What Fresh Foods Do Hamsters Eat?

Hamsters are fun pets for people of all ages and are a great way for young children to learn about responsibility through caring for a pet. Part of caring for a hamster is knowing what fresh food is safe for it to eat and in what amounts.

  1. Regular Hamster Diet

    • Though it is fun to shower your hamster with treats and fresh food, it is important that they also have their regular diet of dry hamster food (easily found at any pet store or most grocery stores). This mix includes dry pellets, seeds and sometimes dried fruits or vegetables. You should feed hamsters twice a day (at the very least once). There are great treats available for hamsters, including honey and dry food that can be an addition to their everyday diet.

    Vegetables

    • In addition to their regular hamster feed, hamsters love fresh vegetables, such as lettuce and carrots. Most vegetables are safe for hamsters, except for potatoes, onions, garlic, or any item belonging to that family. Fruits are fine for hamsters, as well, except for citrus fruits, such as lemons or oranges.

    Other Snacks

    • Hamsters can have many other snacks, including peanuts, dried pumpkin seeds, cheese and raisins, but take care that hamsters are not overfed with these treats because many are high in fat and could be harmful to your hamster if fed in greater quantities.

    Treats to Avoid

    • Anything with a very strong taste or flavoring should ALWAYS be avoided. Just as a human may be very uncomfortable with spicy food, so can a hamster, and just like a human, it could upset their system. This is why items such as onion and garlic should be avoided. Chocolate should also be avoided and anything sticky (such as toffee) because it can get stuck in the hamster's food pouch inside its mouth.

      And although it is tempting to pick things out of the garden or backyard to feed the hamster, you need to be careful because many wildflowers or mushrooms can be poisonous for hamsters, just as they can be to humans. It is often hard to identify wild plants, so feeding them to a hamster can be risky, even if you think you know what they are. As a rule of thumb, it is best to stick to what you know and what is safe from your kitchen. This is even more critical for hamsters because their bodies are so tiny and delicate.