What can dwarf hamsters eat

Hamsters love to hoard their food.

Hamsters are cute, small, relatively easy to care for, and if socialized and handled gently, they can be quite affectionate for a rodent, as well. That makes them a very popular "pocket pet. You want to provide hamster food that nourishes your pet through all life stages. In the wild, hamsters are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plant materials and the occasional insect for protein. They often tuck food into their cheek pouches, which makes it easy to carry food back to their burrow for safe consumption. Of course, it's undeniably adorable to see your pet hamster with its cheek pouches stuffed full, which is an instinctive behavior even in the safety of a cage. Pet hamsters can eat a mix of pellets, seed mixes, fresh foods, and treats.

What can dwarf hamsters eat

In the wild, hamsters naturally eat a mixture of seeds, cereals, insect larvae and larger insects such as crickets. As pets, hamsters need a good-quality, balanced and varied diet containing all the essential nutrients and minerals they need. Put their food in flat dishes or directly on the cage floor. If in a dish, expect them to turn it over to transfer the contents to their larder. They carry food in their cheek pouches and can be seen retreating from their food with bulging cheeks. They like to sit up and hold pieces of food to gnaw. You should only give your hamster wet or powdered food if you're advised to by your vet, for example because of dental problems. Wet food can be difficult to clean from the cage, and it's susceptible to mould and bacteria growth, which can be harmful to your hamster. If your hamster is sick and needs wet food, it's important to remove all traces of it at least twice a day to ensure the food doesn't start to rot. Hamsters need a constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water, preferably from a bottle with a valveless sipper tube. Change their water regularly, clean the bottle and nozzle properly and check the water bottle everyday for leaks or blockages.

There is no need for commercial treats if you feed your pet the above foods, as the extras are more than enough "treat" for your hamster. What Can Hamsters Eat?

Dwarf hamsters can—and should—eat a variety of different foods for their balanced diet. Unlike Syrian hamsters, dwarf hamsters are at a high risk of diabetes and need special diets to make sure their blood sugar level stays in check. Because dwarf hamsters are very prone to diabetes, they can't handle the same foods as Syrian hamsters. Many commercially available kibble formulas have ingredients that can upset the delicate balance of your dwarf hamster's blood sugar levels. Fruits, sweets and refined products shouldn't be fed to these little guys. Vegetables are among the safest, healthiest treats to feed to dwarf hamsters in addition to a well-balanced kibble formula.

Last Updated: November 11, Approved. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed , times. Dwarf hamsters are friendly creatures that make excellent household pets. In the wild, they live in groups and thrive in the forests, grasslands, and deserts of China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Siberia. There are a few different types of dwarf hamsters. Domestic dwarf hamsters include the Winter White, Campbell's, and Roborovski hamsters. They like dry environments with interesting features to keep them entertained.

What can dwarf hamsters eat

Dwarf hamsters definitely top the group for the most popular hamsters in the world. Your hamster is only going to trust you if you feed it properly, so this is a must. You should feed your hamster daily, they require fresh food every day. You also need to remove any uneaten food as it will rot quickly. You should feed your hamster with hard treats twice a week. Hard treats help your dwarf hamster keep his incisors filed down, which is good for his overall dental hygiene.

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Dwarf hamsters can—and should—eat a variety of different foods for their balanced diet. They pack extra food into special cheek pouches and then store it around their cage for later. Vegetables are among the safest, healthiest treats to feed to dwarf hamsters in addition to a well-balanced kibble formula. They can get this from: A compound pellet ration or mixture of different seeds formulated to meet their needs. Now I know what to do to make my Holly and Eve safe. Making your own food mix is ideal that way you can ensure that your hamster is getting the nutrients they need. Hamster Care Sheet. However, introduce small pieces, as an an unaccustomed food risks upsetting the stomach. Measure advertising performance. You can buy these in pet shops. Zayas has practiced small animal and exotic medicine all over the United States and currently lives in Colorado with her 3 dogs, 1 cat, Hamster love to shred and chew things like: Cardboard Coconut shells Hay cubes Unbleached loofah Pumice stone Seagrass They can gnaw on untreated softwood. Hamsters also have the habit of filling their cheek pouches with secret stashes of food to build secret food stores near their bed. Nuts, seeds, and grains: pumpkin seeds, peanuts, millet, flaxseed, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, oats, barley, walnuts, lentils, soybeans.

From specially formulated hamster mixes to fresh food, you basically just have to choose which ones would be able to provide the nutritional requirement your pet needs.

All Categories. Kaytee Fiesta Hamster Food — this food mix is actually great for both dwarf hamsters and larger Syrian hamsters. Many commercially available kibble formulas have ingredients that can upset the delicate balance of your dwarf hamster's blood sugar levels. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. Monitoring your hamster's diet Always keep a close eye on the amount your hamster eats and drinks. The majority of your pet's diet should be made up of a good quality, store-bought food designed specifically for hamsters not for rats , mice , or cats. Fruits: apples, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, cranberries, seedless grapes, lychee, mangos, melons, peaches, plums, raspberries, raspberry leaves, and strawberries. If the two hamsters fight, separate them. After caring for animals in her veterinarian practice, Lianne went on to study biology and research water quality and chronic disease at the University of Saskatchewan. You want to provide hamster food that nourishes your pet through all life stages. As with humans, many colorful or dark-colored vegetables provide necessary nutrients and vitamins. There are also many treats that are good for your hamster, but you should never overfeed them with treats, as they will lose their point — treats are there to reward your hamster after doing something good. These fruits, vegetables and herbs are all suitable for your hamster.