Hamsters enjoy a wide variety of foods. This list will give you some ideas to liven up and vary your hamster’s diet, as well as providing a safe foods checklist.
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Hamsters love dietary variety!
In general, if you’re not sure whether or not your hamster should eat this specific food, then we don’t advise that you risk it. Hamsters have very different digestive systems to our own, and there are many foods that we can eat happily that hamsters cannot.
Fresh Food Suitable For Hamsters
- Apple slices (remove seeds)
- Banana
- Broccoli
- Carrot
- Cherry (one only, pitted)
- Chicory
- Clover
- Dandelion
- Egg (small piece, boiled or scrambled)
- Hamster dry foods
- Hamster treats
- Hay
- Lettuce (in very small amounts only)
- Pear
- Peas
- Sprouts
- Sweetcorn
- Watercress
Foods Not Suitable For Hamsters (NOTE: this list is non-exhaustive):
- Aubergine
- Acorns
- Buttercups
- Bluebells
- Bindweed
- Citrus fruits
- Elder
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Privet
- Rhubarb
- Onions
- Any un-ripe fresh food
- Any over-ripe fresh food
- Any processed ‘human food’, sweets, chocolate, etc.
It’s best to try tiny amounts of 'safe' foods initially, in case they develop diarrhoea. When you’re sure a food is fine, offer your hamster a pea or bean sized amount.
Comments
Jeffrey, 3 April 2023
Does the small portion about also apply to the dandelions and clovers, and if so then do you know how to measure the portions? Also can you feed them grapes?
Saab, 25 September 2021
I had my dwarf hamster over 2 months and he won't drink water has only had water in the 2 months what can I do
An Omleteer, 2 May 2020
Awesome thank you
Charlotte, 24 August 2019
The food list is perfect so I know what not to feed my hamster Lola, and what is good to feed Lola. I will write a list of everything she can eat and everything she can't eat thank you~ Charlotte F
Richard, 7 August 2019
Can dwarf hampsters eat radishes?