Is there any fruit that tastes better than sweet, fresh, juicy blueberries? They are an explosion of yummy flavors in your mouth and have tons of nutritional benefits.
If you own a hamster, it is only natural for you to want to serve the tastiest, healthiest snacks to your little furry friend. However, you probably know that hamsters have different dietary recommendations, and they cannot eat everything we can.
Hamsters are highly fragile and sensitive creatures, which means anything that you feed them and the amount, both require careful consideration. When it comes to blueberries, you need to have all the important information for safely feeding them to hamsters.
This guide will tell you all you need to know about the fruit, if it is safe for your pets’ consumption, and if so, in what amount.
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Blueberry Nutritional Information
Blueberries are known as a healthy snack because they are quite low in calories and sugar content. Along with that, they are packed with nutrients such as antioxidants that promote a healthy body and immune system. There are also a number of vitamins and minerals present in them.
Let’s take a look at what one-cup of fresh blueberries would approximately contain:
- 84 calories
- 21 g carbohydrates
- 6 g fiber
- 1 g protein
- .5 g fat
- 5 mg manganese
- 6 mcg vitamin K
- 4 mg vitamin C
- .1 mg vitamin B6
- .1 mg thiamine
- .8 mg vitamin E
- .1 mg riboflavin
- .1 mg copper
- iron – trace
- magnesium – trace
- phosphorus – trace
- niacin – trace
- zinc – trace
- folate – trace
Do Hamsters Like Blueberries?
Before we answer if it’s okay for hamsters to eat blueberries, you may be wondering if your pet hammy will even like them.
Well, there is a high chance that your furry friend is going to love the fruit. Hamsters are born foodies and they tend to enjoy blueberries a lot.
With natural fruit sugars, and fresh sweetness- this fruit is considered highly tasty. And hamsters sure know how to appreciate good food! They will be eager to nibble on the blueberry and will indulge in its flavor.
Can Hamsters Eat Blueberries?
Yes, you can feed blueberries to your pet hamster. However, there are some guidelines you must follow.
Firstly, you cannot serve artificially sweetened blueberries with added sugar on them. You must only give fresh, clean blueberries to your hamster.
Blueberries can be given to your hamster, but in controlled amounts. Also, despite the health benefits they offer, they should not be alternatives to other nutrient-dense foods. In simple words, do not feed blueberries to your hamster as a staple food.
Don’t worry, we will tell you the right way to feed this fruit to your tiny furry friend.
Health Benefits of Blueberries for Hamsters
It would be useful to know the exact benefits that blueberries provide to hamsters. For starters, they are low in calories especially when compared to other fruits. You must know that hamsters should not consume high-calorie foods. So, blueberries tick this box for hamsters.
In addition, blueberries are packed with Vitamin C which is essential to promote a better immune function, helps in healing and supports tissue health in hamsters. They also contain manganese that helps process proteins, carbohydrates, and cholesterol. Plus, the fiber in this fruit is important in aiding a healthy digestive system.
These benefits make blueberries a good addition to your pet hammy’s diet.
How Many Blueberries Can Hamsters Have?
Hamsters cannot eat the same portions we do. We must remember how small these little creatures are, which means they require far less amounts of food.
When it comes to baby hamsters, it is best not to give them blueberries at all. In the case of adult hamsters, 1 large blueberry is more than adequate. Alternatively, 2 small blueberries are also fine.
When you decide to introduce blueberries to your hamsters’ diet, you should start with an even smaller amount. Sudden changes in a hamster’s diet can often lead to health issues in case something does not suit them. If your pet is already used to eating other fruits, you can give it a blueberry with zero worries.
Another important tip is to observe your pet hamster after giving it the blueberry. Look out for any sign of distress, digestive issues, or mood changes in the next 12 hours. If everything looks fine, you can continue giving it blueberries in the future.
How Often Can A Hamster Eat Blueberries?
Blueberries are not supposed to be given to your hamster daily as their main source of healthy food. You should only give blueberries to your pet hammy once or twice in a week.
You should aim to give your pet a balanced diet, and foods that have even less sugars, and more proteins and nutrients. If you solely feed blueberries over a long period of time, it will get too high in sugar for your hammy’s health.
Remember, that the golden rule for feeding most foods to hamsters is ‘moderation’. We hope this guide was helpful and you know now how to feed blueberries to your little cutie.
