Nutrition for a Hamster

If you have a pet hamster, you want to make sure to feed her a nutritious diet, so she will stay healthy. Just as with people, different hamsters tend to like different types of food, so keep trying until you find a type that your pet seems to enjoy. It's up to you whether you serve your hamster her food in a bowl or on the floor of her cage, but you can monitor her intake more easily if served in a bowl.

  1. Type of Food

    • The exact nutritional needs of a hamster are unknown, but she will certainly need a mixture of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, proteins, minerals and water. The best way to ensure that she gets her daily intake is to purchase packaged hamster food in dry block or pellet form from a pet store.

    Amount of Food

    • Hamsters don't just need to eat at one specific time of the day. When they have food in their cage, they slowly pick at it when they are hungry. Give your hamster 2 tbsp. of food each day to ensure that he does not go hungry.

    Supplements

    • Hamsters enjoy table food just as humans do. Supplement the food that you purchase from the pet store for them with items such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, uncooked pasta, cooked chicken and cereal. Only give her a tiny amount, not exceeding her total daily food intake of 2 tbsp., as excess could cause her to have diarrhea.

    Water

    • Change your hamster's water each day to ensure that it is fresh. Put a hard plastic water bottle in his cage, with a mouthpiece placed low enough for him to reach it. This will ensure that he will not chew through the water bottle or spill it all over his cage.