Nuts and hamsters might seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, but that might not always be the case. Most nuts are safe for humans, but are they safe for hamsters?
Hamsters can eat most nuts except bitter almonds, which contain a cyanide-like substance that can be lethal to hamsters. They can eat other nuts like hazelnuts, walnuts, and brazil nuts. But you don’t want to give them to your pet constantly, or they could gain weight.
Stick around to find out more about the types of nuts your hamster can eat. We’ll also discuss what types of nuts other hamster species can eat.
Can Hamsters Eat Hazelnuts?
Hamsters can eat hazelnuts, but only occasionally, as they’re too high in fat for their small bodies. However, they have several nutrients that benefit your hamster so they can be a part of your hamster’s diet. Chop them very small and give your hamster one to two small pieces once a week.
Remove all the shells when feeding hazelnuts to your hamster, as these are choking hazards. When giving them to your pet, remember that the appropriate portion fits comfortably in their paw.
If your hamster has difficulty hanging on to the hazelnut piece, it’s too much for them to eat. You’ll want to chop or crush the hazelnut into tiny pieces, then give your hamster one piece at a time. One piece weekly should be enough, but any more than that, and you risk making him overweight.
Once a hamster becomes overweight, they are more at risk for diabetes and cancer, much like humans who are obese.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Nuts?
Dwarf hamsters can eat nuts, but since they’re smaller than regular hamsters, they should be fed significantly smaller portions. As with all hamsters, Dwarf hamsters should eat nuts in moderation, as they’re also prone to obesity and diabetes.
You can use their paw size as a feeding guide like you would with normal-sized hamsters. Nuts provide several nutrients that they might not get from their normal diet. These nutrients include the following:
- Selenium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Vitamins E and B6
- Fiber
- Iron
- Folate
- Phosphorus
However, you don’t want to include too many seeds in the mix, as they’re too high in fat, and if your dwarf hamster eats only seeds, he will lose out on other vitamins and minerals he needs.
You’ll need to keep bitter almonds out of their diet, as they’re full of cyanide, much like apple seeds. Sweet almonds don’t have this same problem, but to be safe, you’ll want to avoid giving almonds to your dwarf hamster. That way, you won’t need to worry about giving your little buddy something toxic.
You should also avoid the following foods:
- Chocolate
- Onions
- Garlic
- Spicy foods
- Pork
- Red meat, as it’s too heavy for hamsters
- Leeks
- Rabbit food pellets
- Live insects, like crickets
If you have doubts that the food you want to give your hamster is safe, you probably should avoid it.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Brazil Nuts?
Dwarf hamsters can eat Brazil nuts, but they should be unsalted. Brazil nuts contain several nutrients that he needs, such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. They also contain vitamin B6. As long as you feed your dwarf hamster brazil nuts in moderation, they should be fine.
As with all foods you give hamsters, Brazil nuts shouldn’t have added oils, salt, or seasonings, as they can cause digestive problems for your dwarf hamster. If all you can find are salted, shelled Brazil nuts, you can rinse them off with cold water and dry them.
This should remove most of the salt.
However, the better option is to get Brazilian nuts still in the shell, which keeps the salt away from the nut.
How To Chop Brazil Nuts for Your Dwarf Hamster
Brazil nuts can be harder to chop than others, as they’re not as soft. And if you try to chop them, you might get injured. They also might fly everywhere in your kitchen, and while this might look like a scene out of a comedy movie, this can be slightly dangerous.
How do you chop these nuts? You have several options:
- Place the shelled nuts in a sealable bag and, using a hammer, gently hit the nuts until they break into small pieces. You can also use a rolling pin to break them.
- Pour the nuts into a food processor and pulse a few times to chop the nuts.
- Place one nut on a cutting board, then with a large flat knife, place the knife over the nut, flat side down. Then hit it like you would a garlic clove.
The pieces should be about the right size for your Dwarf hamster. You only need to give him one or two pieces once or twice weekly, so you’ll want to store the rest in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
What Kind of Nuts Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat?
Dwarf hamsters can eat the same types of nuts that normal-size hamsters eat. They can have macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, peanuts, pine nuts, and pistachios. But they should only have a small piece once or twice weekly.
Dwarf hamsters prefer more seeds in their diet, and since they evolved from a semi-arid region, they tend to do better with seeds than other hamsters. However, they shouldn’t have as many cereal grains as Syrian hamsters, as they didn’t evolve on that diet.
What Nuts Can Russian Dwarf Hamsters Eat?
Russian Dwarf hamsters can eat the same nuts as dwarf hamsters, as they are similar in size. Walnuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts, and macadamia nuts can all be a part of your Russian Dwarf hamster’s diet.
Conclusion
Hamsters can eat nuts as part of a balanced diet, but you’ll want to give them to your hamster in moderation. A hamster’s diet should include commercially made hamster food, certain fruits, and vegetables, white meat like chicken, insects, and nuts.
Remember that a hamster should eat only a total of 1 tbsp (12 g) daily, so be sure to include nuts as part of that amount.