Hamsters are keen on munching on bits of fruits and veggies, however there are particular meals gadgets that ought to at all times be prevented. Onions, for instance, ought to by no means be fed to hamsters as a result of they’ll make them very unwell.
Learn on to search out out why hamsters can’t eat onions and to study extra about secure and unsafe meals for hamsters.
Why Can’t Hamsters Eat Onions?
Simply because hamsters eat quite a lot of greens, doesn’t imply all types is secure. The rationale onions are usually not secure for hamsters is that they comprise compounds that flip into disulfides, which can lead to a situation referred to as hemolytic anemia—the destruction of the pink blood cells. For a similar motive, hamsters mustn’t eat garlic, spring/inexperienced onions, shallots, leeks, or chives.
What Is a Appropriate Hamster Food regimen?
Hamsters are omnivorous animals that require a food regimen consisting of high quality hamster pellets (you should purchase these in pet shops or on-line), recent leafy greens and greens, with some fruit carefully. When choosing hamster pellets, keep away from colourful, muesli-type mixes, as these are likely to encourage pickiness, that means the hamster received’t get all of the vitamins they want.
As for fruit and veggies, watch out to not go overboard as a result of, in massive quantities, these could cause an upset abdomen. About half a tablespoon per day must be nearly proper. So as to add selection, you possibly can reduce just a few fruits and veggies into tiny items and make a cute mini hamster salad! You can even give your hamster some fiber-packed timothy hay to nibble on as a complement, in addition to one thing to dig and burrow in.
Care must be taken to make sure that the food regimen is balanced and diverse so the hamster will get a great mixture of vitamins, and you’ll deal with them to protein-filled snacks in small quantities every now and then, like mealworms, grasshoppers, crickets, tofu, lean hen, or boiled eggs. Sunflower seeds are additionally widespread treats, however watch out as they’re deceptively excessive in fats. Clear water must be on provide always.
Which Greens Can Hamsters Eat?
Although onions and different members of the allium household are off the menu for hammies, they’ll nonetheless take pleasure in an enormous vary of secure veggies and greens. Right here’s a listing on your comfort:
Word: It’s smart to present veggies a wash earlier than you feed them to your hamster, and don’t neglect to solely provide them in small portions to forestall an upset tummy. Rotate veggies and greens for selection and stability.
Which Fruits Are Secure?
A lot! Once more, bear in mind to feed fruits carefully as a result of, whereas they’re a terrific supply of nutritional vitamins and minerals, they’re additionally excessive in pure sugars. Fruit in massive portions opens your hamster as much as growing well being points. In small quantities and as a part of a diverse food regimen, the next fruits are secure:
Word: Take away any seeds, pits, stones, rinds, stems, or leaves earlier than providing any of those to your hamster.
Which Meals Are Unsafe?
As is the case with allium household greens like onions, various different fruits, greens, and miscellaneous meals are unsafe for hamsters. Some are poisonous whereas others are more likely to trigger digestive upset. These embody:
Closing Ideas
By no means feed onions or every other allium member of the family to your hamster as a result of it might injury their pink blood cells. As a substitute, persist with secure greens and greens like broccoli, Swiss chard, basil, and Bok choy. Ensuring your hamster enjoys a varied diet is crucial to retaining them as wholesome and content material as potential.
Featured Picture Credit score: Bukhta Yurii, Shutterstock
