As we know hamsters need fresh food included in their diet to provide proper amounts of nutrients and minerals, not to mention these are an amazing way to provide a watery treat on hot summer days!
Things like cucumber and romaine and lettuce can be very beneficial during road trips as a way to provide water but are also a great cool treat! First let's begin with a list of safe veggies according to your hamsters species!
Safe fresh food for dwarf hamsters:
Basil
Birch branches
Cauliflower
Stinging nettle (caution is advised, when in doubt feed dry)
Broccoli
Chicory
Chinese cabbage
Fennel
Daisy
Yaw
Cucumber
Hazelnut branches
Chamomile
Cat grass
Celery root
Corn flower
Pumpkin
Dandelion
Mallow
Mint
Fruit tree branches (no stone fruit branches)
Parsnip
Parsley & Parsley root (not in pregnant hamsters as it induces labor)
Marigold
Rose blossom (without thorns and without pollutants)
Arugula
Lettuce excluding iceberg)
Sunflower
Spinach
Sprouts
Celery
Tomato (remove green area and talk. no sweet varieties)
Willow branches
Zucchini
Chickweed
Safe fresh food for syrian hamsters:
Apple
Banana
Basil
Birch branches
Pear
Cauliflower
Stinging nettle (caution is advised, when in doubt feed dry)
Broccoli
Blackberry
Chicory
Chinese cabbage
Strawberry
Fennel
Daisy
Yaw
Goji berries
Cucumber
Hazelnut branches
Blueberry
Raspberry
Chamomile
Carrot
Potatoes (cooked, unseasoned)
Cat grass
Celery root
Corn flower
Pumpkin
Dandelion
Corn
Mallow
Mint
Fruit tree branches (no stone fruit branches)
Parsnip
Parsley & Parsley root (not in pregnant hamsters as it induces labor)
Marigold
Rose blossom (without thorns and without pollutants)
Arugula
Lettuce (excluding iceberg)
Sunflower
Spinach
Ribwort plantain
Sprouts
Celery
Tomato (remove green area and talk. no sweet varieties)
Willow branches
Zucchini
Grapes
Chickweed
As you can see these lists differ a little bit. Specifically when it comes to things with high amounts of sugar or carbohydrates as dwarf hamsters are more sensitive to these types of foods due to insulin spikes (more information on @dogshamsters).
Not only is the food you feed important but portions are a big factor to consider! Hamsters are tiny creatures and therefore have small stomachs, meaning they will consume small amounts of food at a time.
It is important not to over feed your hamster as this can lead to problems like obesity which are not only hard to treat but can cause different health issues such as cardiovascular problems or diabetes (once again information on this topic on @dogshamsters).
Hamsters consume about 10-12 grams of food per 100 grams of weight every day meaning that the amount of fresh food you are feeding should fall into something around 3 to 5 grams but let's be honest not all of us are in a mood to weigh out our hamsters salads so an easy rule of thumb is to keep any piece of food around the same size of your hamsters ear!
When feeding things like fruit and veg another few things to consider are:
Parasites; it is important to make sure to thoroughly wash anything you feed to your hamster. This will prevent any parasites on the food having contact with your hamster.
Mold; fresh fruit and vegetables are very quick to grow mold, especially in temperature changes. It is important to check food hoards and nests for these foods after feeding to avoid mold and other unpleasant odors.
Insects; as I mentioned in the last point it is important to check the burrows and/or hoards in your hamsters enclosure for fresh food, left over fruit and veg are a great treat for different insects you probably don't want in your enclosure.
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