If you own a cute little hamster, you must know how fragile and sensitive it is. While your tiny pet is not very demanding, it does have very specific dietary needs. In fact, for a healthy hamster, one of the most important factors is diet. What your pet hammy eats is definitely going to have a lasting impact on their long-term health.
Furthermore, it is important to be super cautious whenever you feed your hamster. Their stomachs are not able to tolerate toxic substances, even in small amounts- and they can not expel them easily.
Generally, hamsters benefit from a nutrient-dense, low-calorie diet consisting of whole grains and seeds. They also like to munch on fresh fruits and vegetables. So, are all fruits and veggies safe for hamsters?
As humans, we’ve always been told to eat our peas and carrots. But today we will focus on peas and find out if feeding your pet hammy is actually safe or beneficial to them.
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Can Hamsters Eat Peas?
The short and simple answer is, yes. Hamsters can eat peas and even benefit from them. However, peas should not be eaten in excess because they do contain high levels of salt, sugar, and fat.
Hence, for anyone wanting to serve some of these vegetables, remember that moderation is key.
Nutritional Benefits of Peas for Hamsters
Peas are packed with nutrition as they contain dietary fiber, iron, folate, manganese, and vitamin B-6.
Dietary fibers are a very important element in your hamsters’ diet as they keep their stools soft, and prevent constipation or other stomach-related issues. A good digestive system is important for hamsters, so, peas can be a good addition to their diet.
In addition, vitamin B6 is also very useful as it helps them in maintaining healthy nerves and skin and contributes to the production of red blood cells.
Peas also contain manganese, an important element for healthy and strong bones. Not only does it improve overall bone health, but it also helps prevent osteoporosis and other joint-related issues.
And that is not all. The folate present in peas also contributes to positive health and improved well-being as it results in healthy DNA and RNA. It is also important in the production of red and white blood cells in the bone marrow.
How many peas should hamsters eat?
You must be careful with the number of peas you give to your pet hamster, and how often you do so. Despite all their benefits, peas do contain amounts of salt and sugar that are never healthy for hamsters. So, limiting the portion is very crucial.
Ideally, a Syrian hamster which is the largest in size can eat the most peas. So, if you own a Syrian hamster, it can have about 6 pees a week.
Smaller than a Syrian hamster, Roborovski hamsters can eat about 3 peas a week or slightly more.
The smallest breed, Dwarf hamsters such as Chinese, Russian, Campbell, are the most sensitive kinds. They should not be given peas at all to avoid any health risks.
It’s best to space out the peas throughout the week as you give them.
Risks of eating peas for hamsters
What exactly are the risks of feeding peas to hamsters?
Well, obesity is the number one potential risk of eating too many peas. With the high sugar content, eating them in excess can quickly make hamsters gain additional and unnecessary weight. Plus, we all know how hamsters love to over-eat and over-indulge in delicious snacks.
Furthermore, diabetes is another risk due to the sugar present in peas. And many hamsters are naturally diabetic or prone to the condition.
One more risk associated with peas is the hazard of choking on them. Before you feed peas to your furry friend, make sure to slice them in half to avoid this risk.
Remember that peas cannot be an alternative to your hamsters’ diet and cannot replace the required staple food consisting of grains and seeds.
Can Hamsters Eat Frozen Peas?
You should not feed frozen peas to your adorable hamster. It is always recommended to serve peas when soft or pushy. Frozen peas can be choked on.
Plus, you don’t want your pet hammys’ teeth getting chipped on hard peas. And frozen peas are simply too cold, temperature-wise.
Always wait for peas to defrost before offering them to your pet.
In conclusion, like many other foods, peas do have a number of benefits for hamsters. However, make sure you stick to our advice about limiting the number of peas your hamster eats.
Peas can be a nutritious snack and occasional treat for your little furry pal from time to time!
