Can Hamsters Eat Cantaloupe?

Can Hamsters Eat Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe melon makes a refreshing snack in the summer, and it contains nutrients that can benefit both humans and animal health.

Cantaloupe can make a refreshing, healthful, and easy summer dessert, while its high water content helps prevent dehydration and it contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

But can hamsters eat cantaloupe? Yes, hamsters eat cantaloupe. Cantaloupe is safe and delicious for hamsters to consume. But there are some critical things you need to know about feeding your hamsters cantaloupe, which we’ll discuss below.

What Types Of Food Do Hamsters Eat?

Hamsters are very lovely pets to keep. They are less expensive but more rewarding. Unlike cats and dogs and other animals, they are less of a commitment.

With a clean environment, enough water, adequate food, and a good deal of exercise, you could be winning your way through the loyal hearts of innocent creatures.

Hamsters are pets one can choose for what they can add to one’s life.

They can be more social with their owners than any fellow human being. They are playful and fun and enjoy being held and played with.

As such, cantaloupe is one of the nourishing food hamsters need to stay happy and healthy daily.

In addition to other fruits and veggies like Sweet corn, Artichoke, Asparagus, Cabbage, Baby corn, Cilantro, Basil, Mint, Parsley, Beet tops, Beet, Cooked potato, Arugula, etc.

Read Also: Can Hamsters Eat Oranges?

Can Hamsters Eat Cantaloupe?

How Much Cantaloupes Can Hamsters Eat

Let’s get to the details, the short answer is yes, hamsters can eat cantaloupe, and that should be a reassuring message to you and any family that is considering getting a hamster for a pet.

Given the nutritional value of cantaloupe, it’s recommended you feed a little portion in a week. However, it’s only advisable that you don’t feed your hamsters with 1 teaspoon of a cantaloupe now and then. Because of its high sugar content capable to cause obesity and diabetes.

More so, all hamsters eat cantaloupe. But don’t ever give cantaloupe to your young or baby hamsters.

In fact, it is not healthy for them. The reason is the high sugar content of the yellow, sweet-tasting fruit. Therefore, you can allow your pet to enjoy the delicacy only once in a while provided it’s an adult hamster.

Nutritional Benefits Of Cantaloupe To Hamsters

Adding fruit of any kind to your diet is beneficial. Cantaloupe, a variety of muskmelon, is a particularly good choice. Below are the nutritional benefits of cantaloupe to your pets.

1. Vitamin B6

A prolonged deficiency of vitamin b6 in the food of hamsters can lead to death.

Again, according to research, its want in the diet of the animals could lead to several health challenges.

Such as loss of appetite, loss of fat tissue, stunted bone growth, growth retardation, weakness, lower intake of water, and so on.

Do you now see how important cantaloupe is in the nutrition of your hamster pet?

2. Vitamin A

Your hamster pet needs vitamin a to have good vision in dimmer light. You might ask how necessary this really is.

Perhaps you have not realized that hamsters are nocturnal creatures. Vitamin a activates the rhodopsin in the eyes of your hamster.

The rhodopsin is found in the red blood cell, and it is responsible for helping your hamster pick up dimmer lights, even at the night.

To elaborate, it gives the hamsters better visions. Vitamin a does for the hamsters what it does for us humans. Its deficiency causes night blindness.

So, its sufficient quantity in the hamsters is essential for the proper functioning of their eyes.

3. Vitamin C

Do you remember why you often go to a chemist and ask for a vitamin c tablet? Yes, you do.

Doctors advise that we get enough Vitamin C in our systems to prevents scurvy. Just like humans, hamsters are also vulnerable to this deadly disease.

Some of the effects of scurvy in hamsters are lack of appetite for food, sluggish movements, weakness of the bones, bleeding gums, oversensitive skin, etc.

When Vitamin C is lacking in hamsters, their bodies cannot manufacture collagen, and they will have shortcomings in bone and cartilage formation, healing wounds, and maintaining blood vessels.

4. Fiber

Cantaloupe is great for dietary fiber, and it is good for hamsters. It helps in relieving constipation and combating many digestive track issues.

5. Vitamin k

Vitamin k is very important any time hamsters are wounded. It produces natural blood clotting factors that are needed by the body for clot formation.

Nutrition Contents of Cantaloupe

Nutritional Benefits Of Cantaloupe To Hamsters

When fed in minimal amounts, cantaloupe is best for Syrian and Robo hamsters.

From the nutrition analysis of cantaloupe, according to a USA research, you will see how any quantity of the fruit can be good for your hamsters:

  • Carbohydrates = 8.16g
  • Fat = 0.19g
  • Sugars = 7.86g
  • Dietary fibres = 0.9 g
  • Protein = 0.84g
  • Water = 90.2g
  • Vitamins:
  • Vitamin a = 169ug
  • Beta carotene = 2020ug
  • Leutin zeaxanthin = 26ug
  • Thiamine or vitamin b1 = 0.041mg
  • Riboflavin or vitamin b2 = 0.019mg
  • Niacin or vitamin b3 = 0.734mg
  • Pantothenic acid or vitamin b5 = 0.105mg
  • Vitamin b6 = 0.72mg
  • Folate or vitamin bg = 21ug
  • Choline = 7.6m
  • Vitamin c = 36.7mg
  • Vitamin k = 2.5ug
  • Minerals:
  • Calcium = 9mg
  • Iron = 0.21mg
  • Manganese = 0.041mg
  • Magnesium = 12mg
  • Phosphorus = 15mg
  • Potassium = 267mg
  • Zinc = 0.18mg
  • Sodium = 16mg

Is Cantaloupe Healthy For All Kinds Of Hamsters?

Also, it’s not every type of hamster that needs the cantaloupe treat. That is still because of the sugar content of the fruit.

It is necessary that one should research thoroughly about any pet one is planning to keep, especially for the first time.

As such, when it comes to types of hamsters that can eat cantaloupe, small kinds like the winter white dwarf, the Russian Campbell dwarf, and Chinese hamsters should never be made to eat cantaloupe since they’re extremely prone to diabetes.

On the other hand, the bigger hamsters such as the Syrian and Roborovski hamsters can safely eat cantaloupe, but served little portion and as an occasional treat.

So, if it will be your first time feeding cantaloupe to your hamster, avoid giving too much at once.

As you know, your hamster will eat anything and everything you offer it the restriction is yours to control.

How Is Cantaloupe Beneficial to Hamsters?

It’s important to know whether your hamsters actually need cantaloupe in their diet because there is no point feeding your pets with food or fruit that will rather take away from their health than add to it.

Cantaloupe is rich in nutrients and mineral resources. As such, your hamsters will need a little portion served.

How Much Cantaloupes Can Hamsters Eat?

This question is a good reminder — it points us quickly back to what we have established above.

We have said that Syrian hamsters and roborovski hamsters can eat cantaloupe, but we also established that much of it is not healthy for them.

It is generally recommended to give Syrian and roborovski hamsters a teaspoon of cantaloupe a week.

Don’t forget that even a teaspoon is prohibited to be fed the dwarf hamsters.

Can Hamsters Eat Cantaloupe Skin?

Is Cantaloupe Healthy For All Kinds Of Hamsters

This is another important question, but sorry — no is the answer.

We said that Syrian and Robo hamsters can eat cantaloupe.

Yes, but not the skins. Why? Because it has a large number of bacteria, including some harmful ones.

Now to be completely safe, before you feed your hamsters with cantaloupe, make sure you wash the skins thoroughly and carefully peel them off and dispose of them.

Your pets do not need them.

Can Hamsters Eat Cantaloupe Seeds?

Just like cantaloupe skin, cantaloupe seeds are harmful to your hamsters, because they contain cyanide.

Cyanide is not compatible with the health of the hamsters. The cantaloupe seeds are a choking hazard too.

So make sure you don’t keep them at the reach of these innocent pets, to avoid tragedy.

Can Hamsters Eat Melon?

Melons contain unhealthy amounts of sodium, sugar, water, and some acidic content, and so are a no-no for your hamster pets if you truly love them and want them to stay healthy.

Don’t ever force them on melon, because that’s what you have at home.

Always ensure you give your pet fruits that are congenial with their health unless you don’t mind losing them.

Read Also: Is Tomatoes Good For Hamsters?

How To Feed Cantaloupe To Hamsters

Having learned how much cantaloupe your hamsters need, I think it only helps you learn how to feed your hamsters with it. Follow the steps and take as much as you can:

  • Get some fresh and ripe cantaloupe or melon
  • Thoroughly wash the outer skin first
  • Carefully remove the peel. Never feed this part to your hamster, remember
  • Cut the melon into two halves
  • Deseed the melon or cantaloupe by scooping the seeds out with a spoon
  • Cut it into slices
  • Further cut one slice into small cubes
  • Feed your hamster according to the recommended amounts.

What Other Food Can You Feed Your Hamster?

You must make dietary regulations for feeding your hamster. One of its benefits is that you maintain variety—which is truly what your hamster pets need.

Nutrition variety has its benefits:

  • It helps your pet hamsters consume a bigger variety of beneficial nutrients.
  • It keeps your hamsters from the risk of overconsumption of a particular nutrient. You know this is a great cause of diseases that can wipe away the good health of your pets and leave you despondent.
  • It can also keep your hamster pets happy and sustain your bond with them.

Below are other varieties of food or fruits you can feed your hamsters with:

  • Broccoli
  • Parsley
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Apples (seedless)
  • Bok choy
  • Cucumber
  • Celery
  • Blueberries
  • Bananas
  • Raspberries
  • Peaches
  • Peach
  • Carrots
  • Squash
  • Spinach

Read Also: Is Pepper Safe For Hamsters?

Conclusion

To cap it up, when it comes to melons, you can’t do much better than a cantaloupe. It’s nutritious, delicious, and versatile.

I believe you have been well equipped with enough knowledge of keeping hamsters.

You have also got enough ideas on cantaloupe — if hamsters can eat cantaloupe, and how to feed them with it. Now, what stops you from going for hamster pets?

Photo of author

Frank Kane

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been head-over-paws for all creatures, great and small. I’m on a mission to help other pet lovers better understand, care for, and enjoy life with their furry, scaly, or feathery friends.

Leave a Comment