What Can I Feed My Syrian Hamster?

As a proud owner of a Syrian hamster, you want to give it the best life possible – a large enclosure, many toys, and a big exercise wheel. But as much as these are vital to its well-being, so is the food you provide. Have you ever wondered what you can feed your Syrian hamster?

You can feed your Syrian hamster specialized hamster food like hamster pellets. You can also feed it fresh fruit and vegetables but in moderate amounts. Syrian hamsters need a steady diet of grains, fruit, and vegetables. Don’t forget fresh water and an occasional treat, such as leafy greens or nuts.

In this article, I’ll explain what to feed your Syrian hamster. I’ll also discuss how often you should feed them and how many treats to give them.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Boiled Egg?

Syrian hamsters can eat hard-boiled eggs. These are a great treat, especially if you train them to do tricks as a positive reinforcement method. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, iron, and vitamins A and B.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Bread?

Syrian hamsters can eat bread, but only as an occasional treat. If you decide to feed your Syrian hamster bread, be mindful of the bread type. Avoid white bread since it offers almost no nutritional value, and opt for rye or whole grain. 

When buying the bread, check the label to ensure you’re getting whole grain.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Cheese?

Syrian hamsters can eat cheese. However, when choosing it, avoid processed cheese and cheese with a lot of fat and salt. Opt for low-fat cottage cheese, and do it in moderation – your Syrian hamster shouldn’t have cheese more than once a week and limit the amount to a pea-sized bite.

Can Syrian Hamsters Eat Dwarf Hamster Food?

Syrian hamsters shouldn’t eat dwarf hamster food. Even though they both have fast metabolisms and enjoy the same treats, dwarf hamsters have different dietary restrictions because of their size and tendency to develop diabetes.

Syrian hamsters prefer cereal with small amounts of millet.

How Often Do You Feed a Syrian Hamster?

You should feed your Syrian hamster twice a day. The best way is to feed it half of the daily amount of food in the morning and half in the evening. Do this with commercial Syrian hamster food, and add the treats to their regular diet every two to three days.

Remember that hamsters can survive only three days without food, so take that into consideration when planning their meal times.

How Much Should You Feed a Syrian Hamster?

You should feed your Syrian hamster approximately 10 grams (0.35 oz) of food daily. A more precise measurement is 11 grams (0.38 oz) of food for every 100 grams (3.52 oz) of weight. 

You can weigh your hamster using a kitchen scale or ask your vet to do it and recommend the amount of food needed.

PStarDMoon Digital Pet Scale For Small Animals from Amazon.com is a digital pet scale with an LCD monitor, and it’s great for weighing your hamsters and their food. It has a weighing accuracy of 1 gram (0.035 oz).

If you notice your Syrian hamster gaining weight despite your rigorous feeding schedule, it’s often because hamsters like hoarding food to eat later. In this case, don’t be afraid to lower the size of the daily portions.

Can I Feed My Syrian Hamster Pellets?

You can feed your Syrian hamster pellets, but ensure the food is specifically designed for hamsters. Never feed them rabbit pellets since they’re made for much larger animals with different dietary needs and can cause your hamster to gain a lot of weight.

What Vegetables Can I Feed My Syrian Hamster?

You can feed your Syrian hamster leafy greens since plants are an integral part of their diet in the wild. Red peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, and carrots are great choices. When feeding your Syrian hamster carrots, make sure not to overdo it since carrots contain a lot of sugar.

Here are also some vegetables you should avoid: 

• Onions
• Radishes
• Garlic 
• Parsley

These vegetables are difficult for hamsters to digest.

Whatever fruit you choose for your hamster, make sure you don’t leave it in the cage uneaten for too long. If your hamster hasn’t eaten the fruit in one day, remove it so it won’t grow mold, which, if ingested, can lead to blood problems.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Broccoli?

Syrian hamsters can eat broccoli but in moderation. When choosing the broccoli, remember your hamster can eat fresh, raw broccoli, but cooked is better choice for its digestive tract.

You can book broccoli for your hamster by steaming it in the microwave or boiling it. Avoid using salt or other seasonings, as these are harmful to hamsters.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Carrots? 

Syrian hamsters can eat carrots. When feeding them carrots, remember that they contain a lot of sugar, so adjust their diet accordingly. Don’t throw away the carrot tops because they are also a tasty treat for the hamster.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Celery? 

Syrian hamsters shouldn’t eat celery. Celery is very stringy, and eating it can lead to your hamster choking. However, celery is rich in nutrients, and of you don’t want your hamster to miss out, chop it up into small pieces or gently steam it.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Cucumber? 

Syrian hamsters can eat cucumbers, as they’re a fantastic source of fiber and a great nutrition bomb to boost your hamster’s immune system. Cucumbers are especially beneficial to hamsters that don’t like to drink water – with a 96% water content, they are a fountain in a bite.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Lettuce?

Syrian hamsters can eat lettuce but in moderate amounts. Lettuce isn’t toxic to hamsters, as leafy greens are similar to what they eat in the wild. However, pick the right lettuce, and avoid iceberg. Romaine is best as it’s chock full of healthy goodness for hamsters.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Red Pepper? 

You can feed your Syrian hamster red peppers. Any bell pepper variety is suitable since the color difference is the development stage of the same vegetable. Chop the peppers into small pieces and give them to your hamster as a treat.

However, not all peppers are equal, and you should avoid feeding your hamster hot peppers as they’re bad for digestion.

What Fruit Can I Feed My Syrian Hamster?

You can feed your Syrian hamster most fruit like cherries, grapes, watermelon, tomatoes, and apples. Berries are also great for Syrian hamsters, so feel free to feed them strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries.

When treating your hamster with fruit, make sure it’s well-washed and cut it into smaller pieces. Also, use moderation because large amounts of fructose can cause weight gain in your hamster. A small spoonful is more than enough.

Remember there are fruits you should never give to your Syrian hamster: 

• Citrus fruit contains too much acid. 
• Rhubarb has a high oxalic acid content. 
• Avocados contain too much fat.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Strawberries? 

Syrian hamsters can eat strawberries. They’re full of vitamins and minerals that are great for your pet. You can also include strawberry leaves, although your hamster will probably prefer the sweet fruit.

Avoid giving your hamster whole strawberries but chop them into small pieces. 

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Tomato? 

Since tomatoes contain vitamins K and C, they’re a great choice for your hamster. Tomatoes also are low in calories, making them an excellent option for controlling the sugar levels in the blood. Cherry tomatoes are also suitable.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Watermelon?  

Syrian hamsters can eat watermelon, as they’re are full of carotenoids and vitamin C. They also help produce collagen and lower blood pressure, making them a fantastic treat for your Syrian hamster. 

Since Syrian hamsters are larger than the rest of the hamster world, they can also eat the watermelon seeds without any problems.

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Apple? 

Syrian hamsters can eat apples of any kind and color. Apples are full of vitamin C, K, and calcium, making them a fantastic fruit choice. If you choose apples, make sure you don’t feed your hamster any seeds since they contain harmful chemicals for hamsters. 

Can Syrian Hamster Eat Blueberries?  

Syrian hamsters can eat blueberries but in moderation. Since they have 4.97 grams (0.175 oz) of fructose, 4.88 grams (0.172 oz) of glucose, and 0.11 grams (0.003 oz) of sucrose per 100 grams (3.52 oz), they’re too sugary. Don’t feed your hamster blueberries more than once a week.

Can I Feed My Syrian Hamster Grapes?

Syrian hamsters can eat grapes but in moderation. Avoid giving your hamster seeded grapes, as they can choke on the tiny seeds. Slice the grapes before giving them to your hamster. 

Red, white, and black grapes are suitable for Syrian hamsters.

What Nuts Can I Feed My Syrian Hamster?

You can feed your Syrian hamster nuts but they must be unseasoned. Syrian hamsters eat nuts in the wild, and enjoy peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, pine nuts, cashews, and hazelnuts. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are also good choices.

You can also feed your Syrian hamster unsweetened and unsalted peanut butter. Make sure you don’t feed them nuts more than twice a week because of the high fat levels.

The only nuts you should avoid are almonds, which contain small amounts of toxins that break down into cyanide when consumed.

Conclusion

Syrian hamsters need diverse and high-quality food for optimal health. Specialized food for hamsters is the best option. However, don’t forget to throw in nuts, vegetables, and fruits since they’re also vital to its diet.

Add a few treats every few days, and your Syrian hamster will return the love and care by being happy and all-around a delightful ball of energy that will supply you with hours of fun to watch.