Dry fruit or nuts are an excellent source of energy and nutrients for hamsters, but they shouldn’t eat too many. Some nuts aren’t suitable for hamsters to eat at all. With this in mind, can hamsters eat walnuts?
Hamsters can eat walnuts. However, you should only feed them one walnut a week.
You also shouldn’t roast the walnuts or add salt. Your hamster’s size and breed may determine how many walnuts it can have, and larger hamsters may be able to eat more than one walnut per week.
Smaller hamster breeds cannot digest walnuts, and you shouldn’t feed them walnuts. In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know about giving your hamster walnuts. I’ll also discuss if they can eat walnut shells and mention some excellent alternatives to walnuts.
Can Hamsters Eat Walnut Shells?
Hamsters can’t eat walnut shells. However, you can serve them a walnut in the shell, but it’s advisable to crack the shell a bit so your hamster doesn’t have too much trouble opening it or breaking its teeth. You can serve walnuts with shells to adult, fully-grown hamsters.
When you give your hamster a walnut without cracking the shell, they may not be able to break it, making accessing the walnut inside very difficult. The hard shell may even cause minor injuries to your hamster’s teeth or nails. It’s, therefore, better to crack the walnut.
A walnut with a slightly cracked shell can even be a treat for your hamster, who will likely have fun playing with the nut and shell.
As for younger hamsters, it isn’t advisable to give them shells as they aren’t strong enough to pry the shell open even when it’s cracked. They may give up on the walnut if the shell proves too challenging.
Choking on shell pieces is another hazard for adults and young hamsters alike. You may be able to prevent it by doing the following:
- Supervising your hamster.
- Cleaning the cage after your hamster finishes eating.
- Taking the shell away before giving the walnut to your hamster.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Walnuts?
Dwarf hamsters can eat walnuts but have trouble digesting them, making walnuts an unsuitable nut. You can give them a walnut once a week if you want, but due to the possibility of digestive issues, it’s best to avoid giving walnuts to dwarf hamsters.
The main reason your dwarf hamster may have trouble digesting walnuts is because walnuts have a high fat content. Moreover, walnuts seasoned with salt and sugar may cause severe health issues for your hamster.
However, despite the potential problems, hamsters enjoy walnuts as a treat. A controlled amount will likely not cause any digestive problems or other side effects, especially if your hamster is an adult and of a non-dwarf breed.
Are Walnuts Good for Your Hamster’s Health?
Even though too many walnuts may cause health issues for hamsters, controlling how much they eat can have the opposite effect. Walnuts have essential nutrients that can promote your hamster’s development, growth, and overall health.
The nutrients found in walnuts include:
- Magnesium
- Phosphorous
- Vitamins
- Protein
- Calcium
The nutrients mentioned above, along with other elements, help in the following ways:
- They can help with tissue and muscle development and maintenance.
- The antioxidants such as magnesium also help eliminate free radicals in your hamster’s body, keeping it healthy.
- Walnuts can also boost your pet’s immune system.
- Walnuts may also prevent high blood pressure in hamsters.
- These nuts may also play a role in preventing diabetes, but they may also cause it if the hamster consistently eats too many.
Can Hamsters Have Side Effects Due to Walnuts?
Despite their benefits, walnuts can cause serious side effects in hamsters. However, remember that side effects typically occur when your hamster consumes too many walnuts.
Excessive intake of walnuts can cause your hamster to become overweight and increase their risk of developing diabetes.
Walnuts can also cause kidney problems if they contain salt.
As mentioned, walnuts and their shells can be a choking hazard, and you may want to supervise your hamster while enjoying the occasional walnut treat.
How Many Walnuts Are Too Many for Hamsters?
Since walnuts have high fat levels, you should limit how many you feed your hamster.
Hamster experts recommend feeding your pet only one walnut a week. Remember that adult hamsters are better at digesting walnuts, so they’ll likely have no problem enjoying a whole walnut every week.
As for dwarf hamsters, you may want to give them half to a small whole walnut once every two weeks, if you think they particularly enjoy this nut variety. Otherwise, avoiding walnuts altogether is also a good option.
Dwarf hamsters include:
- Chinese hamsters
- Campbell hamsters
- Winter white or Russian hamsters
- Desert or Roborovski hamsters
Giant breeds include:
- Syrian hamsters
- Angora hamsters
Are There Any Alternatives to Walnuts?
There are many healthy alternatives to feeding your hamster walnuts. However, you should also check how much your hamster consumes. Dry fruit is an excellent alternative, but it shouldn’t contain additives or flavoring, such as sugar or salt.
If you don’t have access to walnuts or you’re looking for an alternative, consider the following substitutes:
- Pecans
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Hazelnuts
- Cashew nuts
Of course, any nut or fruit treat shouldn’t comprise your hamster’s main diet. Feeding your hamster a vet-recommended hamster food is ideal, and you can always supplement this with small snacks.
When feeding your hamster a snack, chop it into small pieces so that your hamster won’t choke or have difficulty eating it. In addition to nuts, below are some great ideas for healthy hamster snacks and treats:
- Cucumber
- Grapes
- Melon
- Deseeded apples
- Bananas
Conclusion
Hamsters can eat walnuts, but they shouldn’t form part of your pet’s daily diet. Even though walnuts offer health benefits, excessive intake can cause digestive and weight problems and even diabetes.
The amount suitable for consumption also depends on your hamster’s breed. Larger breeds can have more than smaller ones as they can digest them better. No hamster should have more than one large walnut a week.