumber: Fresh cucumber is an acceptable treat for hamsters.
- Peas: These affordable veggies are an acceptable bite-sized hamster treat.
Some other hamster-approved vegetables include broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, and squash. In excess, any vegetable can lead to episodes of diarrhea, which is very dangerous for hamsters. As such, you should be very mindful about adding vegetables to your hamster’s diet (ideally only at your vet’s recommendation).
Seeds
A handful of seeds makes the perfect snack. Share your love for seeds with your hamster by offering them one of these options.
- Pumpkin seeds: These large gourd seeds make the perfect tidbit for larger hamsters.
- Sunflower seeds: This type of seed is a popular choice for hamsters.
Nuts for Hamsters
Being omnivores, hamsters also adore nuts! Try offering one of these types of nuts to your hammie.
- Peanuts: Your hamster can enjoy an unsalted peanut. However, they should not be given peanut shells.
- Walnuts: Yes, hamsters can safely eat walnuts. Like all nuts, you should only feed them these nuts in moderation to avoid obesity.
Other Hamster-Friendly Human Foods
- Brown rice (cooked)
- Cooked chicken
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Whole grain bread and cereal
What Not to Feed to Your Hamster
Not all human foods are suitable for hamsters. Avoid junk food (chips, chocolate, candy) at all costs. Additionally, avoid feeding your pet sugared, salted, or seasoned foods. Other human foods hamsters shouldn’t eat include:
- Almonds
- Apple seeds
- Citrus fruits, like oranges or lemons
- Chocolate
- Eggplants
- Garlic
- Onions
- Raw potatoes or beans
Conclusion
Whenever you introduce any new type of food to your hamster’s diet, you should do so in a slow manner. Try giving them a small piece mixed in with their regular pellets to see if they like it.
Hamsters can enjoy a wide variety of human foods. Just be sure to give your pet these treats in moderation to avoid excess weight gain. It’s also strongly recommended to consult your veterinarian prior to modifying your hamster’s diet.
Related Reads:
- Can Hamsters Eat Cat Food? Everything You Need to Know!
- Can Hamsters Eat Bird Food? What You Need to Know!
- Can Hamsters Eat Rabbit Food? What You Need to Know!
Featured Image Credit: mattyw1991, Shutterstock
