Hamsters are rodents and their diet must include a special hamster feed with cereals. Most such feeds contain vitamins, so it is not necessary to give additional vitamins to hamsters. A typical hamster diet consists of seeds, cereals, nuts, vegetables and some fruit.
Hamster feed varies from pellets to cereals. It is recommended to feed a hamster with pellets as it is more balanced. The hamster will tend to select individual grains according to its own taste and may not get the necessary nutrients and vitamins. However, feeding the hamster with pellet feed may become somewhat monotonous and it may not want to eat this way. However, you can supplement such a feed with the other products listed below to add variety to your hamster’s diet.
Be sure to provide a special water basin in the hamster’s cage. Sometimes the watering can be replaced by a large amount of juicy food (vegetables with fruit).
The hamster should have some vegetables daily or fruit. It is important to know what fruit and vegetables can be given to him:
- tomatoes
- cucumbers
- Chinese salad (leaf lettuce, in small quantities)
- carrots
- pumpkins
- cauliflower (without leaves and stems)
- Brussels sprouts (small quantities
- maize
- peppers
CHICKEN:
- apples
- pears
- bananas
- grapes
- peaches
- melons
- berries
MUST NOT be given VEGETABLES:
- potatoes
- cabbage
- garlic
- onions
CHICKEN:
- citrus
- exotic
All fruit must be given in small quantities and broken into small pieces. Fruit pits should not be given to hamsters as they contain high levels of acids which are dangerous to the health of hamsters.
Are there any special dietary requirements for hamsters?
Hamsters should be given protein-rich food 1-2 times a week. Young hamsters, pregnant hamsters and nursing mothers need it every day.
Protein foods include: white bread soaked in milk, cooked chicken breast without salt, cooked chicken and peggs, lean cottage cheese, low-fat kefir can also be given.
Hamster may be given porridge cooked in water, but not in milk. Children’s porridge can be bought, or plain porridge made from a variety of cereals. The porridge must be free of any additives poisonous to hamsters (butter, sugar, etc.).
What should not be fed to a hamster?
Do not feed the hamster with food from your table. You must also not give any salty, spicy, smoked, fatty or sweet food. Such foods are very harmful to hamsters. One of these is cheese, which is mistakenly considered to be one of the hamster’s most important and favourite foods. But this is a misconception. Cheese is harmful to hamsters because it is fatty, salty and spicy. And they should not be fed this. Apples should not be given to hamsters under 2 months of age.