Pistachios are excellent in chocolate bars, ice cream, cakes, and all sorts of snacks, and it turns out that we’re not the only ones that love these nuts. Hamsters go crazy over these tasty snacks too! The question is: Should we let them have some?
Hamsters can eat pistachios, which are generally safe and healthy for them. Pistachios are nutritious, tasty, and fun for hamsters to nibble. But like anything that is fed to these small animals, the key is keeping portions small to ensure hamsters are reaping only the benefits from this food.
In this article, I’ll explain what kind of pistachio hamsters can eat and share some tips to keep in mind to ensure they don’t suffer from any adverse reactions. Read on to learn more!
What Kind of Pistachios Can Hamsters Eat?
When we think of anything that’s unhealthy for our pets, we often think of junk food like candies and chips. It’s easy to understand that you shouldn’t give your pet hamster any of these foods.
But did you know that even healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts can be unhealthy for your hamster?
Some fruits, for example, have high sugar content. It may be naturally occurring sugar, but it will still cause diabetes and obesity when given in large amounts. And this is because hamsters are so tiny that they are more susceptible to the negative effects of food than other animals that are larger.
So when it comes to feeding your hamster some pistachios, knowing what kind of pistachio nuts are safe is important to make sure you don’t cause your pet to get sick.
The following kinds of pistachios are safe for hamsters:
Unsalted
Many pistachio snacks are salted. Salt adds flavor and enhances the taste of pistachios. So if you do enjoy those, make sure you keep those to yourself and don’t share them with your pet hamster.
Salt is necessary for a healthy hamster. It’s essential for the proper function of nerves and muscles and to maintain fluid balance, among others.
In fact, in the wild, hamsters instinctively lick stones to get salt if they’re running low on it. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s safe to feed your hamster anything with added salt.
Salt licks and chews, as well as mineral blocks, are a huge no-no for hamsters, even though they are often advertised as having a great benefit for these pets. These often cause hamsters to consume way too much salt than their body needs.
Hamsters should get enough salt from their hamster pellet mix, and anything more can lead to serious health problems. For instance, excessive salt intake can result in the following:
- Dehydration: When hamsters ingest too much salt, their bodies will lose water fast. One of the earliest signs of dehydration is increased thirst. Dehydration may not be as worrisome in larger pets, but with hamsters, dehydration can have a fatal outcome.
- Diarrhea: Another harmless-sounding problem that can be deadly in hamsters is diarrhea. If it persists for longer than a day, take your hamster to the vet.
If your hamster is showing any signs of a salt deficiency, such as constantly licking your fingers, you can consider switching to a hamster food that has a higher sodium content instead of offering salty foods.
If you’re not sure how to address your hamster’s salt requirements, it’s always safer to consult a vet.
De-Shelled
Humans know that pistachio shells need to be removed. Hamsters, on the other hand, will just keep chewing. This is a natural behavior in hamsters, as they will also chew non-food materials, such as wood shavings and paper for their bedding.
A condition called pica, however, is also a hamster behavior that involves chewing on solid objects, like wood, and, in worst cases, even their bodies. This is a sign that a hamster is in tremendous pain or discomfort and should not be taken lightly.
That said, it’s crucial to tell pica apart from the hamster simply enjoying the pistachio shells.
Hamsters often chew on pistachio shells because they like how it tastes. They will make happy noises and even run around with the food in between their paws. On the other hand, with pica, the hamster will appear disheveled, lethargic, and untidy.
Though hamsters may like to chew on pistachio shells, this must be avoided at all costs. When the shells break, they form sharp edges that can hurt your pet’s stomach.
Unsweetened
Unsalted, dry-roasted, and unsweetened pistachios are good for hamsters. Hamsters can have a bit of sweetness in their food from small portions of fruit, but that’s about it. Any added sugars are harmful to your hamster’s health because hamsters are susceptible to diabetes and obesity.
Like humans, hamsters can also have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. And it all begins when they consume too much sugar. Processed sugars, such as those added to snacks, are way more harmful than naturally occurring fructose in fruits.
Some signs that your hamster consumed too much sugar are:
- Increased thirst
- Excessive urination
- Diarrhea or upset stomach
What Kind of Pistachios Aren’t Safe for Hamsters?
It’s understandable why hamsters love pistachios so much. These nuts are so delicious that many of us regularly keep a bag of them in our pantry. But while we can go scot-free when eating a huge serving of pistachios, our pet hamsters are not so lucky. We have to be careful to give them the right kind and the right amount to make sure they don’t get sick.
Pistachios can be prepared in various ways, and not all are safe for your little furry friend. Hamsters have sensitive stomachs that can easily become upset when given any of the following:
- Too much. A hamster’s small stomach can only handle a maximum of about a tablespoon (15 grams) of food a day. If you’re supplementing their diet with treats like pistachio nuts, make sure you don’t go over this amount.
- Fatty foods. Regularly feeding hamsters food that has a high-fat content (especially saturated fat), can lead to increased cholesterol levels. Therefore, it’s best to avoid feeding your hamsters oil-roasted pistachios.
- Sugary treats. Sugar is an absolute no-no when it comes to hamster diets. They are prone to obesity and diabetes, which can significantly shorten a hamster’s lifespan. Avoid giving your hamster sweetened pistachio treats.
Conclusion
Pistachios are rich in antioxidants, dietary fiber, and Vitamin B6, which all help keep a hamster healthy. These fight free radicals, improve digestion, and promote the proper function of nerves, respectively.
But to provide your pet with these benefits, keep their pistachio intake at a minimum, and make sure to give them only the right kind of pistachios.