What Kind of Fruit Should You Feed Your Dwarf Hamster?

Hamsters are omnivores. That means their diet consists of a variety of things, including meats and vegetables. Just like humans, hamsters enjoy getting a treat once in a while. Similarly, too many treats can make for a bad diet and cause health problems. Fruit, in moderation, makes an excellent addition to your hamster's diet.

  1. Balanced Diet

    • A store-bought hamster diet is the best way to ensure proper nutrition.

      Hamsters have a variety of nutritional needs. In general, a hamster's diet should consist of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, along with specific vitamins and minerals. Missing pieces of this puzzle will cause your pet to become malnourished and lead to major health problems. The best way to be sure your hamster is getting the right foods is to rely on a store-bought mix specifically designed for hamsters. That should make up the bulk of a hamster's diet.

    Treats

    • Fresh fruits a few times a week are a great treat for your hamster.

      You have probably seen hamster treats at your pet store. You can certainly give those to your pet, but adding in some fresh fruits and vegetables a few times a week is good for your hamster's health. Remember that these are treats and meant to be fed in moderation. In the case of fruits, in particular, try to include fresh fruit at least once a week, but no more than three times per week.

    Fruits to Avoid

    • Never feed citrus fruit to a hamster.

      Citrus fruits are bad for all hamsters. The citric acid can cause severe digestive problems and diarrhea. Citrus fruits include orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon and lime. While bananas, mangoes and apples are fine for Syrian hamsters, you shouldn't feed them to your dwarf hamster. That's because they tend to be extremely high in sugar and dwarf hamsters have a high incidence of diabetes.

    Good Fruits for Your Hamster

    • Grapes and cherries are excellent for your hamster. Cut them in half before putting them in the cage, though. Other fruits that will work well for your dwarf hamster include pears, peaches, raspberries and raisins. With all fruits, though, keep in mind the sugar content and only feed your hamster very small quantities. Be sure to cut them into small pieces because hamsters like to store foods in their cheek pouches. Remove any fruit seeds before offering fruit to your hamster, as many seeds contain cyanide or other toxins in them.

    Remove Uneaten Fruit

    • Besides limiting the quantity and size, you need to limit the duration that fresh fruit (or vegetables) sit around in your hamster's cage. Fresh foods are subject to spoilage and bacteria will build up on them after a time. It's best to remove any leftovers after a couple of hours. Remember that hamsters like to store food, so be sure to check any favorite hiding areas. Any bedding that's gotten soaked in fruit juice should be removed, too.