Roborovski hamsters, more commonly identified as dwarf hamsters, have a special diet that can prove challenging for owners. Deciding what treats to give these creatures takes a lot of consideration of the effect that specific ingredients, such as almonds, can have on their tiny bodies.
Dwarf hamsters can only eat almonds in moderation. Due to their small size compared to their Syrian cousins, dwarf hamsters should be limited to no more than half an almond daily. Even so, almonds should be considered an occasional treat.
This article will explain whether or not dwarf hamsters can eat almonds and expand on their dietary and nutritional needs. Dwarf hamsters can be challenging to care for, so I’ll also list other limitations and needs.
Can a Dwarf Hamster Eat Sliced Almonds?
Dwarf hamsters can eat sliced almonds, but with caution. They should only eat half an almond a day at most. Almonds should be considered a special treat, given occasionally.
When purchasing almonds for your pet, check the ingredients. Buy organic almonds without shells since non-organic can come with chemicals from pesticides. Pesticide chemicals can be toxic for your hamsters. Also, the skins of almonds can bother your hamster’s stomach.
Almonds are typically sweet or bitter. Bitter almonds contain a cyanide compound, which can be toxic to your hamster. For that reason, many people avoid feeding their hamsters almonds.
Still, a bag of plain organic almonds has mostly sweet and occasional bitter ones. The sweeter ones will be the largest, so you should only feed large, ripe almonds to your pet.
When feeding your hamster, please do not give them any misshapen or deformed almonds. Any nut that does not correlate with a perfect almond shape may be bitter. If your almonds come with skins, be sure to peel those off. The almond skins can bother your hamster’s stomach.
Can Russian Dwarf Hamsters Eat Almonds?
Another breed of dwarf hamster is the Russian dwarf hamster, also known as Winter White dwarf hamster.
Russian dwarf hamsters can eat almonds in moderation. Like a Roborovski dwarf hamster, they should only eat up to half an almond daily. If you give your pet too many almonds, they could suffer digestive issues or excessive weight gain.
The term for Russian dwarf hamsters includes three different species of dwarf hamsters that were initially discovered in Russia: Campbells, Winter White, and Roborovski.
These three breeds have similar diets but still have distinct differences in appearance.
What Foods Do Dwarf Hamsters Need To Eat?
Compared with Syrian and other medium and larger hamsters, dwarf hamsters’ diets are much more limited. These tiny rodents have several food intolerances and sensitivities that other hamsters do not.
Dwarf hamsters are omnivores and need to eat foods such as grains, vegetables, and plants. The daily food intake should depend on the dwarf hamster’s weight, primarily because of their small size.
A dwarf hamster’s diet should contain the following:
- Protein, at least 15 to 20 percent of the meal
- Carbohydrates
- Fat
- Fiber
While hamsters generally feed on seeds and grains, dwarf hamsters need a variety of foods. A diet of only grains may cause nutritional deficiencies.
Thus, you must provide a pet dwarf hamster with more than a commercial-grade food pellet or block food. They need a variety of different ingredients to stay healthy and happy.
A dwarf hamster’s diet could include the following:
- Vegetables
- Grains
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Corn
The easiest way to feed your dwarf hamster is to incorporate a combination of commercial and homemade food. However, it would be best if you had a ratio of less than 60% of commercial foods.
Avoid diets of seeds mixed with pellets because your hamster will avoid the pellets and eat only the seeds, which may cause an unbalanced diet. Instead, offer a seed-based food with whole grains and veggie pieces.
Giving Dwarf Hamsters Treats
Dwarf hamsters’ daily meals don’t have to be limited to their daily meals. You can also give them different foods in moderation as an occasional treat, such as:
- Bananas
- Skinless and Seedless Apples
- Carrots
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
- Cucumbers
- Almonds
It’s usually best to only give your hamster raw food about twice a week. Otherwise, your hamster could suffer from digestive issues or put on an unhealthy amount of weight.
Tips For Feeding Dwarf Hamsters
Hamsters are nocturnal creatures, so you should feed them once a day in the evening. You should throw out any fresh foods not consumed within the day.
You should generally only give a dwarf hamster around one tablespoon of food daily, but monitor how much they are or are not eating. After observing their eating habits, you can judge whether they should eat a little more or a little less.
What Foods Should Dwarf Hamsters Not Eat?
There are numerous foods that Syrian and other larger hamsters can eat, but dwarf hamsters can’t consume some of these foods because of their high risk of diabetes.
You should avoid giving your dwarf hamster foods such as:
- Grapes, which can be poisonous
- Rhubarb, which can be poisonous
- Other Fruits, as they contain too much sugar
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Salty Foods
- Sugary Foods
- Fatty Treats
- Honey
- Molasses
You may have heard that hamsters can have some sweet foods, such as raisins, but dwarf hamsters’ bodies cannot handle sugar very well.
Dwarf hamsters have a higher risk of diabetes due to their smaller size and limited exposure to certain foods in the wild.
Dwarf hamsters in the wild do not have access to sugary plants as many other common hamsters do. Due to their limited exposure to these foods, dwarf hamsters have not evolved a tolerance for them.
Conclusion
All in all, dwarf hamsters are tiny animals with particular dietary needs. Because of their small size and the limited foraging opportunities of their surroundings in the wild, a difference in their diet can cause diabetes or other severe medical conditions.
With extra care in their meal preparation, dwarf hamsters can live a long, healthy life as a family pet.