Whether you are keeping a hamster as a pet or you are raising a couple of hamsters in a cage, you need ideas on how to take proper care of them.
All that your hamster needs to keep healthy is a good diet and clean living conditions.
Fruits form part of a healthy diet for your dwarf hamster.
A question owners of a dwarf hamster often ask is, what fruits can dwarf hamsters eat? Hamsters can be served with fruits that have high water-content, fats, potassium, protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, it should all be in very small amounts.
Apart from telling you what fruits dwarf hamsters can eat, we will also share great ideas on how dwarf hamsters feed, how you should serve fruits to your dwarf hamster, and which fruits are harmful to dwarf hamsters. Alongside important information that will help you care for your hamsters better than you do now.
The fact that you are reading this article is proof that you love hamsters, especially the dwarf species. And that’s great.
Now let’s take a plunge together into it…
Read Also: What is Russian Dwarf Hamster Lifespan?
What Species is My Hamster?
Hamsters are of two species, probably in consideration of their size—the dwarf hamsters and the Syrian hamsters.
As their name implies, the dwarf hamsters are relatively smaller than the Syrian hamster.
The species of hamsters called the dwarf hamsters are sociable animals. They make great family pets. You only need to handle them regularly to tame them.
The dwarf hamsters originally came from North Asia, where it is hot in the day and cool at night.
As a result, they are nocturnal creatures, sleeping for most of the day and becoming active at dusk.
How Does My Dwarf Hamster Feed?
It would be helpful for you to know that your dwarf hamster will eat just about any food item it encounters.
In the wild, hamsters roam and forage for food without restraint. They eat anything that can serve them as food, everything that comes their way.
The reason hamsters eat just anything is that they don’t have a great sense of what’s healthy, unhealthy, or potentially dangerous.
They are not like us humans that can choose the food that appeals to blur taste. So, it’s up to you to ensure that anything you feed your dwarf hamster is good for its health.
What Fruits Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat?
Your dwarf hamster wants fruits as much you. Fruits give it the same nutrients it gives your body.
The truth is that most of the food you eat can as well be eaten by dwarf hamsters.
But it is not just any fruit. Now, that’s where the hard nut lies. We shall look at some types of fruits that are safe for your dwarf hamster.
1. Berries: Examples are strawberry and raspberry. They are safe for your dwarf hamster so far as they are without any seeds.
Before serving strawberry to your dwarf hamster, get all the seeds out and cut off the green top, as well.
The raspberry is okay by itself since the white core will come off by itself when the fruit is done.
2. Blueberries and cranberries are also good for dwarf hamsters, but they must be served in very small amounts as well. It can be one or two berries every week.
3. Figs are equally healthy for your hamster if they are also served in a very small amount.
They can be served 2 or 3 times a week like the blueberries and cranberries.
4. Coconut is safe for dwarf hamsters, too. But it is better when given to the hamster in very small amounts and sparsely too.
Coconut has more fat-content than peanuts. As such, it can make your hamster gain weight faster than bananas or mangos can make it.
The last fruit your dwarf hamster can eat is the watermelon. It will not only be sweet to your hamster but will also take care of hydration because of its very high water content.
However, only the red part of the watermelon is needed here.
The seeds must first be carefully and slightly scraped off. It must also be given in a small amount, as too much of it can upset your hamster’s stomach.
Read Also: Is Lettuce Safe For Dwarf Hamster?
List of Fruits and Vegetable Hamsters Can Eat
- Fruit
- Apple
- Banana
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Cranberries
- Grapes (seedless)
- Lychee
- Mango
- Melon
- Peaches
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Raspberry Leaves
- Strawberries
Vegetables to Serve Dwarf Hamsters
- Carrots
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Dandelion Leaves
- Cauliflower
- Clover
- Kale
- Bean Sprouts
- Asparagus
- Chickweed
- Chicory
- Cucumber
- Corn
- Spinach
- Watercress
- Radicchio
- Romaine Lettuce
- Turnip
- Peas
- Green Beans
- Chestnuts
- Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
- Water Cress
- Zucchini
- Nuts, Seeds, and Grains
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Peanuts
- Millet
- Flaxseed
- Cashew Nuts
- Sunflower Seeds
- Oats
- Barley
- Walnuts
- Lentils
- Soybeans
Others Fruits Alternatives to Feed your Dwarf Hamsters
- Grasshoppers (Pet food)
- Mealworms (Pet food)
- Boiled Egg
- Plain Grasshoppers (Pet Shop)
- Mealworms (Pet Shop)
- Tofu (Plain)
- Whole Grain Bread
- Cod Fish (Remove Bones)
- Low Fat Cottage Cheese
- Brown Pasta
- Peanut Butter (Unsalted)
Read Also: Is Strawberries Good For Dwarf Hamsters?
How Should I Serve Fruits to My Dwarf Hamster?
We have discussed certain fruits that are healthy and safe for your dwarf hamsters.
The next difficulty you may battle with is how you can effectively serve them the fruits. Yet, that has been taken care of in this section.
The first time you are serving your dwarf hamster with any of the fruits we have marked good, you shouldn’t rush it.
It will be helpful if you introduce the fruits in tiny quantities. This step will allow you to study your pets as they feed on the fruits.
You will also be able to observe how their bodies respond to the fruits — whether it makes any one of them sick or cause them diarrhea.
Remember that fruits have much fiber and fruit. So, when you are feeding your dwarf hamster, it is only necessary you realize that you are introducing them to these.
The knowledge should guide you on how often and how much of it you are giving them. There could be a problem serving your hamsters too much fruit at the start.
That is because their digestive system is yet to get used to the increased intake of fiber and sugar from the fruits.
The result could be diarrhea or other digestive upsets. So, you have got to take your time by providing fruit only once a week for a few weeks, for instance.
As your dwarf hamster gradually gets used to the fruits, you can then increase the frequency, still in consideration of their body reacts to it.
Ultimately, providing your dwarf hamster with too much fruit can be counterproductive.
They don’t need excessive sugar in their system, just as you don’t need it too.
What Fruits Are Harmful To My Dwarf Hamsters?
It is important you know certain fruits you can avoid for your dwarf hamster for some reasons.
The wrong choice of fruits will cause your hamster some digestive problems. Some can get stuck in their cheek pouches or on their teeth.
This is so much a risk, as your hamster can develop tooth decay or injuries and abscesses in its cheek pouches.
Fruits are great for the healthy living of your hamster if they are appropriately served. However, not every fruit is good for your hamster.
Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes and should be strictly guided against very sugary foods and drinks.
The fruits you want to serve your hamster should be neat and very small amounts.
As much as you can, try not giving your dwarf hamster fruits like banana, apricot, peach, mango, pineapple, papaya.
They are very sweet and contain a high quantity of sugar. And your dwarf hamster does not need it.
But if you want to try them, make sure they are given in tiny, tiny amounts. For humans, these fruits are amazingly juicy and fragrant, but they are too sweet and savory for hamsters.
That’s why I recommend you serve them at a very small amount if you must give them to your hamsters.
Foods You Should Keep Away From Hamsters
- Almonds
- Avocado (Poisonous)
- Apple Seeds
- Chocolate
- Sweets
- Potato Chips
- Pork
- Raw Potatoes
- Grape Seeds
- Rhubarb
- Tomato Leaves
- Citrus Fruits
- Watermelon
- Jam
- Spices
- Garlic
- Onions
- Chives
- Leeks
- Other fruits to avoid feeding your dwarf hamster are:
- Pineapple
- Tomato
- Citrus fruits (lemon, lime, orange, clementine, grapefruit, etc.)
- Dried fruits like raisins. They are usually sticky and so not recommendable for your hamsters.
How Often Should I Feed My Dwarf Hamster?
The gist is that hamsters need fresh food every single day. Thus, one square meal per day will be absolutely perfect to keep your pet hamster healthy.
How Much Should I Feed My Dwarf Hamster?
A tablespoon per hamster per day is the rule of thumb when it comes to feeding your dwarf hamster.
On the other hand, this should, of course, be supplemented with the odd treat and piece of fruit.
This rule is also the same for Syrians, dwarf hamsters usually have a quick metabolism which allows them to match a Syrian’s eating habits.
But you need to know that the daily intake may fluctuate.
So, cater it to your hamster’s specific needs. One spoon of food mix per day along with a couple of treats will provide the perfect balanced diet your hammy needs to stay healthy.
Read Also: Is Banana Safe For Dwarf Hamsters?
Conclusion | What Fruits Are Safe For Dwarf Hamsters?
You may not have known that hamsters like to stash food away for a later time.
Fresh fruit can quickly start to rot, so make sure you poke around in the bedding to remove any uneaten fruit that got buried somewhere.
The high water content of most fruits readily gives dwarf hamsters diarrhea. And watermelon is probably the chief of them all in this respect.
Along with other fruits with high water content should be kept to a minimum, both in quantity and infrequency of feeding to your dwarf hamster.
Always offer your dwarf hamster fruit after you know it has eaten a proper meal. Dwarf hamsters are also highly susceptible to diabetes.
Therefore, making fruits with especially high sugar content is not an option for your pet. Keep them to a minimum amount.
