Hamsters are cute and the perfect pocket pet. They are tiny, fluffy, and friendly, so you wonder if you can share with them what you are eating from time to time. Whether you are eating a cake or something more healthy, you want to give your little buddy some sweet treats, but what is safe for them? Strawberries sound like a perfect treat but are they ok for your hamster?
The answer is YES! It is totally fine for hamsters to eat strawberries every once in a while, and it can have some good benefits for them. Make sure you are feeding your hamster the right amount, and the fruit is as fresh as you can get.
Now that you know that you can feed your hamster with strawberries occasionally, how much can you give them? What are the benefits of strawberries for hamsters? And what fruits can your hamster not eat? In this article, we will discuss these facts and some other important information you should know about your hamster, strawberries, and other dietary points.
How Much Strawberry Can A Hamster Eat?
As humans, the quantities of particular food options and how much pet food a hamster needs to eat will depend on their size. Still, something that does not vary is how often.
It is ok to feed a small amount of strawberries to your hamster occasionally. A moderate amount would be about a teaspoon of strawberry. In case your hamster is relatively small or you have a dwarf variety, try not to give your fluffy little friend more than half a teaspoon once a week.
Remember, strawberries and any other safe fruit for your hamster should be considered as a treat and not regular food. Give it to your little pet no more than once a week. Also, any fruit or vegetable you give to your hamster should be eaten in 12-24 hours; after this time range, you need to dispose of it as they will rot after this time and not be safe for consumption.
Giving your hamster too much fruit can cause health issues and weight gain. If your hamster consumes a lot of sugar, it will become overweight and could develop diabetes. These two conditions are life-threatening, especially for tiny animals like your hamster.
Also, it is not recommended to feed a baby or young hamster sugary fruits, including strawberries; they can cause big internal problems with just a taste of them.
Can Strawberries Kill Hamsters?
If you stick to the amounts mentioned above, strawberries are harmless for your tiny little buddy, but they cannot kill them. However, if you give your hamster a whole strawberry, it can cause serious harm to your furry friend. To prevent any health issues caused by fruits from happening, it will be better to follow these tips:
- Treat them once a week and never two days in a row.
- Remove any fruit left over after 12-24 hours.
- Feed your hamster with pure organic strawberries without any trace of pesticides.
What Fruits Can Hamsters Not Eat?
Even though some fruits are totally ok for your hamster to eat, consider that not all of them are good for your hamster’s gut, health, and dietary necessities. You have to make sure your hamster never eats or consumes in any way the following fruits:
- Any fruit from the citrus family, which includes clementines, oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines, and grapefruit. These fruits might be good for humans due to their high content of vitamin C, but for your hamster, these fruits are way too acidic and can trigger some digestive issues, like diarrhea.
- Kiwi. This fruit might be too sour sometimes, and its seeds are not suitable for hamsters.
- Dragon fruit. This delicious and exotic fruit can be as harmful as kiwi for your hamster.
- Blackberry. Berries can have some good nutritional value for your hamster; it has too many seeds, this is a problem for your tiny buddy. Besides, taking the seeds out is merely impossible to achieve; that is why you should keep them away from your hamster.
- Star fruit. This exotic fruit has a neurotoxin fatal for hamsters and other small animals. Star fruit can cause some kidney problems even in humans; imagine what it can do to small pets. It is better to avoid them.
Benefits Of Feeding Strawberry To Your Hamster
When it comes to food selection, each option can have some pros and cons, including strawberries. Listed below are some excellent pros of giving your hamster strawberries.
- It can improve the eye health of your hamster. Your furry friend’s eye will look brighter and healthy, as well as some sight enhancement.
- The antioxidants will help your hamster to have bright and better fur.
- Strawberries can help to reduce inflammation.
- They are a great source of vitamins, such as vitamin C and Vitamin B9.
- They can help with diabetes and blood sugar.
- Strawberries are also an excellent source of fiber.
- Hamsters can eat strawberries without the seeds and leaves being removed.
The Downside Of Strawberries
Even if strawberries are suitable for your hamster, you should be careful how you feed them to your pet; strawberries should be fresh and organic, with no trace of pesticides. Try to avoid strawberries in the following presentations:
- Strawberry jam or jelly.
- Strawberry juice.
- Strawberry soda.
- Strawberry sauce.
- Dried Strawberries.
These presentations can contain a high amount of added sugars, preservatives, and additives, which can cause obesity, diarrhea, diabetes, and other health problems.
Other Good Fruits For Your Hamster
There are other good fruit options for your hamster, so you know when you can share some of your bowl of fruit. These fruits are:
- Apples
- Pears
- Bananas
- Grapes
- Raspberries
- Peaches
- Mago
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
Other foods your hamster can eat are broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cucumbers, celery, bok choy, sweet potatoes without the skin, and even hard-boiled eggs in the amount of the size of two raisins.
Foods You Should Not Feed Your Hamster With.
Besides the fruits mentioned above, there are some other food options you should avoid. Some of them could be toxic, and others are high in calories and fat content, which will cause your hamster to exceed the daily calorie intake quickly, which will lead to obesity. The things that should be avoided are the following:
- The seeds and skin of apples
- Grape seeds
- Fruit pits
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Onions
- Garlic
- Eggplant
- Sugary treats
- Chocolate
Wrapping Up The Strawberry
It is entirely safe to feed your little hamster buddy some of the strawberries you are eating, but do not forget to respect the amount your tiny pet can eat. Depending on your hamster’s size, you can give them around half a teaspoon or a teaspoon of this delicious fruit.
Another thing that would be better to remember is that fruits are a treat, so give your hamster the recommended amount no more than once a week, and it should never be two days in a row.
There is also a high chance your pet will not eat the whole amount of fruit you are feeding them, and if the hamster has not eaten the portion of fruit in around 12-24 hours, you should dispose of it for them. After this time, the fruit will start to rot and become unsafe for your pet’s consumption.
One last thing to consider is always feeding them fresh, organic, and free from pesticides strawberries. You should completely avoid jams, jellies, dried strawberries, sodas, and juices due to the high content of added sugar.
Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
