Foods for Hamsters

While they lean toward vegetarianism, hamsters are omnivorous. A mixed diet is healthy for a hamster and easy to provide. Feed seeds and grains as a staple and add small amounts of fruit, vegetables and proteins as treats.

Nuts and Grains

Typical store-bought hamster food includes a mix of seeds. Sunflower seeds, corn, flax seed and unsalted peanuts are suitable and closest to the wild hamster's diet.

Fruit

Hamsters enjoy fruit, including berries, pitted peaches and prunes, seedless grapes and melon. Apples and bananas may be too acidic.

Vegetables

Hamsters enjoy leafy green vegetables like lettuce, cabbage and spinach. They will also eat carrots, celery, grass and clover. Cooked potatoes are a good source of carbohydrate. Vegetables can be given fresh or dried.

Protein

You can feed your hamster cooked chicken and fish, cooked ground beef and yogurt. Cat and dog treats or even kibble have the added benefit of helping hamster teeth. Vegetarian protein sources include beans and peas.

Warning

Do not give your hamster onion, candy, sugar or junk foods. Avoid raw kidney beans and overly acidic foods like pickles and raw potato. Either do not give, or feed very sparingly, high-carbohydrate foods like fruit and corn to dwarf hamsters; they are prone to diabetes.

References

• Hamster Club: Hamster Diet
• Hamsterific: Hamster Nutrition
• Hamster University BBS: Hamster Food List