Did you know that hamsters are omnivores? That means they eat a variety of foods, spanning from fruits and vegetables to meats and proteins. In their native habitats, they\u2019ll snack on anything edible they come across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a hamster owner, it\u2019s your job to know which foods are healthy for your pet. Some foods are great options for a staple part of a hamster\u2019s diet, some are best incorporated as an occasional treat and others still are downright dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nuts are one of those foods that offer plenty of health benefits but are still best included in a hamster\u2019s diet as a sometimes-treat. Just like oats<\/a>, we need to view each type of nut as a different food based on their nutritional content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that being said, let\u2019s take a look at a few different kinds of nuts, their nutritional content, and how to feed them to your hamster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contents<\/p> Peanuts are safe and healthy when incorporated into your hamster\u2019s diet in small amounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamsters must only be fed peanuts that are unsalted, unsweetened and unflavored. They can be baked, but make sure there is no oil added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Never feed peanuts to baby hamsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adult hamsters can have peanuts, but an appropriate serving is different depending on your hamster\u2019s size. Larger hamsters like Syrians and Robowskis can have one peanut every seven to 10 days. Dwarf hamsters should only have one peanut every two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can serve your hamster peanuts with or without shells. Hamsters love to gnaw and will chew through the shell to get to the meat inside. Just make sure you clean the shell pieces out of your hamster\u2019s cage so they don\u2019t rot or mold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By and large, nut butters of all types should be avoided. The consistency of nut butters could be a choking hazard for your pet, and it could make for a sticky, messy meal that is difficult to clean up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you\u2019re committed to incorporating peanut butter in your hamster\u2019s diet, take note of the following recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most peanut butters have added oil. Make sure you serve your hamster an incredibly small portion, even smaller of a serving than an appropriate serving of whole peanuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peanut butter must be plain, unsalted and unsweetened. Basically, the nutrition and makeup of the peanut butter should be as close to whole peanuts as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almonds are also a safe sometimes-treat for hamsters. They must be organic sweet almonds. Both raw and roasted almonds are good options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once again, make sure there is no added salt, oil or flavors. Plain and simple whole foods are the best fresh meals for hamsters!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure you feed your hamster the right kind of almond. Unrefined bitter almonds contain hydrogen cyanide, which is definitely fatal for an animal as small as a hamster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standard almonds that you buy at the grocery store are sweet almonds, and are safe for your hamster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almonds shouldn\u2019t act as a staple part of your hamster\u2019s diet, but they can be an occasional treat. Never exceed one almond per week, even less for small hamsters like dwarf varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almond skin has been known to irritate hamsters\u2019 stomachs. To remove the skin from almonds, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes. Then, when the almond cools, pinch the ends of the nut to slide the skin off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When introducing almonds to your hamster, start with a small portion and gradually work them up to a full serving over a month or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In moderation, cashews are a safe and healthy treat for hamsters. Make sure the cashews aren\u2019t raw, and aren\u2019t salted or flavored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Never feed your hamster raw cashews. They are toxic to hamsters — and people, too! Also avoid feeding your hamster cashew shells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Larger hamsters like Syrians and Robowskis can have one cashew per week. Dwarf hamsters should only have a half of a cashew every 10 days or two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only the large hamster breeds, Syrians and Robowskis, should eat walnuts. Walnuts are dense and have high fat levels compared to other nuts. They\u2019re just a little too much for the tiniest of our hamster buddies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Large-breed hamsters can have, at most, one walnut each week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Walnut shells are also safe for hamsters. They won\u2019t eat the shell, but they will enjoy wearing down their teeth and cracking the shell open to get to the yummy treat inside!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following table shows nutritional and micronutrient information of the four nuts covered in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see in the table, walnuts have by far the largest fat and caloric content. This is the main reason why only larger hamsters should eat walnuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almonds have the highest calcium content, and cashews have the highest magnesium content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The micronutrients in the above table have many health benefits for hamsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vitamins A, B complex and K are also present in many nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest reason why hamsters must eat nuts in moderation is their high fat and caloric content. Hamsters may not want to eat their regular staple diet after eating nuts because of the high calorie count. Hamsters are also prone to obesity and diabetes, so high-fat foods can lead to weight gain or raised blood-sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nuts can also cause digestive issues like diarrhea and bloating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just remember to feed your hamster small amounts of nuts, and you probably will steer clear of these health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the four nuts we\u2019ve covered today, there are several others that are safe for hamsters to eat:<\/p>\n\n\n\nCan Hamsters Eat Peanuts?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feeding Peanuts to Hamsters<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can Hamsters Eat Peanut Butter?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can Hamsters Eat Almonds?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Special Warning About Almonds<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Feeding Almonds to Hamsters<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can Hamsters Eat Cashews?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feeding Cashews to Hamsters<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can Hamsters Eat Walnuts?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feeding Walnuts to Hamsters<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Nutritional Facts of Nuts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Nutritional Information of Nuts per Half-Ounce (1 tablespoon or 14 grams)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ingredient or Micronutrient<\/strong><\/td> Peanuts<\/strong><\/td> Almonds<\/strong><\/td> Cashews<\/strong><\/td> Walnuts<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Calories<\/td> 41<\/td> 80<\/td> 78<\/td> 95<\/td><\/tr> Fat<\/td> 2.25 grams<\/td> 7 grams<\/td> 6.25 grams<\/td> 9 grams<\/td><\/tr> Carbohydrates<\/td> 1.5 grams<\/td> 1.25 grams<\/td> 5 grams<\/td> 2 grams<\/td><\/tr> Protein<\/td> 1.5 grams<\/td> 3 grams<\/td> 2.5 grams<\/td> 2 grams<\/td><\/tr> Fiber<\/td> 0.5 grams<\/td> 1.75 grams<\/td> 0.5 grams<\/td> 1 gram<\/td><\/tr> Potassium<\/td> 46 milligrams<\/td> 104 milligrams<\/td> 93 milligrams<\/td> 65 milligrams<\/td><\/tr> Phosphorus<\/td> 25 milligrams<\/td> 68 milligrams<\/td> 84 milligrams<\/td> 48.5 milligrams<\/td><\/tr> Vitamin E<\/td> 2.25 milligrams<\/td> 3.66 milligrams<\/td> n\/a<\/td> n\/a<\/td><\/tr> Manganese<\/td> 1.5 milligrams<\/td> 0.3 milligrams<\/td> 0.2 milligrams<\/td> 0.4 milligrams<\/td><\/tr> Magnesium<\/td> 0.75 milligrams<\/td> 38 milligrams<\/td> 41.5 milligrams<\/td> n\/a<\/td><\/tr> Calcium<\/td> 0.25 milligrams<\/td> 38 milligrams<\/td> 5 milligrams<\/td> 15 milligrams<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Health Benefits of Nuts for Hamsters<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Health Concerns of Nuts for Hamsters<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other Nuts That Are Safe for Hamsters<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n