Hamster Food Care
Like 0 Dislike 0 Published on 17 Mar 2010
Hamster Approved Foods: **
Alfalfa
Apple (No seeds) *
Banana *
Broccoli
Cantaloupe
Carrot *
Cashews
Cauliflower
Celery
Cheerios
Cherries *
Chestnuts
Corn *
Cottage Cheese
Crickets
Cucumber
Dandelion Leaves
Grapes *
Green Beans
Hay
Mango *
Mealworms
Peach
Peas
Peanuts
Pear *
Pistacios
Pumpkin
Raisins *
Raspberries
Raspberry Leaves
Spinach
Strawberries
Sunflower Seeds
Turnip
Walnuts
Water Chestnuts
Yam *
Zucchini
Do Not Feed Your Hamster:
Almonds
Apple Seeds
Cabbage*
Citrus fruits (lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, etc.)
Eggplant
Garlic
Kidney* or red beans
Mushrooms
Onion
Pickles
Potato*
Rhubarb
Tomatoes
Junk food designed for humans (chocolate, chips, etc.)
Cabbage, cooked potato (served cold) and cooked kidney beans (also cold) may be okay for your hamster, there is some debate as to whether these foods are okay in small amounts. This list was compiled with the idea of erring on the side of safety when health problem potential is uncertain. If you do decide to feed these foods it is advised that you do so in very small amounts.
What Will My Hamster Enjoy?
Seeds and Nuts:
You hamster will likely enjoy nuts and seeds. These are wonderful treats and will be included in many commercial pet mixes. You should take care to avoid feeding too many nuts or seeds to a dwarf hamster. Nuts and seeds are highly fatty foods and may cause a condition known as "heat" in a dwarf hamster, which can result in loss of fur. One or two nuts every other day is probably sufficient if your hamster is a dwarf.
Green Vegetables:
Green vegetables are another favorite treat of hamsters. Feeding a small slice of cucumber (which is also good source of water) or a piece of lettuce from time to time will be appreciated. But be careful not to overdo it. These should not be fed more than once every 2 or 3 days. In the case of lettuce, too much can cause liver problems in hamsters so feed this treat sparingly.
Avoid Sticky Treats:
In feeding your hamster you should also consider the consistency and texture of the food you are feeding. A food like peanut butter or honey may seem like a nice treat to you or I but they are sticky and could become trapped in hamster's dry cheek pouch. In general you should not feed sticky foods that could adhere to the inner lining of the pouch. Should the cheek pouch become impacted as a result of eating something sticky, the only person who will be able to remedy it will be your veterinarian.
All foods should be fed at about room temperature. Allow any cooked vegetables to cool before feeding, also make sure any cooked vegetables are free from spices, oils or any other seasoning. Any food from the refrigerator or freezer should likewise have time to acclimate to room temperature. Once your hamster has had a chance to eat the fresh foods be sure to clean up any uneaten portion. If left in the cage for more than an hour or so the food will begin to rot, which will cause the cage to stink and may pose a health risk to your little friend(s