Owning a pet hamster is a big responsibility and it is important to keep them as fit and healthy as possible. A large part of this is ensuring they get the right food coupled with fresh water and a safe cage with comfy bedding in which to live.
But what foods are the right foods for your pet hamster, and which you must absolutely avoid?
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Firstly, do not be surprised if your hamster has their own particular likes and dislikes when it comes to food. The basic diet should consist of ready mixed hamster food pellets, either in form or as a loose mix that will contain seeds and dried vegetables. Ideally try and use a mix of these tow as the staple diet for your hamster and supplement it with smaller amounts of a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Introduces newfoods slowly, ideally one at a time, a little piece at a time. Allow a day or two before you try the food again so that they can get used to it and you can spot and adverse reactions.
Your hamster will like seeds, sunflower seeds, particularly peanuts, fruit and vegetables (apple and carrot are popular with most hamsters), but if something is rejected either try it a few days later or try an alternative. Rinse the pieces of fruit and vegetables well before you give them to your hamster and replace any part eaten food so that it does not rot in the cage.
Foods you must absolutely avoid includes chocolate and other sweets, candies or raw potatoes and citrus fruit. Apple seeds, which can contain arsenic, should be avoided as although not harmful to humans, to us larger to smallhamster they could be very dangerous if consumed over time.
In addition, dwarf hamsters can be prone to diabetes, so do not give them sugary treats including fruit.
Onions and foods from the onion family such as garlic and leeks should also be avoided as must almonds and rhubarb leaves and raw rhubarb.
Hopefully this article has provided an overview of what to feed your hamster and what foods can be bad for them.
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