You’re in the middle of the snowstorm of the century, and you realize you’re out of hamster food. But your rabbit has plenty of food pellets. Would it be safe to feed your hamster some rabbit food until the storm passes and you can get to the store?
Hamsters can eat rabbit food if you give them vegetables and fruits. However, you can’t feed your hamster rabbit food pellets, as they have different digestive systems. Also, rabbits are herbivores, while hamsters are omnivores, meaning hamsters can’t eat rabbit food pellets.
This article will discuss the appropriate food for hamsters and why you should avoid giving your pet hamster food meant for rabbits.
Appropriate Food For Hamsters
The most appropriate food for hamsters is the food they would find in the wild, such as berries, greens, insects, and nuts. Commercially prepared food pellets meant for hamsters are a close second, as it has the most nutrients in the correct amounts.
Since they are omnivores, they can eat meats, vegetables, other plant foods, and lighter meats like chicken and other poultry, fish, and insects.
The vegetables and fruits they can eat include the following:
- Carrots
- Lettuce and other leafy vegetables
- Bok choy
- Sweet peppers
- Tomatoes
- Berries
- Bananas
- Apples, but not the core or the seeds
This list is a small sample of appropriate foods for hamsters. They can also have nuts, unseasoned, cooked eggs, and perhaps a small amount of tofu.
Rabbits, however, can only eat plant foods, so they can eat most of what hamsters eat, except meat or insects. But does that mean that you can give your hamster food specifically made for rabbits?
Can Hamsters Eat Rabbit Food Pellets?
Hamsters cannot eat rabbit food pellets, as they don’t have the right amount of macro and micronutrients for hamsters. Rabbits are herbivores and need more carbohydrates, while hamsters need more protein.
Rabbit food pellets are made specifically for rabbits and shouldn’t be given to your hamster. The nutrients that rabbits need are different from what hamsters need, which could cause a nutritional deficiency for your hamster.
If your hamster is lethargic or gaining weight too quickly, and you’re feeding him rabbit food pellets, you might want to stop this practice, as this can only lead to premature death.
Why Hamsters Can’t Eat Food Meant For Rabbits
Since rabbits need more carbohydrates than hamsters, rabbit food pellets contain too many carbohydrates for hamsters, which could cause problems like weight gain and diabetes. Rabbits also need more fiber than hamsters, while hamsters need more animal-based protein.
Rabbits need more fiber than hamsters, but hamsters need more protein than rabbits.
They also need more calcium and fat, so if a hamster consistently eats rabbit food pellets, it will develop nutritional deficiencies that can make it sick. One time might be okay if there’s nothing else in your kitchen to feed your hamster, but it could be dangerous if you do it more than that.
Of course, the same can be said if you consistently give your rabbit food meant for hamsters. Too much protein for a rabbit could also be disastrous.
What Happens When Hamsters Eat Rabbit Food Pellets?
Hamsters that consistently eat rabbit food pellets can have several gastrointestinal problems because they get too much fiber. While rabbits’ digestive systems can handle that much fiber, hamsters’ digestive systems have built-in gut flora that can digest protein and fat more efficiently.
They can also suffer from nutritional deficiencies when they eat rabbit food pellets, such as:
- Vitamin E
- Calcium
- Fat-soluble vitamins
In short, hamsters can get sick when they eat rabbit food pellets.
What’s the Difference Between Hamster and Rabbit Food?
The difference between hamster and rabbit food is that hamster food contains more protein, while rabbit food contains more fiber and less fat. Hamsters need more protein and fat than rabbits, so you’ll want to avoid feeding your hamster rabbit food pellets.
Hamsters are much more active than rabbits, so they need more protein to repair and build muscle. In this respect, hamsters are more like humans than they are like rabbits. If your hamster runs on its wheel constantly, protein provides sustained energy while running and muscle repair while resting.
Rabbit food doesn’t provide these benefits to your hamster because it doesn’t contain the proper nutrients.
However, your hamster and rabbit can share similar foods like greens, peppers, and other non-acidic foods. Neither one of these animals can eat citrus fruits or tomatoes because the acid can upset their sensitive digestive systems.
What Can I Feed My Hamster If I Run Out of Food?
If you run out of food, you can feed your hamster small portions of unseasoned vegetables, meats, and a little fruit. You’ll want to dice the vegetables, meats, and fruits small enough so your furry friend doesn’t choke on them.
You can also feed your hamster nuts, insects, and perhaps a few seeds occasionally. Boiled eggs can also be a good treat, but don’t season or put anything in with them.
Mealworms, earthworms, and crickets are great treats if you have them. However, you don’t want to go outside and catch bugs from the backyard, as they might have parasites that could make your hamster sick.
If you have spinach or some sweet peppers in your refrigerator, you can dice them and give them to your hamster. Cooked, unseasoned chicken or fish is also a great choice.
Remember not to give your hamster more than 1 tbsp (12 g) of food daily, preferably at night.
Conclusion
If you have a hamster and a rabbit, you might not want to confuse their commercially prepared food, as neither one is appropriate for the other. However, if you’re preparing vegetables and fruits for your rabbit, you can set aside some for your hamster, as their diets overlap somewhat.
Or, if you’re feeding both of your pets a balanced diet with actual food, you can save time and money by feeding them the same food. Just be sure to give your hamster a little meat with its veggies.