There are so many questions about hamster food and diet, and I figured out it’s much more complicated and a lot of work to make a separate article for each of them. If I write them separately, it will be more work for me and will be harder for you. It will require more tabs to open and lots of links to click.
So, to make things easier for both of us, I’ve decided to create frequently asked questions about hamster food and diet to address all the basic questions regarding hamster feeding and do’s and don’t when it comes to food for hamsters.
PAY ATTENTION TO ALLERGY
Do not feed your hamster fresh or raw food as if it’s a checklist. If you want to see if your hamster like a certain food, make sure to give it to them in a small amount first and don’t mix it with other new food.
For example, don’t feed your hamster two new kinds of food in one day because if they are allergic to one of the food, you won’t know which.
Hamsters don’t usually develop allergies to food, however, they can easily get allergic to new bedding, and new scents (fabric conditioner, perfume, soap), easily.
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UNSEASONED
Any food that you will cook and then feed to your hamster must not have any seasonings – not even salt or pepper. Simply boil the chicken, remove the skin, and give it to your hamster. The same goes for scrambled eggs, only cook the white and without any seasonings.
FOOD IN MODERATION
All raw food that is safe for hamsters must be given in moderation especially cooked meat, fresh vegetables, and fruits. If you give too much of these to your hamster, they will stuff some in their cheek pouch.
Which can rot at some point and may cause an impacted pouch or infection in the mouth. Your hamster might also hide this food in their “hoarded food” under the bedding. Once this food starts to rot, it will attract bacteria or mould build-up and even attract insects – which is all bad for your hamster.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD A HAMSTER BE FED
There should always be hamster dry mixes inside a hamster’s cage in a food bowl. Your hamster will collect dry mixes and hide most of them around the cage. Together with this, you should feed your hamster fresh food once a day. It could be a mixture of lean meat and vegetables or fruits.
HOW LONG CAN HAMSTERS GO WITHOUT FOOD
Hamsters hoard food, meaning even though their food bowl is empty, it doesn’t mean they have no food to eat. They create at least 4-5 pockets of hoarded food just for this, and will last them at least a week.
While we don’t recommend you leave your hamster totally alone, they will be okay for 3-4 days as long as you leave the food bowl full and attach two water bottles. If you have to be away for a longer period, it’s best to make some arrangements with your family, friends, or pet sitter to check up with your hamster at least once a day to change water and refill the food bowl.
Food and water aren’t really the big concern if you have to leave your hamster alone, but the fact that they will get bored and your hamster will try to escape. This is why you have to make sure that the cage is secured and that there’s no way for your hamster to chew their way out of the cage.
CAN HAMSTERS HAVE COOKED MEALS
Of course. You can definitely cook food for your hamsters. It’s best to simply boil food such as vegetables, chicken breast, and egg. Remember not to add any seasoning (salt, pepper, etc). You should also focus on low-fat food and avoid beef, pork, and processed food like hotdogs or ham.
Include feeding cooked meal to your hamster at least 2-3 times a week.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT HAMSTER FOOD AND DIET
Now, in this article, what you will see are simple questions with quick and straightforward answers. Questions like, can hamsters eat this, is this food safe for hamsters, what can hamsters eat, etc
It’s best if you make a little note writing all this down or bookmark this article, so it’s easy to find for future reference.
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Are tomatoes safe for hamsters
Yes, but due to the high amount of water and acid in tomatoes, too much ingestion of it can cause diarrhoea or wet poop or stomach pain. While tomato leaves are just plain no-go. You can give your hamster a quarter slice of baby/cherry tomatoes once a week.
Can hamsters eat carrots
Yes definitely. However, make sure to properly wash the carrots, peel them off, and remove the top green leaf. Then cut them into small pieces, your hamster might try to pouch them so make sure to cut the carrots in good size.
Can hamsters eat chocolate
No, chocolate is high in sugar, which is both bad for your hamster and for their teeth. Hamster only has two teeth, so look after them as they won’t grow back when the root is removed/fallen off. Also, chocolate, especially dark, contains theobromine which is toxic for hamsters – just like for dogs.
Can hamsters eat cheese
Yes, just like their rodent brother rats, hamsters love cheese. But then again, make sure to give them in moderation. Cheese is often high in fat and salt, so definitely only give a few tiny pieces twice or three times a week.
Can hamsters eat strawberries
Strawberries are safe for hamsters, but make sure it is thoroughly ripe. Unripe strawberries can have high acid in them, which can cause stomach pain for your hamsters. Give about a pinky tip size of a strawberry.
Can hamsters eat oatmeal
Yes, oatmeal is high in healthy carbs and fibre, which will keep your hamster energised and their bowel movement healthy. Make sure that they are not oatmeal that comes in small packets, instant cook in the microwave – as those often have sugar in them. Rolled oats or instant oat without sugar are suitable for hamsters.
Can hamsters eat noodles or pasta
Yes, you can give your hamster both cooked and raw pasta or noodles. Make sure they are not seasoned and only give about a foot long.
Can hamsters eat bread
Yes, bread is good for hamsters, but make sure they are high in fibre and low in sugar. Usually, bread that lasts a long time has high sugar in them – so avoid those.
Can hamsters eat peanut butter
Hamsters love peanut butter – they are sweet and salty. Which is the same reason why they must be given in moderation. Also, due to their sticky texture, they can get stuck inside the hamster’s pouch, which can cause infection.
Can hamsters eat potatoes
Yes, but it must be given in small amounts and not too often. Potatoes are a starchy food, if given too much, it can quickly lead to obesity and even cause stomach pain.
Can hamsters eat ham
Yes, but ham is highly preserved and processed – meaning high in sugar and fat. Because of this, you should only give about an inch size and not too often. If you want to feed your hamster high protein, it’s best to give white eggs or lean chicken breast.
Can hamsters eat oranges
No, any citrus or acidic fruit should never be given to a hamster. The acid can cause wet tail and stomach pain, resulting in diarrhoea and even vomiting. Other citrus fruits to avoid are lemon, lime, grapefruit, pomelo, kumquat, and tangerine. Also, any unripe fruit like mango can have high acidity.
Can hamsters eat broccoli
Yes, broccoli is safe for hamsters but cut the stem and wash them properly if they have been sprayed with chemicals. You should boil the broccoli without seasoning before giving it to your hamster.
Can hamsters drink milk
Yes, although this is more common to be given to baby hamsters who either lost their mother or the mother has been neglectful of them, and they are now growing slower. It’s best to give the hamster skimmed milk or milk that is low in fat compared to whole milk.
You can either fill a small feeding bowl with milk or use a small feeding drop. Make sure not to leave the milk too long, or your hamster might drink old and bad milk that can cause stomach pain. Also, spilt milk inside the cage is much harder to clean than water.
Can hamsters eat meat
Totally! However, you should only give lean meat with low fat, like chicken breast or lean beef. You should thoroughly cook the meat with no season by boiling them instead of frying it to avoid using oil.
Hamsters can also eat fish, however, due to high mercury, it should only be given once in a while and must be cooked thoroughly and not use oil if possible. Personally, I don’t give fish to my hamster, chicken breast or white eggs are the favourite way to go for protein.
It’s not recommended to give your hamster pork, chicken skin, or any fatty meat. And raw meat should never be given to a hamster.
Can hamsters have honey
No, not only most honey these days are high in sugar, but also, due to its sticky texture, it can get stuck inside your hamster’s mouth, which can cause infection. Hamsters don’t have the capability to clean their mouth and teeth the way a human does, so avoid honey at all cost.
Can hamsters eat cereals
Yes and no. If the cereal is covered in honey or sugar bits like fruit loops, it should not be given to hamsters. But if it’s plain cornflakes or cereals made of oats, wheat, rice, and barley – your hamster can eat them. There’s no need to add milk to the cereals, hamster’s most likely do not eat soggy food.
Can hamsters eat eggs
Yes, but only white eggs since they are high in protein and almost no fat. You can either scramble the eggs or boil them. Make sure not to add any seasoning or spices to the eggs.
Can hamsters drink soda
Absolutely not. Sodas are high in sugar, and some have a citrus flavour which can upset your hamster’s stomach. Sodas will also ruin your hamster’s teeth.
Can hamsters eat popcorn
Yes, but make sure not to add salt, caramel, or anything to them. A simple popcorn is much better. You can even buy corn cobs specifically for pets, place them inside a microwave and, pop them, then give them to your hamster. You don’t need to pop all the corns, so you have some left later – just make sure to time it properly.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This hamster food and diet frequently asked question section will continue to grow as we receive more questions that are fit to be added here. We can’t tackle every food and drink on earth, so if you have other questions, feel free to leave them in the comment area below, and we will add and answer them in this article.
I hope that you found this list helpful and gave you a better vision and idea of scheduling a healthy diet for your hamster pet.
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