Wild hamsters eat whatever they find to survive, which means they most likely evolved to eat whatever they can fit in their mouths. But does this mean crickets too? Is something that seems so weird fit to feed your pet hamster?
Hamsters can eat crickets, as they’re a great source of protein packaged in just the right amount for your pet hamster. They can also eat insects like grasshoppers, spiders, and mealworms.
This article will explain what types and quantities of crickets your pet hamster can eat and how to feed them to your hamster.
Can Hamsters Eat Dried Crickets?
Hamsters can eat dried crickets. Freeze-dried crickets provide almost the same amount of nutrition as a fresh cricket, but finding a cricket that’s just died can be a problem, especially if you live in the city. Buying dried crickets in a pet store is more convenient and safer.
But can hamsters eat crickets that are a quarter of their size? Actually, they can, but you might need to save part of it for another meal. Take a look at this little guy eating a very large cricket:
As you can see, the cricket was almost too big, but that shows how much hamsters love dried crickets. They also get a lot of nutrition from this bug, which includes:
- Fiber
- Protein
- Fat
- Iron
- Zinc
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Potassium
Dried crickets maintain all of the nutrition from fresh, and they can be stored longer in a cool, dry environment.
Where To Get Dried Crickets
While you could catch live crickets, kill them, and freeze-dry them, that might not be the healthiest thing to give your hamster. The reason is that wild crickets are often exposed to chemicals and parasites that could be toxic to your hamster.
A better place to get dried crickets is from a pet store, as they sell farmed crickets, mealworms, and grasshoppers raised in a safer environment. These bugs don’t have the same risks as wild crickets, and they’re fed a better diet.
This translates to healthier food for your hamster, and you won’t need to gather crickets yourself.
However, if you find crickets and want to dry them, you can. If you want to make an even nicer treat for your hamster, you could air fry them. Some people do that and report that their little hamster buddy prefers them over freeze-dried crickets.
Can Hamsters Eat Live Crickets?
Hamsters can’t eat live crickets, as the crickets could bite the inside of your hamster’s cheek. These bites can cause infections, and your hamster could develop health problems.
Live crickets, surprisingly, don’t like to be eaten. So if you give your hamster a live cricket, it will fight to stay alive, including biting you and your hamster, which can cause your hamster a significant amount of pain.
If you find a live cricket, you’ll want to crush the head before feeding it to your hamster.
What Live Insects Can Hamsters Eat?
Your hamster might like eating live insects, but most live insects can bite, causing infections and pain.
However, there are some insects they can eat live. Mealworms and earthworms are good for your hamster to eat live, as they aren’t able to bite, and they give your hamster a break from their normal food.
They absolutely love eating worms, but since they have more fat than other insects, you should limit these treats to 2-3 times per week. Otherwise, your little hamster can gain weight and get sick.
What Insects Can Hamsters Eat?
Hamsters can eat most insects, including grasshoppers, mealworms, and bloodworms. Insects provide protein and iron for your hamster, so including various insects in your hamster’s diet is a good idea.
Hamsters are omnivorous and can eat plants, animals, or insects. Here’s a short list of the insects they can eat besides crickets:
- Mealworms
- Bloodworms
- Spiders
- Grasshoppers
- Earthworms
These insects provide a lot of protein in very small packages, which is perfect for your hamster because of its small size.
What Other Meat Can Hamsters Eat?
Hamsters can eat a variety of meats, including chicken and fish. However, you’ll only want to stick to white meats because red meats are too heavy for your hamster and could upset its delicate digestive system.
Here’s a short list of meats that hamsters can eat:
- Shrimp
- White-meat fish, like cod
- Chicken
- Turkey
Beef might be okay if it’s already in pet food, such as cat or dog food. The reason is that the beef has already been processed in a way that your hamster can digest easily.
While you shouldn’t give meat to your hamster all the time, it’s a good addition to its regular diet of commercially-made food pellets. It adds variety and gives them different nutritional benefits than their pellets. And they won’t get so bored with their diet.
Prepare the Meat Before Giving It To Your Hamster
Hamsters shouldn’t ever eat raw meat, so you’ll need to cook it before serving it. But don’t add any seasonings or additional fats, as these items can harm your hamster’s digestive system and make them sick. You can broil or steam the meat, then allow it to cool before cutting it up for your hamster’s meal.
You should give your hamster a piece of meat the size of your hamster’s paw. After you cook the meat, let it cool. Then dice it into small pieces and place them in a sealed container to store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Give your hamster one or two pieces a few times a week when feeding him.
Conclusion
Hamsters can eat crickets as long as they’re dead or dried. Never feed your hamster live crickets, which could cause injuries and infections. Your local pet store should have dried crickets, mealworms, grasshoppers, or other insects for sale that you can get.
You can also gather crickets in the wild and dry them if you know they haven’t been exposed to chemicals or toxins. But you may want to give crickets to your hamster only once or twice a week, as their commercially made food pellets are better for their daily diet.