If you’re a proud dwarf hamster owner, you probably want to do all you can to ensure your pet has a happy and healthy lifestyle. Fruit is a healthy snack option for dwarf hamsters, but can they eat kiwi?
Dwarf hamsters can eat kiwi. Kiwi is a nutritious snack for hamsters, but you should only give them a tiny portion (roughly the size of one paw) no more than twice a week. Remove the skin and seeds before giving kiwi to your dwarf hamster, and ensure it’s ripe.
In this article, I’ll explain how much kiwi you can give a dwarf hamster and if it’s okay to give kiwi to a Russian hamster. I’ll also discuss the healthiest fruits for dwarf hamsters. Let’s dive right in!
Can Russian Dwarf Hamsters Eat Kiwi?
If you own a Russian (white winter or Siberian) dwarf hamster, you probably love their diminutive size. Russian dwarf hamsters are a sub-breed of dwarf hamsters, so can they also eat kiwi?
Russian dwarf hamsters can eat kiwi. However, as with dwarf hamsters, you shouldn’t give kiwi to them more than twice a week. The ideal kiwi serving size for a Russian dwarf hamster is the size of one paw.
Kiwi contains various vital nutrients for dwarf hamsters including:
- Fiber. This aids your dwarf hamster’s digestion and helps prevent constipation. However, avoid giving your hamster too much kiwi, which can cause diarrhea.
- Vitamin C. Like humans, dwarf hamsters need vitamin C to maintain a healthy immune system and optimal organ functioning.
- Magnesium. Kiwi is high in magnesium, which helps regulate your dwarf hamster’s blood pressure, heart rate, and cell health.
- Calcium. The calcium in kiwi helps dwarf hamsters develop and maintain strong bones, teeth, and nails.
- Water. Dwarf hamsters only need a small amount of water to remain hydrated and healthy. Feeding them kiwi can help prevent dehydration.
Despite being a highly-nutritious snack for Russian dwarf hamsters, kiwi also contains a lot of sugar. Since Russian dwarf hamsters are so tiny, feeding them more than a paw-sized amount more than twice a week puts them at risk for various health conditions:
- Diabetes. If dwarf hamsters routinely consume foods high in sugar, they may develop diabetes and require a specialized diet.
- Obesity. Sugar-rich foods can cause Russian dwarf hamsters to gain weight and become obese. This can shorten their lifespan and put them at greater risk of developing other common hamster conditions, such as heart and liver problems.
- Dental problems. Hamsters rely on their teeth for grooming and eating, but if they consume a diet rich in sugar and fruit acids, their teeth can develop plaque, and may suffer from gum issues.
- Diarrhea. Kiwi is rich in fiber, and feeding your Russian dwarf hamster too much (and too often) can cause them to experience diarrhea.
How To Feed Kiwi To a Dwarf Hamster
If you’ve decided to introduce kiwi to your dwarf hamster, there are a few things to consider beforehand.
It’s important to peel the kiwi and deseed it before serving it to your hamster. Although a kiwi’s skin and seeds aren’t toxic to dwarf and Russian dwarf hamsters, they shouldn’t eat these parts as they can present a choking hazard.
Kiwi skin is also tough and difficult for dwarf hamsters to digest.
Since kiwi seeds are embedded in the fruit’s flesh, removing them can be tedious and time-consuming. However, you could always feed your dwarf hamster a section of the kiwi fruit without seeds.
If you find preparing kiwi too challenging, you might consider substituting it with other suitable fruit types.
Examples include:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Apricots
- Mangoes
- Pears
When you first introduce kiwi to your dwarf or Russian dwarf hamster, it’s a good idea to check if it’s a fruit they like. Like all animals, hamsters have favorite foods and things they don’t enjoy eating. That said, most dwarf and Russian dwarf hamsters appear to like kiwi.
As with other pets, dwarf hamsters may become bored with certain foods after a while. If your dwarf hamster no longer eats the kiwi you offer, consider switching to another nutritious fruit.
If you’ve offered your dwarf hamster kiwi and they haven’t touched it within 24 hours, remove it from their cage. It probably means your hamster doesn’t enjoy it. Removing it will also ensure your pet won’t eat rotten or overripe fruit, which can cause digestive issues.
How Much Kiwi Can You Give a Dwarf Hamster?
Dwarf and Russian dwarf hamsters are tiny, so you should only feed them a portion of kiwi that’s roughly the size of its paw.
In addition, you should only feed your dwarf hamster kiwi (or any other fruit) a maximum of once or twice a week.
When giving your hamster treats, such as fruit, remember that their main nutrition source should be hamster food, not snacks. Snacks should generally only comprise 5% to 10% of your hamster’s daily food intake.
If you already feed your hamster a suitable food for dwarf varieties, they should be getting all the nutrients they need. In this case, feeding them a snack (like kiwi) would be simply for their enjoyment.
What Are The Healthiest Fruits For a Dwarf Hamster?
The healthiest fruits for a hamster are apples, strawberries, bananas, grapes, kiwis, and peaches.
However, you should never give your dwarf hamster citrus fruit. Although citrus fruit isn’t toxic to them, this fruit type contains high levels of acids, which can upset your dwarf hamster’s sensitive digestive tract, resulting in diarrhea or vomiting.
Dwarf hamsters also enjoy the occasional treat of Timothy hay. This gives them an excellent substrate for chewing and plenty of fiber.
Conclusion
Dwarf and Russian dwarf hamsters can eat kiwi. Kiwi makes a nutritious and enjoyable snack for your pet, but be sure to give it in moderation and no more than twice a week.
The ideal kiwi serving size is about the same size as your dwarf hamster’s paw.
Dwarf and Russian hamsters usually enjoy eating kiwi, but it’s worth diversifying the fruit you give your pet, so they don’t become bored.