What treats you should feed your hamster?
The majority of the time, hamsters don’t need a wide variety of foods. To meet their dietary needs, your pet must, however, eat a high-quality commercial pellet as their main diet. But besides their regular meals, it’s fun to give them a little variety in the form of various treats. Do not drastically alter your hamster’s diet because this could stress them out and lead to the development of a wet tail. Treats should never make up more than 10% of your hamster’s total diet. If you want to alter their main diet, do it gradually.
Your hamster will not overeat, which may surprise you, so make sure to always fill her food bowl. An ideal daily dose of vitamins and minerals, along with all the other necessary nutrients, are included in a high-quality hamster food that is specially formulated to provide the proper balanced nutrition.
You can give the following treats to healthy adult hamsters without harm if you give them in moderation:
- Some fresh veggies such as cucumbers (avoid tomatoes and anything spicy)
- A few pieces of fruit such as apples and pears – without the seeds
- Quality commercial hamster treats
- Nuts and seeds – in very small amounts
- Grasshoppers, crickets, and mealworms
- Boiled eggs
- Plain tofu
Is it necessary to give my hamster treats?
If you nourish your hamster via a steady and sensible diet, why should you give them treats as well? Well, a few of the reasons include:
- A treat is the secret to a hammie’s complete happiness. A treat is a token of love and appreciation for your furry little friend; it’s a small gift that, like a toy, can bring great joy to your furry little friend. Don’t trust our word? Just pause for a moment to watch your hamster accept and eat his or her subsequent treat. Watch them snuggle into your palm with the warmest admiration as their whiskers twitch, they squeak, and they move their lips.
- A treat is given as payment for work well done. If your hamster is a loving, well-mannered pet, then giving them a delicious treat is a wonderful way to show your appreciation.
- An appropriate treat can play a crucial role in a diet that is well-balanced. A treat here and there will help to nourish your hammie and satisfy their hunger in addition to their regular meals, which can make a hungry hamster grumpy and listless.
Can hamsters eat human treats?
Depends, that is. Many “human foods” are, in actuality, suitable for hamster consumption and even beneficial; provided, of course, that these edibles are served in their purest and most natural forms. These include:
- Fruits. Fruits like blueberries, apples, strawberries, figs, plums, bananas, and pears are all edible to hamsters in general. Just make certain that the fruits are seed-free before giving them to your hamster.
- Vegetables. Spinach, carrots, cucumbers, squash, and pumpkin are just a few of the fresh vegetables that hamsters can eat.
- Grains, seeds, and nuts. Despite being among the most popular hamster snacks, nuts and seeds should only be given in moderation because of their high fat content.
- Hay. A particularly rich and nourishing ham sandwich snack is timothy hay.
- Low-fat cottage cheese.
- Low-fat yogurt.
- Boiled egg.
- Plain tofu.
Whatever treat you decide to give your hamster, make sure to wash and clean every item of food before it enters their mouth. To make sure that your hamster never consumes spoiled food, double-check the expiration dates on all of their treats.
Never presume that something is healthy for your hamster just because it is safe for human consumption. Some items can actually be toxic to our small pet rodents, while others will only upset their stomachs or cause them to gain weight.
What food you shouldn’t feed your hamster?
This is equally important to what is safe to feed your pet, do not feed your hamster the following items because they are unhealthy for them and could lead to serious medical conditions:
- Chocolate
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Sugar
- Treats or foods with high fat content
Hamsters shouldn’t and can’t eat chocolate, candies, and other processed sweets made for human consumption alone, just like dogs and cats. Any kind and amount of sugar can be toxic to a hamster’s body. Avoid eating anything with garlic, citrus fruits, snack foods like potato chips, canned foods, fatty meats like pork, onions, etc.
You will undoubtedly further develop your already unique relationship with your hamster once you learn how to “treat” it.
If you want more helpful advice on looking after your hamster, including tips on food, toys, accessories and accommodation, add a comment below to let us know!
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