Although hamsters are a type of rodent, a species that has a reputation for happily chowing down on garbage, hamsters cannot thrive on a diet of scraps and junk food. As with any other kind of house pet, your hamster needs to have a nutritious diet to live a long and happy life. There are also several foods that hamsters must avoid, as it is relatively easy to upset their stomachs, and certain items are lethal to your pet.
Fortunately, if you have found yourself wondering, “What do hamsters like to eat?”, you need not look any further. Keep reading to discover which foods and treats are best for your hamster.
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Best Foods for a Hamster
It is best to provide your hamster with a mixture of the following foods, which is confirmed by animals.mom.com. How often you feed your hamster is important. Remember to feed your pet once each day in either the morning or the evening and inspect any foods that are not specifically for hamsters prior to feeding them. Here are the best foods for a hamster, as well as some you should avoid.
Commercial Brands
Commercial mixes of hamster food ought to be the main staple of your hamster’s diet. So long as the mix contains pellets, corn, grain, and seeds, it will do. In terms of specific brands, Kaytee Forti Diet Hamster Food and Supreme Petfoods Hamster Mix are currently some of the most highly recommended commercial hamster food blends. While your hamster may not like every element in their commercial mix, it is important that they at least eat the pellets, which is where most of the nutrients are found. If you must, keep switching brands until you find one with pellets that satisfy your pet. Keep in mind that hamsters like to bury their food sometimes. You may have to check their cage to see if they have simply been stashing the pellets instead of eating them.
Vegetables and Fruit
Whereas your hamster needs commercial food every day, raw vegetables or fruit should supplement their diet every other day. Sugar and water tend to be harmful to hamsters, as they are prone to diabetes and diarrhea, so be sure to give them fruits or vegetables that are low in sugar or water. Good fruit options for your hamster include apples, plums, peaches, pears, certain melons, and some berries. Remove any pits or other hard seeds, as these are a choking hazard for your pet. For vegetables, greens with many leaves are often the best choice, such as asparagus, broccoli, and celery. Green beans and carrots are also a viable option. As with fruit, remember to avoid vegetables that contain a lot of water, like iceberg lettuce.
Proteins
In addition to occasionally providing your hamster with fruit or vegetables, it is good to sometimes give them a source of protein with their commercial food. Certain raw and completely unseasoned nuts, such as pine nuts, walnuts, or hazelnuts, are a great choice. Avoid almonds, peanuts, and pistachios, as their naturally high salt content can be harmful to your hamster over time. Other possible sources of protein for your hamster include seeds, small quantities of mild cheeses or low-fat yogurt, and every so often, very small amounts of scrambled egg and ham or turkey. Sunflower or flax seeds are generally the best seed option.
Foods to Avoid
In addition to the other options listed in this article, you should never give your hamster foods that will make them sick, choke, or break their teeth. Any junk food, as well as processed human food, is off-limits, as these could be lethal to your pet. Be sure to also avoid olives, onions, pickles, and potatoes. For a more inclusive list, contact your veterinarian.
Best Hamster Treats
While it is important to make sure your hamster eats a healthy diet, treats that are a little sweet are okay every now and then. Here are the best treats to occasionally give your hamster.
Chews and Sticks
Chews or sticks can be attached to your hamster’s cage. These treats enable hamsters to wear down their teeth in the same way teething rings or rubber toys do for babies and puppies, which is good for your hamster’s dental health. Honey is usually added to keep chews from crumbling apart, however, so be sure to only give these to your pet sparingly. One highly recommended chew brand is the Vitakraft Hamster Treat, which is readily available on Amazon or Chewy.
As with chews, sticks may contain more sugar than hamsters should ingest, which easily overshadows the dental health benefits. Look for sticks that do not contain sugar, and avoid brands that are listed for small creatures, as rabbits, guinea pigs, and most other small pets can safely ingest far more sugar than hamsters. Only buy stick treats that specifically state they are safe for hamsters. One such sugar-free stick treat is the Kaytee Apple Orchard Stick, which can be purchased from Chewy’s website.
Yogurt or Chocolate Drops
Yogurt or chocolate drops are useful for getting your hamster to forage and root around in their cage.These treats are small and simple to hide, and hamsters find their sweet scents mesmerizing. Despite what the names imply, yogurt and chocolate drops are actually made from vegetable oil, and the chocolate drops do not contain any cocoa, so they will not shock your hamster’s system with sugar. They also melt much faster than actual chocolate, so these treats will not clog up in your hamster’s cheeks. Yogu Drops are a commonly-reccomended brand of hamster drops, and they can be found on Amazon.
Conclusion
While hamsters are generally hearty creatures, they are very much a house pet and not a stereotypical rodent, which means that your hamster needs a healthy diet in order to live a long and happy life with you and your family. So long as you provide them with a good commercial blend with pellets they enjoy and supplement that with fruit, vegetables, and sometimes protein or a slightly sweet treat, your hamster will thrive.
