What Do Hamsters Eat [22 Safe Food For Hamsters]
What do hamsters eat is a common question among hamster owners which this post will address so keep reading!
Hamsters are one of the most popular pets for homeowners, and many people enjoy having them around.
However, there are still some foods that should be avoided for hamsters in order to keep them safe.
Giving hamsters these foods makes your hamster happy.
This post will provide you with some common foods that are safe for your hamster to eat!
What Do Hamsters Eat?
A hamster is a small mammal that is native to Europe and Asia. These animals are commonly kept as pets in the United States.
Hamsters are omnivorous and eat a variety of foods. Hamsters only eat food that is safe for them to eat.
They eat small amounts of food so that they don’t get overweight.
Some of the things that hamsters eat include fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, and grains.
Foods that are safe for hamsters to eat
Here are some common foods that are safe for hamsters to eat:
Apples
Apples are a great source of fiber and vitamin C, which can be essential in hamster diets.
They’re also an excellent source of pectin, potassium, and magnesium.
The apple’s texture is similar to the fruit itself; it’s crunchy on the outside with smooth flesh inside.
The fruit itself is high in sugar content but still contains low amounts of calories per serving (about 30 kcal) because you need only one small piece!
Bananas
Bananas are a good source of potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. They also provide dietary fiber and manganese.
Bananas are safe for your hamster to eat because they contain no sugar or starch as other fruits do.
Oranges
Oranges are a great source of vitamin C and fiber, which are essential for hamsters. They also contain no sugar added and no seeds, rinds, or pulp.
Apricots
Apricots are a good source of fiber and vitamin A, so if you’re looking for something safe for your hamster to eat, this is it.
You can give your hamster two apricots per day without worrying about the risk of spoilage or food poisoning.
If your hamster has been eating a balanced diet with plenty of other foods, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to share some apricots with them!
But if he’s only started eating healthy treats recently and hasn’t been given any fruits yet (or they just aren’t used in his regular diet).
Then go easy on him: limit yourself by giving one apricot per day instead of two.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a great source of nutrition for your hamster, but it’s important to know that mushrooms can be toxic for your pet hamster.
If you’re not sure if the mushroom is safe for them to eat in their diet, refrain from giving it to them until you’ve consulted with a veterinarian or other professional who specializes in veterinary medicine.
If you have any concerns about whether certain foods are safe or harmful for your hamster, consult with your vet before making any major changes in their diet or schedule.
Grapes
Grapes are a great food for hamsters, as they are high in vitamin C and fiber. They also contain antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body.
Grapes can be fed to your pet in moderation because they’re high in sugar content.
Strawberries
Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, and potassium.
They also contain antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body.
Vitamin C: This nutrient is essential for healthy skin and bones, as well as the immune system.
Hamsters can get their daily dose through fresh strawberries or frozen berries that have been defrosted at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving them to your pet friend (or yourself!).
Kiwi
Kiwi fruit is a great source of vitamin C, which is important for your hamster’s immune system.
It’s also high in vitamin K, which is essential for bone health and blood clotting.
Kiwi fruit has a lot of fiber and low calories, making it great for your pet’s diet.
Raspberries
Raspberries are a great source of vitamins C and K, fiber, manganese, and potassium.
They also contain antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of cancer.
Raspberries have been shown to improve symptoms in people with asthma or allergies by reducing inflammation in the body’s airways.
This makes them an especially good choice for hamsters who suffer from these conditions—but only if you’re sure your pet isn’t allergic to them!
Mango
Mango is a fruit that contains many nutrients. The mango’s most notable nutrient is Vitamin A, which is found in the skin and pulp of the fruit.
Vitamin A helps maintain your hamster’s vision and immune system, among other things.
Mangos are also high in antioxidants, which can help prevent cancer and other diseases.
Mangos contain fiber as well as antioxidants, making them an excellent food choice for your hamster!
Fiber can help prevent constipation while also making digestion easier for your pet’s body to digest its food properly (which means less waste!).
This makes mangoes great treats for both humans and animals alike!
Cherries (pits removed)
Cherries are a good source of vitamins A and C. They can also be toxic to hamsters if they have pits in them, so you should remove the pits before feeding cherries to your pet.
The skin of cherries contains cyanide, which is poisonous for animals that eat it.
Peas (cooked)
If you’re looking to feed your hamster a healthy, nutritious meal that won’t leave him feeling ill, peas are a good choice.
They’re high in protein and vitamins, as well as minerals such as calcium and iron.
They also contain dietary fiber which helps with digestion and prevents constipation.
And if your hamster loves leafy greens like spinach or kale? You can add them to the mix!
Peas are low in fat but high in carbohydrates (which means they’ll be digested quickly by your pet).
Carrots (raw or cooked)
Carrots are a good source of vitamin A and beta-carotene, which are important nutrients for hamsters.
They also provide fiber, potassium, and other minerals.
Carrots can be eaten raw or cooked—either way, they’re safe for your pet to eat!
Sweet potatoes (raw or cooked)
Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin A, fiber, and vitamin C.
They’re also rich in antioxidants that may help prevent cancer.
Sweet potato greens can be eaten cooked or raw; they’re easy to grow in your home garden if you live in an area with warm summers and cold winters.
Sweet potatoes are easily digestible for hamsters, but they do require some care when preparing them for your little furry friend.
If you want to bake sweet potatoes at home, wash them thoroughly before peeling them off the skin (this will help remove any dirt).
You can boil whole sweet potatoes or steam them until soft enough to eat without cooking further; microwaving whole root vegetables works well too!
Romaine lettuce (no iceberg lettuce)
Romaine lettuce is a good source of vitamins A, C, and K. It also contains fiber and calcium, which are both important to hamsters’ health.
Romaine lettuce has a high content of potassium as well as iron—two minerals that hamsters need in order to grow properly.
Dill pickles (in moderation)
Dill pickles are safe for hamsters to eat, but they should be given in moderation.
Note that Dill pickles contain high levels of sodium, so only give them half a pickle per day as a treat or part of your hamster’s meal.
If you’re feeding your hamster other foods that are low in sodium and have no added salt, such as fresh fruits or vegetables (such as carrots).
Then you can give him or her more than one dill pickle at once without worrying about excess sodium intake.
If you do find yourself giving your pet too many dill pickles at once, try adding some celery sticks along with it to cut down on the amount of sugar present in each bite!
Broccoli stalks and leaves (not the florets)
Note that Broccoli stalks and leaves are a safe food for your hamster to eat.
Broccoli is rich in vitamin C, fiber, calcium, and iron. The stalks are also high in potassium while the leaves contain vitamins A and C.
There are some risks associated with feeding your hamster broccoli: if you don’t wash the vegetable thoroughly before giving it to him/her then there’s a risk that he/she could get an infection (as bacteria can reside on the outside of vegetables).
However, if you make sure that all surfaces have been cleaned thoroughly before serving up this delicious veggie then there shouldn’t be any issues!
Pears
Pears are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. They’re also low in sugar and calories, so you can feel good about feeding your hamster these fruits.
Pears are safe to eat raw or cooked (as long as they don’t have any pesticides).
Fresh Hay
Hay, or haylage, is a good source of fiber and should be given to your hamster on a regular basis.
If you can get fresh hay from the pet store or online, it’s best to do so because this type of food will not contain pesticides.
Your hamster should have access to hay at all times—even during the winter months when it might not look as appealing as its summer counterpart!
Celery
Celery is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. It also contains manganese, folate, and vitamin K.
Celery is a good source of phytonutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a great source of vitamin C, which can help the body fight off infections and reduce inflammation.
They’re also a good source of vitamin A and potassium, which may help protect against cancer.
They contain no fat or sodium, making them low in calories as well.
They’re also rich in fiber—a nutrient important for maintaining healthy digestion—and they contain antioxidants that may help fight cancer cells.
Pepper
Pepper is a healthy food for hamsters and is also helpful in treating diarrhea, colds, coughs, and congestion. It can also be used to treat the symptoms of arthritis.
How often should A Hamster Eat Per Day?
A hamster’s diet is very important and should be tailored to meet its specific needs.
A hamster’s diet should consist of a small amount of hay, fresh vegetables, and a small number of pellets.
The amount of pellets a hamster eats depends on the size of the hamster and the breed of the hamster. A hamster should eat one to two pellets per day.
Hamsters are omnivorous animals and will eat a variety of foods. A good diet for a hamster includes fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, pellets, and water.
Hamsters are small, but they need a lot of food to survive. A hamster can eat up to 1/2 cup of food a day.
Some of the things a hamster can eat are pellets, vegetables, fruit, and hay.
Hamster nutrient requirements
Hamsters need a balanced diet to stay healthy. A hamster’s diet should include a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, hay, and pellets.
Hamsters need specific nutrients to stay healthy, and these nutrients can be found in a hamster’s diet at specific levels.
A hamster’s diet should contain a balanced mix of essential and non-essential nutrients.
Essential nutrients are nutrients that a hamster needs in order to survive, while non-essential nutrients are not essential and can be found in a hamster’s diet in small amounts.
Hamsters need a specific amount of essential nutrients, including protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, and minerals like Copper, Manganese, and Zinc.
A hamster’s diet should also contain a small amount of non-essential nutrients, like fiber.
Learn more about how to care for a hamster.
Foods that are harmful to hamsters
Here is some food you shouldn’t give your hamster:
- Chocolate
- Cheese
- Kosher salt
- Alcohol
- Macadamia nuts
- Fried Potato chips
- Garlic
- Salt
- Brown sugar
- Fruit juices
- Margarine
- Seeds
Conclusion
There are many foods that are safe for hamsters to eat. When in doubt, always consult your veterinarian.