What do hamsters eat? Is it possible to give a hamster exotic fruits? Shall we have a drink, homa? Where's the water?

When purchasing some pets, you have to deal with the issue of food right away. Although rodents are tiny animals, they still need high-quality balanced diet. Surely you would answer the question of what hamsters eat at home, unequivocally and immediately - cereals. And this is correct, but this is only the basis of their diet. In fact, the list necessary products much wider.

What can you feed your hamster besides food?

So, you have already purchased a bright package with ready-made food, and this the right move, but the mixture of mixtures is different. If we consider what hamsters eat at home, then the food should contain more grains. They constitute its main diet in natural conditions.

By the way, sometimes inexperienced owners try to save a little and buy a simpler mixture. Often these are mixtures for parrots or rabbits. But this is completely unacceptable; it is not for nothing that there are separate foods for rodents.

So, let's look at the list of what hamsters eat at home, in addition to ready-made dry food:

• it is quite acceptable to introduce cereals (pay attention to barley and buckwheat, add lentils and peas to your pet);
• Among the vegetables, you can choose the simplest ones from our gardens, but exclusively seasonal ones (the question often arises of what to eat Syrian hamsters at home, because they are inhabitants of meadows and need moisture more than Djungarians), these are carrots with beets, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage, you can offer your pet green beans or peas;
• What Djungarian hamsters eat at home from fruits are all the usual apples and pears, peaches and apricots, but berries can be given only after removing the seeds;
• It’s good to know what, and not only, hamsters eat at home as a supplement to the main diet: here we include dried fruits and nuts, pets eat sunflower and pumpkin seeds well, pamper them with popcorn without salt and offer branches of fruit trees.

It is generally accepted that only cereal foods are suitable for these animals. But they also eat quite well boiled eggs, dairy not fatty foods, you can buy grasshoppers and earthworms at the pet store. If you have very tiny hamsters, you can feed them additionally with baby food with vegetables, boiled cereals in water, and also a little castor oil for difficulties with digestion.

The list of forbidden foods included all exotic fruits, any fried or salted foods. Cannot be offered even extreme heat watermelon or melon; bakery products and confectioneries were also banned.

Have you got a little adorable hamster or are you just planning to? What are you going to feed? Do you know that choosing the right diet for a fluffy miracle is not so easy? There are a lot of foods that simply cannot be given to hamsters. Their diet differs from that of humans, as well as from what forms the basis of the diet of their counterparts in the wild.

Today we’ll talk about the basic rules for feeding these cute animals and look at the main questions that owners have. The list of what can be given to Djungarian hamsters is by no means small. But the list of prohibited items is quite extensive, and any responsible, reasonable owner must be familiar with it.

What is often asked about

Hamster owners most often ask the same questions, for example: What can and cannot be given to hamsters? Is it allowed to feed furry pets cheese, milk, bread, bananas, pumpkin, persimmons, apples, grapes? What can you give? Should the animal be given water, or does it get enough liquid from its food? What can you give to a dwarf hamster, etc.?

Let's say right away about cheese - there is no consensus. Somewhere they talk about its negative impact on the health of the animal, but other sources do not support this opinion. If you want to eliminate the slightest possibility of trouble, it is better not to use cheese.

Is it possible to give a hamster cabbage? You can’t - neither white cabbage, nor red cabbage, nor Brussels sprouts. But nevertheless, Chinese and colored (pre-boiled) will not do any harm. The sweet fruits listed above (grapes, bananas, apples) are healthy and completely safe for hamsters, and the animals love them very much.

Never offer your pet milk - you cannot give it to the animal or cook porridge with milk. This leads to severe digestive disorders. As for bread, black bread is strictly prohibited, but white bread will not do any harm. Persimmon is shown in small quantities, but you should choose sweet and completely non-astringent fruits.

What food can you give hamsters?

And yet, what is the best way to feed a hamster at home? You must realize that the animal itself has little idea of ​​what it can and cannot do. Therefore, choose your own food, guided by the principles healthy eating He’s unlikely to be - he’ll “cheat” everything he gets his hands on. So the owner develops the diet for the pet, and he is also responsible for the health and well-being of the ward.

The obligatory components of the hamster menu are food (dry and wet), protein supplements, vitamins and minerals and, of course, water, and to achieve correct ratio not so easy due to the presence of a lot of various nuances. For example, what can you give hamsters? of different ages(young and old individuals eat completely differently)? What about illnesses?

What should dry food be like?

Dry food can perhaps be called the basis of a hamster’s diet. It is best if it is present in the feeder constantly. Food that can be given to hamsters is not suitable for other animals, and vice versa. It is strictly forbidden to buy food intended for other animals - for example, rats or guinea pigs, as well as parrots and other birds.

Why? All specialized feeds contain certain type vitamin supplements, the composition of which is carefully selected to suit the needs of the animal’s body. That is, the ingredients different types Such nutrition can differ very, very significantly. Feeding a hamster food that was not intended for this species, you can get very disastrous consequences.

The importance of fiber

In addition to dry food, your rodent will mandatory should get and moist. It consists of fruits, vegetables and herbs. The latter should be added to the feeder on a regular basis. This will add the necessary variety to your diet.

What can you give your hamster from "grass"? In addition to dill and parsley, he will happily eat dandelions, plantain, nettles, lettuce and clover. Those valuable substances, which contains greens, is difficult to obtain from other products.

As for vegetables, all their diversity should also be divided into two lists - those that can be fed, and those that are strictly prohibited. Can Djungarian hamsters be given potatoes? Feed mushrooms? What about onions and garlic? In no case! You can and should offer him carrots, beets, eggplants, zucchini, as well as cucumbers and tomatoes and peas. Hamsters will happily eat wheat or sprouted oat grains.

Everyone loves fruits!

Next, you should clarify what you can give your hamster from fruits. Without any worries, you can feed your pet plums, currants, gooseberries, blueberries, rosehips and pitted cherries. From time to time, offer the animal some dried fruit - for example, some raisins or dried apricots.

The hamster will not refuse pears or banana chips. But don’t give prunes to avoid problems. Experiments in feeding should not be allowed; if you decide to add a new vegetable or fruit to your diet, consult knowledgeable people.

It is not good to over-eat fruits due to their excess sugar content. Nuts should also be given little by little (as a delicacy). You can treat your hamster to peanuts, walnuts, cashews or seeds - sunflower and pumpkin.

We are a bit carnivorous...

Animals need protein supplementation, and many of them enjoy eating such food. Others categorically refuse, so sometimes it is difficult for the owner to determine what exactly to give to a capricious pet. In general, the list of protein source foods allowed for rodents starts with boiled chicken (just don’t even think about salting it or adding any spices). You can also give your hamster a hard-boiled egg (you can feed both the white and the yolk), low-fat kefir and the same cottage cheese (zero or one percent fat content), as well as bifilin. Sometimes owners feed their pets shrimp (peeled, of course).

In the pet store you can buy mealworms or earthworms, grasshoppers and butterflies in this capacity. Do not take fertilizer of dubious origin and anywhere, since it is unknown what additives it contains and how this will affect the health of the animal. Only in a pet store will they sell it to you balanced product, adapted specifically for this type of animal.

How often should I feed my hamster squirrels? It is better to do this once every couple of days or twice a week. It would be nice if you set a specific schedule, and the animal will receive such a diet on specific days. You shouldn't give him squirrels two days in a row.

About useful supplements

Let's move on to vitamins and microelements. If you constantly feed your hamster exclusively with expensive dry food from a well-known manufacturer, then you don’t have to worry. It already contains everything that is useful and necessary for your pet. If you want to know the details, check out the ingredients listed on the packaging.

When the food is simpler and cheaper (domestic brands) or even homemade, the feeder should be replenished with minerals and vitamins a couple of times every week. Such supplements should not be purchased at the pharmacy - human vitamins Not suitable for a hamster at all. Don't be fooled by advertisements from stores offering crackers like vitamin supplement. They are full of chemical impurities that can, without exaggeration, have a detrimental effect on the tiny animal’s body.

For supplements, go to the same pet store. There they will sell you a safe, healthy and balanced treat, and also provide additional advice.

Perhaps the least hassle you will have is purchasing specialized feed for hamsters. Having provided your pet with such nutrition, rest assured that he will receive all the vitamins and minerals in the right quantities.

What to Avoid

Why is it contraindicated for hamsters to feed from a human table? The fact is that the products we are familiar with contain a large number of spices, salt and pepper, vinegar, cinnamon. All of them are extremely undesirable for our small charges.

In addition, human food is often too fatty for a hamster. This applies to lard, sausage, fatty meat, sour cream and cream. Or it may be too sweet - we are talking about sugar, jam, sweets or honey. And also salty - there is a lot of salt in canned vegetables, dried and smoked fish etc. Fine flour, which forms the basis of buns, pastries and cakes, is also not at all beneficial for your pet.

Avoid giving fruits with seeds, which can be harmful. Do not give hamsters pine cones or nuts in shells. By gnawing them, the animal can injure its cheek pouches on the sharp edges, and even get poisoned by the seeds of a fruit tree. In the same way, you shouldn’t throw a spikelet of grains into a cage; it’s better to peel off the grains and “serve to the table” separately. The fact is that the spikelet, with its sharp edges, can injure the animal during the chewing process.

Because without water...

Any pet owner must know and understand that water is no less important for the health of a pet than food. Sometimes, seeing unfinished water in the drinking bowl, the owner may decide that he is not drinking at all. But this is not true - without water, not a single living creature can last long. Therefore, unfinished remains should be regularly removed and fresh water should be poured (not into a bowl standing on the floor of the cage, but into a special hanging drinking bowl attached to the bars of the grill).

Do not try to feed hamsters distilled or boiled water, useful substances it contains virtually none. If you care about the health of your little furry, replenish the drinking bowl with well or spring water. You can also take the usual one - the one that flows from the tap, but pass it through a filter.

Features of rodents

As you know, any hamster is a representative of the rodent order. What does it mean? One of the main needs of such animals is to constantly grind their teeth on rough solid food. It would seem that there are no problems feeding a hamster, but will everything suit him?

Eating roughage alone will not ensure that your hamster's teeth are worn down. Therefore, the cage should always have a supply of material in the form of thin twigs. To prepare them, find a cherry, apple tree, poplar, birch or willow tree growing far from the highway, cut it, wash it well and boil the small branches. Once dry, you can offer it to your hamster little by little.

When collecting grass or twigs for your pet, remember the poor environmental conditions of our cities. It’s best to go further out of town on the weekend and stock up on food for your pet.

Hamster of venerable years...

What to do if your pet is sick or is no longer young? What can you give a retired hamster? Old and sick individuals behave sluggishly and have difficulty coping with solid food. They are difficult for the stomach to digest whole grains. In this case, increase the proportion of soft foods in your diet.

A grater and a meat grinder will help you chop fruits, vegetables and nuts, and the grains can be sprouted. But even these hamsters require solid food to avoid digestive upsets. Give a sick hamster a weak chamomile decoction, changing portions a couple of times a day.

...and baby hamster

What if you have newborn animals? What can you give to a tiny and completely helpless hamster? You will have to stock up on baby food, meat or vegetable. It contains no additives, soy, salt or sugar. Any dairy-free porridge (also unsalted and soy-free) will do. In addition, you can take the most common cereal and soak it in water or boil rice. The latter option is suitable for a hamster of any age in case of stomach upset.

Baby hamsters can easily develop diabetes, so it is recommended to limit sweet fruits in their diet. Like people, these animals have a real sweet tooth and will never refuse a delicacy. And here we repeat again: you should not rely on the natural instinct of an animal that does not understand what is useful for it and what is not. The owner should take the decision regarding healthy feeding of the animal solely into his own hands.

conclusions

Sometimes on the Internet there are photographs in which hamsters with a funny look absorb the most exotic food. Having looked at this, the owners begin to give their pets whatever they like, and then bite their elbows. Don't be fooled by similar photos! Most of them are exclusively staged shots. For the sake of beautiful picture the unfortunate owners feed the little fluffies clearly inappropriate and sometimes harmful food.

It is no secret that Djungarian hamsters often eat everything that comes under their nose. At the same time, the pet will not always be able to understand whether the chosen treat is harmful to it or not. Therefore, responsibility for the nutrition of the Djungarian hamster lies, of course, with its owner, who must know what to pamper his beloved rodent with and what should be completely excluded from his diet. I hope this list will help you with this.

CAN :
1. Dry feed mixture- the main food for the Djungarian hamster.
2. Groats:

• beans;
• Hercules;
• peas;
• buckwheat;
• oats;
• wheat;
• beans;
• lentils;
• barley.

3. Seeds:

• melon;
• sunflower;
• pumpkin

4. Nuts:

• peanut;
• walnut;
• cashew nuts;
• sesame (seeds);
• chickpeas;
• hazelnut.

5. Sprouts:

• bamboo;
• alfalfa;
• oats;
• wheat.

6. Greenery:

• clover;
• nettle;
• dandelion leaves;
• plantain leaves;
• parsley;
• salad;
• dill.

7. Vegetables:

• eggplant;
• bell pepper;
• broccoli;
• peas (young in pods);
• zucchini;
• Chinese cabbage;
• corn (fresh or dried);
• carrot;
• cucumber;
• squash;
• tomato (not winter);
• radish;
• radish;
• turnip;
• beet;
• celery;
• green beans;
• pumpkin;
• cauliflower;
• zucchini.

8. Fruits and berries:

• apricot;
• banana;
• grape;
• cherry;
• pear;
• strawberry;
• gooseberry;
• peach;
• plum;
• currant;
• cherries;
• blueberry;
• rose hip;
• apples.

9. Dried fruits:

• banana chips;
• raisin;
• dried apricots;
• dried pears;
• dried apples.

10. Branches of deciduous and fruit trees :

• birch;
• beech;
• cherry;
• pear;
• oak;
• willow;
• maple;
• poplar;
• Apple tree;
• ash.

Do not forget that Djungarian hamsters should eat protein food several times a week.

11. Chicken meat(boiled without salt and spices).
12. Boiled egg:

• chicken;
• quail

13. Yogurt without additives and sugar(no more than 1% fat content).
14. Kefir(no more than 1% fat content).
15. Cottage cheese(no more than 1% fat content).
16. Shrimps(boiled and peeled).
17. Earthworms, mealworms, grasshoppers, dried gammarus(only purchased at a pet store).

For feeding newborn jungarians .

18. Meat or vegetable baby food (no additives, sugar, salt or soy).
19. Dairy-free porridge (without salt and soy), as well as regular cereals soaked in water.
20. Boiled rice(recommended for diarrhea).

Agree that the list of what you can feed Djungarian hamsters looks quite impressive. Next, let's talk about what counts. controversial issues. However, the foods listed below can cause serious harm to the health of jungarians. Therefore, we classify them as “not recommended.”

1. Food mixtures for other rodents or birds.
2. Drops for rodents(often contain harmful components).
3. Brazilian nut.
4. Acorns.
5. Potato.
6. Cheese.
7. Bread (white) And bread.

IT IS FORBIDDEN:

1. Salt.
2. Spices.
3. Sugar.
4. Honey.
5. Cookie.
6. Chocolate(and any sweets).
7. Milk.
8. Cream.
9. Butter.
10. Sour cream.
11. Citrus fruits.
12. Apricot and cherry pits.
13. Avocado.
14. A pineapple.
15. Watermelon.
16. Pomegranate.
17. Kiwi.
18. Cabbage:

• white cabbage;
• red cabbage;
• Brussels sprouts

19. Onion.
20. Garlic.
21. Mint.
22. Sorrel.
23. Mushrooms.
24. Almond.
25. Twigs coniferous species trees:

• larch;
• pine.

26. Muesli.
27. Sausages.
28. Sausages.
29. Pasta.
30. Bread(black).

It is important to remember that fried, fatty and sweet food not intended for feeding Djungarian hamsters. Also, do not forget that any herbs, plants and branches of fruit trees collected within the city will not be beneficial for your pet’s health due to poor environmental conditions. In addition, due to the tendency of dwarf hamsters to diabetes, it is not recommended to frequently feed them fruits (apples, pears, apricots, peaches, etc.). Try to shape your pets' diet in such a way that your Djungarian hamsters eat more fresh and healthy vegetables.

Always keep the presented list in front of your eyes and do not hesitate to use the tips. Ultimately, the health and life expectancy of your beloved pet depends on you.

It would seem that the answer to the question “” is very simple. However, in practice hamster nutrition may raise many questions among inexperienced owners regarding whether this or that product can be given to their pet.

Hamsters must have a balanced diet. This means that it will include not only ready-made dry food, which forms the basis of the diet, but also other products. In particular, you can give your hamster the following foods.

Cereals, nuts and seeds. From cereals you can give wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, rolled oats, lentils. They are given in dry form; Porridges cooked in water without salt or seasonings are fed to sick and weak animals. Nuts you can give are peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, and walnuts. You can also give your hamster melon, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.

Vegetables, fruits and berries. Hamsters' diet must include fresh fruits, berries and vegetables are a source of vitamins and moisture. Among the berries you can give currants, gooseberries, strawberries, pitted cherries, and blueberries. From fruits - apple, pear, apricot, melon, peach, banana, grapes, plum (in small quantities). Hamsters also enjoy eating dried fruits - dried apples and pears, raisins, dried apricots, banana chips.

Most vegetables are given to your hamster raw.. You can treat your pet to pumpkin, carrots, bell pepper, tomato, cucumber, radish, radish, zucchini, zucchini, beets, squash, turnips, green beans, fresh corn, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, fresh peas, young peas in pods. Can be given occasionally and in small quantities cauliflower, peeled rose hips and celery. Some vegetables (pumpkin, carrots, beets and peas) can also be given boiled; they are cooked for a short time and without salt.

Greens, leaves and sprouts. Hamsters' food may also include oat, wheat, bamboo and alfalfa sprouts. From greens you can give salad, dill, parsley, plantain leaves, dandelion leaves, nettles, clover. Hamsters also eat leaves of fruit trees (apple, cherry, pear), as well as other deciduous tree varieties (ash, beech, maple, willow, poplar, oak, birch, walnut).

All vegetables, fruits and berries that you give your hamster should be fresh, not overripe or spoiled. Plants for a hamster should be collected away from roads and industrial enterprises. Any plant food should be washed thoroughly before giving it to your hamster.

Hamsters' diet also includes a protein component.. It can be boiled chicken or lean boiled fish no seasonings or salt, low-fat dairy products(yogurt without additives and sugar, cottage cheese, kefir, all with a fat content of no more than 1%), boiled chicken or quail egg. Less commonly given: butterflies, grasshoppers, mealworms, earthworms, dried gammarus. Any live food must be purchased at a pet store! Protein products the hamster is given 2-3 times a week (of course, not all at once, but just one).

Eat a number of foods that are not recommended to be included in the diet of hamsters. They cannot be called strictly prohibited, but there is a high risk that they will cause irreparable damage to the health of your pet. These include cheese (especially fatty and salty varieties), acorns, Brazilian nut, persimmon, White bread, potatoes, and also ready-made feed for other rodents and birds.

Finally, There are foods that should absolutely not be given to hamsters.. These include:

• salt, spices, sugar as in pure form, and as part of other products;
• fried, fatty, smoked food, any food from your table;
• exotic fruits (including pineapples, kiwi, avocado, pomegranate, citrus fruits), watermelon;
• fruit juices;
• leeks, garlic, mint, cabbage (white and red), sorrel;
• branches coniferous trees, tulip, all plants and herbs collected within the city;
• cream, sour cream, milk, butter;
• muesli, breakfast cereals, kozinaki;
• almonds, apricot and cherry pits (contain hydrocyanic acid, which is lethal to hamsters);
• peel and eyes of raw potatoes;
• sausages, sausage, fatty meat;
• dry pasta;
• mushrooms;
• black bread;
• bloodworms and wild-caught insects;
• chocolate, ice cream, cookies and any other sweets.

Correct hamster nutrition- one of the guarantees of their health. At the same time, it is very important to know which foods you can give your hamster and which ones you absolutely cannot.