Buzz
Dwarf hamsters are charming, tiny animals that typically measure around 5 cm to 10 cm in length. They are fairly easy to care for, making them great pets. These little energetic balls of fur have a fast metabolism, so it’s important to feed them a balanced diet to ensure they stay happy, healthy, and active.
Steps
Selecting Food for Dwarf Hamsters
Buy pre-packaged food for dwarf hamsters. Dwarf hamsters have a similar diet to other hamster breeds. Their primary food consists of pre-packaged hamster food, available at pet stores. This food is typically pellet-based and includes a mix of pellets, seeds, grains, and cracked corn.
- The pre-packaged food is highly nutritious, but you should not rely solely on it for your hamster’s diet.
- The pellet form encourages chewing, which is good for their teeth.
- Choose pre-packaged food with a protein content around 15%-20%.
- If you have the time, you can also prepare homemade food for your hamster.
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Veterinarian
Veterinarian Pippa Elliott recommends feeding hamsters pellet-based food rather than mixed food: "Pellet food doesn’t allow hamsters to pick out their favorite but less nutritious items, whereas mixed foods, which contain a variety of seeds, are nutritionally balanced only if the hamster eats everything and doesn't leave behind the pieces they don’t like."
Feed your hamster fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide extra nutrition and diversify your hamster’s diet. Remember to wash them thoroughly to remove pesticides and chemicals. You can offer your hamster vegetables and fruits like asparagus, broccoli, bananas, and blueberries.
- Gradually introduce fruits and vegetables into their diet to avoid diarrhea. Start with small portions once a week and slowly increase to daily servings. If your hamster develops diarrhea, stop feeding them fruits and vegetables, wait until they recover, and then reintroduce them.
- Herbs such as basil and cilantro are also great food choices for dwarf hamsters.
Incorporate protein into your dwarf hamster’s diet. Protein is an essential nutrient for your hamster. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent protein sources to choose from. For example, unsalted seeds like sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, and sesame seeds are rich in protein. Lentils also provide a high-protein option.
- If you don’t mind feeding your hamster insects (like crickets, mealworms, or earthworms), these can be high in protein too. Consider purchasing these from a pet store, as insects from the wild may carry harmful microorganisms that could be dangerous for your hamster.
- A small amount of dairy (unsweetened yogurt, fresh cheese) and meat (chicken, turkey) can also be good sources of protein.
Add fiber to your hamster’s diet. Natural sources of fiber, such as timothy hay and alfalfa, are great sources of fiber. Although timothy hay might not be your dwarf hamster’s favorite food, try offering small amounts to see if they enjoy it.
Give your dwarf hamster a hard treat once a week. Hard food helps grind down their teeth, promoting dental health. You can offer your hamster small pieces of dog biscuits, hamster treats, or a small branch from a fruit tree for chewing.
- You can also provide soft treats like whole wheat bread and scrambled eggs.
Provide clean water for your dwarf hamster. Water is just as crucial as food in your hamster’s diet. Purchase a water bottle designed for hamsters from a pet store. The ball inside helps regulate how much water your hamster drinks.
- Do not let your hamster drink from a bowl or dish. While it may seem convenient, a bowl will wet the cage, which can lead to mold and health issues for your hamster.
- Fill the water bottle fully to create a vacuum effect, so the water won’t leak when refilled.
- Place the water bottle in the cage where it’s not exposed to direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause algae to form inside the bottle. While algae isn’t harmful to your hamster, it will require more frequent cleaning.
- If your water bottle doesn’t come with clips, you can secure it with two small clamps purchased at a pet store.
Know which foods are harmful to dwarf hamsters. While hamsters can eat many human foods, some can make them sick and should be avoided. For example, certain fruits and vegetables are not suitable for dwarf hamsters, such as tomato leaves, raw potatoes, and onions. Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons) should also be avoided due to their high acidity.
- Watermelon contains too much water for hamsters.
- Almonds contain cyanide, which can be very toxic to your hamster.
- Fruit pits can be dangerous to dwarf hamsters. If you want to give them fruit with pits (apples, peaches, plums), always remove the pits first.
- Chocolate contains theobromine, which can negatively affect your hamster’s circulatory system.
Feeding your dwarf hamster
Choose the right food bowl for your dwarf hamster. The ideal food bowl for a dwarf hamster is a small ceramic bowl. Using a larger bowl can lead to overfeeding, and it takes up more space in the cage. Ceramic bowls are resistant to chewing and are better than plastic bowls. They also help reduce the growth of bacteria, as bacteria can thrive in scratches caused by chewing.
- Ceramic bowls are also sturdy and less likely to be tipped over compared to plastic bowls.
- Place the food bowl away from the area your hamster uses as a “bathroom.” Hamsters typically choose a specific spot to relieve themselves, so place their food bowl on the opposite side of the cage.
- Clean the food bowl once a week during your regular cage cleaning.
Feed your dwarf hamster at the same time every day. There is some debate about whether to feed your hamster in the morning or evening. Since hamsters are nocturnal creatures, feeding them in the evening can be beneficial as they’ll be more active. However, feeding them in the morning ensures food is always available for them to nibble on throughout the day.
- Regardless of when you choose to feed your hamster, make sure to maintain a consistent schedule every day.
- Remember, dwarf hamsters have a very high metabolism, so they need food continuously.
Monitor your hamster’s eating habits. Hamsters require a diverse diet to get all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts. However, your hamster might not enjoy everything you offer. If you notice that they often avoid a certain food, consider removing it or replacing it with something else.
- For example, if your hamster dislikes a particular fruit (such as apple), try offering another type (like banana). A varied diet also allows you to easily switch out one food item for another.
- Stop offering foods that cause illness (e.g., diarrhea from watermelon).
Don’t overfeed your dwarf hamster. Dwarf hamsters only need about a tablespoon of hamster food per day, with occasional treats and fresh foods. Although one tablespoon might seem like a lot for such a small animal, their high metabolism allows them to consume a similar amount of food to their larger relatives.
- Don’t keep adding more food to their bowl. Hamsters have cheek pouches where they store food, and they also hoard food underneath their bedding. Even if their food bowl is empty, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve eaten everything.
Remove any leftover food. This is especially important for fruits and vegetables, as they can spoil and mold quickly. Only give your hamster enough food for the day. You may need to experiment a few times to determine the right amount for your hamster.
Tips
- If your hamster struggles with the water bottle every time it drinks, it could be that the vacuum pressure in the bottle is too strong. In this case, try pouring some water out to reduce the pressure, but be careful not to pour too much to avoid leakage.
- Never pick up your hamster by its tail, as this can cause pain and injury.
- Broccoli stems are a nutritious and healthy treat for dwarf hamsters.
Warning
- If a hamster’s front teeth aren’t properly gnawed down regularly, they can grow excessively long. Overgrown teeth can make it difficult for your hamster to eat, and in some cases, they may even puncture the roof of its mouth.
