These Are the Worst (And Best) Food for Hamsters

Source：AZ Animals Time：January 1, 2024

Over 11 million people currently have hamsters as a pet. Even with the smallest spaces, these caged animals bring the opportunity to older and younger adopters to have a furry pet to call their own. While you might think that adopting a hamster is easier than a dog or cat, the diet they maintain is just as important. While hamsters can be fun animals to nurture, understanding the requirements of their diet helps them live their longest lifespan possible. Here are the best foods for hamsters (and the ones to avoid).

BEST FOOD: Root Vegetables

These Are the Worst (And Best) Food for Hamsters — Carrots are one of the best root vegetables for your hamster.
©nblx/Shutterstock.com

Always clean root vegetables before giving them to your hamster. They are one of the best foods for your hamster to start with. While a lot of their diet includes pellets, consuming carrots gives them a little more vitamins and gives their teeth a challenge to keep them short.

WORST FOOD: Hamster Muesli

When hamsters consume muesli, the fiber is usually left behind. They can cause the hamster to eat more sugar than their body should consume, which is already low. Muesli causes issues in their weight and teeth.

BEST FOOD: Broccoli And Cauliflower

No matter what vegetable you give your hamster, clean it first. They are fairly similar to the treats that these hamsters would enjoy in the wild, making them easy to digest. They are also a major favorite for most hamsters, though some critters like cucumbers and zucchini as well.

WORST FOOD: Colorful Hamster Treats

Most pet stores bring colorful treats to the forefront of their hamster food displays, making them seem like the most attractive treat. In reality, hamsters could easy so much of these treats that they end up with weight issues or digestive obstructions.

BEST FOOD: Pumpkin Seeds

With a hard shell, pumpkin seeds offer a great challenge for your hamster, keeping their teeth from growing too long. They are a good source of magnesium and iron.

WORST FOOD: Sunflower Seeds

Pumpkin seeds offer a great alternative to one of the most common seeds that hamster owners give their pets – sunflower seeds. While hamsters love these seeds, they put them at risk of developing obesity without balance.

BEST FOOD: Plain Oats

Oatmeal is good for your hamster’s digestive system whether cooked or plain. If you cook it, allow the oatmeal to cool off long enough for your hamster to eat it. Too much warmth can harm their esophagus or cheeks as they eat it.

WORST FOOD: Human Foods

While there are many fruits and vegetables to share with your hamster, human food is largely off the table. Consuming foods like chocolate or dairy products is detrimental to their digestive system. Do not give them crackers or bread because the starch causes digestive obstructions.

BEST FOOD: Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs like sage or parsley can give them more balance in their immune system. They reduce inflammation in their digestive system and offer the fiber that their digestive system needs. Even just a few leaves are enough to give them a tasty treat.

WORST FOOD: Citrus Fruits

Whether you pick a lemon, lime, or grapefruit, it isn’t the right food for your hamster. They contain a lot of citric acid, which gives hamsters stomach pain. In some cases, this pain leads to diarrhea and other digestive stress.

BEST FOOD: Apples And Sweet Peppers

There’s nothing like the crunch of an apple or sweet pepper, making it one of the best foods for hamsters. Even though they are loaded with vitamins and minerals, only give your hamster these treats in moderation. Both are high in calories and sugar, which can be unhealthy for your hamster’s small body. There’s nothing like the crunch of an apple or sweet pepper, making it one of the best foods for hamsters.

WORST FOOD: Potatoes

In any state, potatoes are too starchy for hamsters. Whether they are boiled or raw, consuming potatoes leads to obesity and stomach issues in hamsters. Syrian hamsters are one of the few exceptions because of their robust body.

BEST FOOD: Leafy Green Vegetables

Cabbage and spinach are two excellent leafy greens for your hamster’s diet. Darker greens are higher than light green leafy vegetables. Giving these vegetables to your hamster brings vitamins and minerals that their pellets can’t.

WORST FOOD: Onions And Garlic

While some studies favor garlic in a hamster’s diet, it still shouldn’t be a part of your hamster’s daily meals. Some hamsters have no issue digesting these foods, but others experience a toxic effect in their red blood cells. It doesn’t matter if the onions and garlic are cooked, raw, or served with another meal – they can lead to digestive issues in hamsters.

BEST FOOD: Cucumbers

With its intense nutrition, cucumbers provide a balanced and enjoyable treat for your hamster. They are one of the best foods for hamsters because of their water content. Cucumbers are rich in vitamin K, benefiting their red blood cells. Add them to a hamster-sized “salad” in their cage to give them a boost in nutrition.

WORST FOOD: Grapes And Rhubarb

For the most part, grapes are not toxic in the same way that other foods in this list are. However, consuming it in abundance can lead to digestive difficulties and issues in their digestive system. Some experts say that it can be used for a treat, but some owners prefer not to take the risk.

BEST FOOD: Hamster Pellets

Pellets are one of the most important parts of any diet for a hamster. It includes the majority of their food sources, giving their teeth resistence to keep them trim. Companies who produce these pellets carefully balance all of the vitamins and minerals that hamsters need. Essentially, they need very few fruits and vegetables for a healthy body, but adding these foods is a fun experience for both the hamster and their owner. If you fill their bowl daily and keep water available, you have a healthy companion for as long as they live.

Best Foods And Worst Foods For Hamsters: A Summary

Best Foods	Worst Foods
Root vegetables	Hamster muesli
Broccoli and cauliflower	Colorful and sweet hamster treats
Cress	Whole oats
Pumpkin seeds	Sunflower seeds and nuts
Basil, sage, parsley, and coriander	Human foods
Apples and sweet peppers	Citrus fruit
Root vegetables like	Potatoes
Greens, cabbage	Tomato leaves
Spinach	Onions and garlic
Cucumber	Grapes and rhubarb