Syrian hamsters have rapidly become very popular household pets in the western world ever since Professor Aharoni captured a female hamster and her 12 pubs in Aleppo Syria back in 1930. Generally, vegetables should only make up about 10% of your hamster’s diet, as they can cause diarrhea in larger amounts. They may also enjoy vegetables like cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, peas, and even dandelion greens. And, it can be difficult to feed a hamster milk. In the wild hamsters are omnivorous but mostly eat plants. But, it’s important to know that they don’t eat everything they put in their cheeks. Can the hamsters eat vegetables regularly? Be sure that the cheese is unflavored. Dwarf hamsters are not simply a small version of Syrians – their metabolism and physiology can differ from Syrian hamsters in many aspects. What Do Hamsters Eat in the Wild? When feeding a loose seed mix, make sure your hamster empties the food bowl before adding more, not allowing your hamster to eat only its favorite things. Even carrots are safe for hamsters. The most common fruits like apples, plums, cherries and grapes are alright. Dried crickets and mealworms are very popular among Syrian and Dwarf Hamsters. And, milk and other dairy products go bad quickly. Try to avoid sugary treats and only feed fruit every couple of days. Wild hamsters are omnivorous and eat a wide range of foods from seeds, insects, and nuts. And, since domesticated hamsters are closely related to their wild cousins, their diet is similar. That means they can and will eat anything from plant-based food, to grains, to meat and insects. Their natural geographical range is limited to arid areas of Syria, Turkey, Greece, Romania and Belgium. Yes, bananas are a great choice for any hamster including Syrian hamsters. This is important because you don’t want your hamster to fill up on treats and not get the nutrition they need from their pellets. You should not offer them treats every day. Are Almonds Safe for mice? Syrian hamsters can eat a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, salad, nuts, meat & herbs as part of a balanced healthy diet, below is a comprehensive list of safe food for Syrian hamsters. Mealworms are a good choice and usually well-liked. [4] Hamilton, J.W., Hogan, A.G. 1944. A total of 2-4 nuts can be fed per month and the servings are given after assuming that, that is the only seed being given in that particular month. Treats should only be offered at the most once a week so that they get adequate nutrition from their pellets. But, to keep a hamster of your own, you will have to give some thought to feeding it properly. Syrian hamsters eat a wide variety of fruits as an occasional treat. Hamsters can eat a wide variety of fruits; including grapes, strawberries, apples and watermelon. This applies for every kind of hamster out there, be it Syrian, Robo, Campbell, or Chinese. This should only be offered to them rarely, if at all. Hamsters also enjoy eating fruits and vegetables as treats. Hamsters can eat a wide variety of foods, from fruits and vegetables to seeds and rusks. crickets. And, be sure to offer them only a very small piece. If you’d rather avoid handling insects, you could substitute this for hard-boiled egg in small quantities. The diet of the hamster is less studied than the diet of other laboratory rodents. With the correct diet you can increase the likelihood of a longer life expectancy for your hamster. Do hamsters love carrots? Their numbers have been declining in the wild due to a loss of habitat from agriculture and deliberate elimination by humans. Give hamsters a half-teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of vegetables, fruit or other treats two or three times per week. And remember, the Syrian hamster – also called Golden hamster or Fancy hamster – is the largest of the five hamster species we keep as pets.Therefore, it requires more food than its smaller cousins. Syrian or teddy bear hamsters should eat a diet that is primarily an approved hamster diet pellet mix. Which Breeds Can? Bread is not good for them and white bread is the least healthy option. It’s not uncommon for hamsters in the wild to be seen eating insects, and for hamsters in captivity to enjoy foodstuffs such as pieces of boiled egg. As a small animal veterinarian, Nina is your go-to expert on pet health and nutrition. As long as your hamster likes the small test piece and it doesn’t make them sick, you can offer them a larger piece next time. Best Hamster Food: What do hamsters eat? Any mild, low-fat cheese will work as well as cottage cheese. So, what can Syrian hamsters eat besides hamster mix? While these are foods that many Syrian hamsters enjoy eating, every hamster has its own dietary preferences. Start with 1 milliliter 12 times a day around the clock until the hamster pups are 2 weeks old. A Syrian hamster will only eat one to two tablespoons of food per day; Dwarf hamsters have higher metabolisms so they will consume the same amount; Expired bags of hamster food might have moth eggs hatch inside; Store the feed in a cool dry location to ensure freshness; Put it in an air-tight container in the fridge for extra … Hamsters can enjoy many kinds of fresh veggies, such as spinach, carrots, cucumbers, squash, and pumpkin. If you would rather not offer them insects, you can give them other types of meat like beef or chicken. Rather than giving them a huge chunk, cut the carrot in smaller cubes or offer a baby carrot for them to chew on. To encourage your hamster’s natural foraging behaviors, you can distribute food all over the cage for him or her to find – one downside of this, however, is that it becomes more difficult to monitor your hamster’s food intake. And, protein is an important part of any hamster’s diet. You should not feed them things like cookies, crackers, cakes and other baked goods or snack foods. Surprisingly, when it comes to the question of how much do dwarf hamsters eat, the answer is, about the same as Syrian hamsters. Hamsters naturally eat a mixture of seeds/cereals/insect larvae/larger insects e.g. We recommend mealworms, eggs or a small amount of plain yogurt (without sugar!) Hutch and Cage is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. Give your Syrian Hamster An Amazing Life [Facts + Guide] Best Hamster Wheel – The Complete Review. And, it will hide food around the cage to snack on throughout the day. There are reports of hamsters living with people for up to seven years, but the Guinness World Record is held by a hamster that lived for 4.5 years. Dried crickets and mealworms are very popular among Syrian and Dwarf Hamsters. In the wild areas, when the hamster is not living as a pet, that means the hamster is living with all the other animals. Offer only one new type of food at a time. Hamilton, J.W., Hogan, A.G. 1944. How much do hamsters eat? [1] Hamilton, J.W., Hogan, A.G. 1944. These are very popular options for Syrian and dwarf hamsters. But avoid feeding pork to your pet hamster. However, it is not good for them. Their natural geographical range is limited to arid areas of Syria, Turkey, Greece, Romania and Belgium. And, you should only offer a small cube or curd of cheese. Although a hamster mix will provide the hamster with a good basic diet, hamsters also enjoy fruit and vegetables to eat. Looking for an Amazing hamster cage like nothing you’ve ever seen before? Give hamsters a half-teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of vegetables, fruit or other treats two or three times per week . Berries are a great choice, because their sugar content is relatively low and they are packed with antioxidants. In pet stores, you can find mixtures that were put together especially for dwarf hamsters, consisting of smaller seeds and grains (e.g. Best Flea Treatment For Cats & Kittens [5 Great Topical Options], 5 Best Dog Foods For Dogs With A Sensitive Stomach And Allergies, Best Hamster Bedding For Clean & Odorless Cages, Best Parakeet Cage For One Or Two Birds – Our Top 5 Popular Picks, Best Cat Scratching Post Of 2019: 5 That Are Durable & Top Quality. Of course you are going to need to take note of what your hamster eats as they don’t all have exactly the same appetite. Or, if you’re not too squeamish, you can offer them a live cricket as well. Another meat option for Syrian hamsters is canned dog food. The diet of the hamster is less studied than the diet of other laboratory rodents. Look for one that does not have artificial colors as that won’t be as good for them. And, be sure that it does not have any ingredients listed under the foods that hamsters cannot eat section. Pre-packaged muesli or pellets bought from your local pet store offer a great source of nutrients and minerals for your hamster, however small quantities of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs offer a great way to supplement their diet. Note that vegetables are not the staple food for the hamsters. Mealworms or eggs make a great additional protein source. The best types of food you can give your hamster are those similar to what they would eat in the wild. Because carrots have sugar in them, they may not be the ideal snack for dwarf hamsters, which are prone to diabetes. Experts recommend that your Syrian hamster eat a hamster diet of about 1/8 cup of pelleted hamster food per day. You can also give your pet hamsters some treats once in a week that contains fresh fruits. Therefore, it is important to follow a course of dry feed, provided by the veterinarian, and supplement it with these products occasionally and in … Hamsters can be cute, small, cuddly, and playful. And, you should only feed them banana once or twice a week. Sugary products: Hamsters may choose to eat these empty calories instead of their healthier foods, and excess can lead to diabetes. Best Hamster Bedding- The Definitive Guide. This sad fact brings with it one positive aspect: thanks to all the research performed on them, a lot is known about the hamster’s specific dietary needs. Most foods are designed for the larger Syrian hamster, whereas they are acceptable, they are not ideal. Wild hamsters were first found in Syria and also live wildly in Romania, Belgium, Northern China, and Greece. All content is therefore for informational purposes only. You can supplement your hamster with fresh fruit and vegetables. It’s important that you not overfeed your pet hamster. Unwashed fruits or vegetables: Because of pesticides, unwashed fruits and vegetables pose a danger to your hamster. It is more liked by the baby hamsters. Remember that carrots and other vegetables do contain small amounts of sugar. This should only be given to them once every week or two as a treat. Note: The first 10 seeds of the list can be either fed dry or can be mixed into the daily diet of the hamster.It is always advisable to feed 2-3 types of seeds in a combination for holistic nutritional growth. Fruits. Syrian hamsters are the most common species of hamster there is to find (and the largest). The golden hamster or Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a rodent belonging to the hamster subfamily, Cricetinae. But, because bananas are so sweet, they should only be given a 1/4 teaspoon of banana at one time. However, many hamsters prefer a mix of dried seeds and grains, which correspond to their food choices in the wild. It's really important to feed pet hamsters a low-fat, low protein and sugar diet and one which is high in fibre. This way, if your hamster doesn’t like the food, you haven’t wasted it. So, yours may not like something that another hamster likes. This is for a standard-sized Syrian or teddy bear hamster. Occasionally, you might want to supplement your pet’s diet with a little bit of protein. Hamsters and gerbils are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plant material. Do teddy bear hamsters bite? For domesticated hamster researchers design diets to maximize growth, breeding, milk production in mothers, and the maintenance of health in adult hamsters. 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