As a dedicated hamster owner, you’ll want to give your pet the healthiest possible diet. While commercial pellets are recommended, they’re best supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables. A blackberry may look like a good option, but are they safe for your hamster to eat?
Hamsters can eat blackberries. However, as blackberries are a fruit with high sugar content, they should be given in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Blackberries aren’t recommended for small breeds of hamsters prone to weight-related diseases.
Blackberries make a yummy treat for hamsters, and they look adorable holding one between their front paws. But before you add blackberries to your hamster’s diet, there are essential facts you need to know, which I’ll cover in the rest of this article. Let’s get started!
Are Blackberries Safe for Hamsters To Eat?
Most berries are safe for hamsters to eat, and that includes blackberries. The tangy sweetness of blackberries will tickle your hamster’s taste buds, and most little fur balls will love to scoff down this delicious treat.
Fruit is integral to a balanced diet and provides your hamster with essential nutrients. However, fruit can be very high in sugar, so blackberries should only be given in moderation and not fed daily.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Blackberries?
Dwarf hamsters can eat blackberries. However, it’s vital to check the quantity. Although blackberries aren’t poisonous to dwarf hamsters, feeding too many can cause digestive upset.
Lots of blackberries can also make your hamster a bit chubby–putting them at risk of weight-related diseases. This is a particular problem for smaller breeds, so blackberries should be fed to dwarf breeds very sparingly.
How Many Blackberries Can I Feed My Hamster?
As I explained above, the correct quantity of blackberries is vital for your hamster’s well-being. There’s nothing worse than unintentionally making them ill!
The correct quantity of blackberries depends on your hamster’s size and breed. I’ve put together a handy table so you can check the recommended amounts at a glance:
| Breed | Quantity | Frequency |
| Syrian hamster | One teaspoon (5 ml) | 1-2 times per week |
| Campbell’s dwarf hamster | Quarter teaspoon (1.2 ml) | Once per week |
| Winter white dwarf hamsters | Quarter teaspoon(1.2 ml) | Once per week |
| Chinese hamsters | Quarter teaspoon (1.2 ml) | Once per week |
| Roborovski hamsters | A small chunk | Once every two weeks |
How To Give Your Hamster Blackberries
Ensure you wash the blackberries thoroughly before serving them up for your hamster to eat. This eliminates any harmful toxins that might give your hamster a tummy ache.
If your hamster has never eaten blackberries before, introduce them slowly. This allows your hamster’s digestive system time to get used to the fruit and ensures no ill effects.
Additionally, hamsters usually love to gobble up fresh fruit such as blackberries, but they may still try to hide it. In the wild, burying food is natural for hamsters, and domestic pets still have this trait.
Burying blackberries isn’t ideal because, like other types of fresh fruit and vegetables, they can quickly rot and go bad. Limiting the number of blackberries you provide makes your hamster more likely to eat them immediately. You should check the cage regularly for signs of fresh food that has been buried and gone bad.
I love this little Tfwadmx Hamster Bowl from Amazon.com for feeding blackberries. The cute fruit design is fun, but it’s practical too. The ceramic means that it’s easy to clean, and it’s also harder to tip over for excitable hamsters who are keen to reach their treats!
Hamster Bowl, Ceramic Guinea Pig Water Bowl Small Animal Food Dish for Syrian Hamster Rabbit Gerbil Chinchilla Hedgehog Sugar Glider Rat (2 Pcs)
What Types of Blackberries Can My Hamster Eat?
Raw blackberries are fine to feed your hamster, but what about other types of blackberries? There are many different possible ways to offer blackberries, but they’re not all suitable for your hamster’s little tum.
Here’s a breakdown of what type of blackberries you should and shouldn’t feed your hamster:
| Type of blackberry | Is it safe to feed hamsters? | Further info |
| Cooked blackberries | Yes, but not advised | Essential nutrients are often lost through cooking, plus sugar is often added. Raw blackberries are healthier for your hamster. |
| Blackberry jam | No | Sticky foods like jam stick to your hamster’s teeth and cause tooth decay. High levels of sugar can also make your hamster unwell. |
| Dried blackberries | No | See reasons for jam above. |
| Canned blackberries | No | Canned blackberries contain high levels of sugar, which aren’t suitable for hamsters. |
| Frozen blackberries | Yes – but thawed | Frozen blackberries should be thawed first to prevent being a choking hazard. |
| Wild blackberries | Yes | Avoid blackberries growing next to a busy road because of pollution and toxins. |
| Blackberry leaves | Yes | Blackberry leaves may be tasty, but they don’t contain many nutrients, so they should be given in moderation. |
| Blackberry-flavored food | Probably not | Unless it’s a blackberry-flavored food designed for hamsters, it’s likely to contain too much sugar or other preservatives unsuitable for hamsters. |
Health Benefits of Blackberries for Hamsters
As well as tasting wonderful, blackberries are crammed full of vitamins and minerals which will benefit your hamster’s health.
Some of the main nutrients that blackberries offer include:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Manganese
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Antioxidants
Your hamster will only need a tiny portion of blackberries to get a generous amount of these nutrients.
Although there are considerable health benefits, you should monitor your hamster’s response to blackberries. Too many blackberries can cause diarrhea or gastrointestinal upset, which can lead to dehydration. In hamsters, dehydration is very dangerous and can even result in death, so it’s important to keep an eye on their droppings for any sign of a problem.
Will My Hamster Like Eating Blackberries?
Most hamsters love blackberries and will enjoy eating them as part of a balanced diet. Your hamster may be hesitant when trying blackberries for the first time, but very quickly learn that they are scrumptious!
However, every hamster is different, so there’s always a chance your little fur baby is one of the few that don’t like blackberries.
Conclusion
Blackberries are one of the fruits that are safe for your hamster to eat. All breeds of hamsters can eat blackberries, providing they are given in the right quantities.
Packed full of nutrients, blackberries are a healthy addition to a hamster diet but make sure you follow the guidelines to prevent them from becoming ill.