When thinking about hamsters and their diet, you must have plenty of questions. What is good and bad for them? What kind of treats can you feed them? And how often? If your curiosity about what to feed your hamster has brought you here. Then you’ve come to the right place. Because this article finally settles the question can hamsters eat watermelon?
The short answer is YES, hamsters can eat watermelons. But I don’t think you’re here just for the quick answer, right? You want to know more about why hamsters should eat watermelon and how.
Fortunately, I’ve covered everything you need to know about hamsters and watermelons. So let’s give it a go.
Table of Contents
Hamsters Can Eat Watermelon But Not So Fast!
A small cup serving of watermelon contains fiber, protein, and carbohydrates. Naturally, watermelon is high in sugar and water. It’s both sweet and juicy. And it fewer in calories than most sugary fruits that are perfect for the summertime.
So what does this mean for hamsters?
It means while your hamster would love to nibble away on a small piece of watermelon. You should be extra careful about how much you feed. A high sugar intake can lead to diabetes and weight gain. And fiber, while it aids digestion, too much fiber consumption can also cause problems. Diarrhea and bloating are the most common.
Watermelon also contains vitamins and minerals that are good for hamsters. Vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, etc.
Vitamin C is the most tempting of them all. Because hamsters do not make vitamin C on their own. They need a proper and balanced nutritional diet with vitamin C. That’s where fruits like watermelon and veggies like bell peppers come in.
To sum up this portion hamsters can eat watermelon but only in moderation.
Wild Harvest Hamster And Gerbil Advanced Nutrition Diet | More than 3200 ratings
Amazon’s Choice Best Food for Dwarf Hamster Food
Hamsters Love Eating Watermelon
It’s a known fact that hamsters love watermelons. Even a picky eater will always pick fruit as juicy and sweet as a watermelon over anything else. There are plenty of videos online about hamsters eating watermelon. They look adorable biting into that juicy flesh. And they can’t seem to get enough of it.
It’s best to feed an adult hamster 1 2 teaspoons of watermelon. Baby hamsters shouldn’t eat watermelon without consulting with a vet. Adults have a fully developed digestive system. So their bodies are equipped at handling fiber and sugar.
Baby hamsters may gain weight faster. And they are also more likely to develop diabetes when fed too many sugary fruits from an early age.
For a hamster, one to two teaspoons of watermelon is more than enough. For you, it might not seem like a lot of fruit but for a tiny hamster, it’s enough to satisfy their appetite.
If you plan on feeding your hamster more than one kind of fruit per day, make it smaller. Stick to half 1 teaspoon of watermelon.
This brings me to another important question about hamsters.
How to Feed Hamsters Watermelon
If you’ve never given your adult hamster watermelon, start small from the first day. Give him or her a tiny piece and allow them to taste it on their own. Do not force your hamster to eat watermelon. Allow them to approach the food fruit (and they will).
Keep a check on your hamster for 12 24 hours after feeding. If you notice any digestive distress or drastic and unusual behavior change, go to the vet immediately. And if you do not notice any change whatsoever, this means your hamster can eat watermelon more regularly.
Watch out for any signs of gas, bloating, loss of appetite, lethargy, or vomiting.
What To Feed Your Hamster | Hamster diets
#1. DO NOT Feed Watermelon Seeds
Make sure you remove the seeds before you feed your hamster watermelon. Watermelon seeds are made up of water and acids. And this is not healthy for your pet.
#2. Risks Of Feeding Watermelon
Although there are no harmful disadvantages of feeding hamsters watermelon. Watermelon does contain high amounts of water and sugar. Too much water can cause diarrhea and bloat. Too much sugar can cause diabetes and weight gain.
Every hamster has different appetites. So make sure you know what your hamster likes and dislikes. And even if your hamster is craving for more watermelon pieces. You must always be a responsible pet parent and feed a fixed amount.
A hamster’s diet includes pellet mix, hay, chewable treats and biscuits, and fresh foods.
You can also mix 2 3 pieces of different fruits together in a serving bowl. Your hamster won’t get bored with eating the same fruit. And he or she will also receive balanced nutrition. Aside from their primary diet which is made up of pellet food and hay.
Kaytee Fiesta Awesome Country Harvest Treat Blends for Small Animals, 7-Ounce | More than 3000 ratings
Conclusion
A proper diet is essential when taking care of a hamster. But there’s more to it than deciding what to feed your hamster. Fruits and veggies can also be a part of your hamster’s diet. But it’s important to know what is healthy or not.
Introducing fruits like blueberries, watermelon into your hamster’s life is the best decision. They are perfect treats with high quality nutrients. 1 2 teaspoons of fruit per day is the essential amount. And watermelons do not cause digestive problems in hamsters.
They are nutritious, juicy, and delicious. And make sure you have your phone ready to record your hamster devouring a watermelon. They look absolutely adorable when eating watermelons. Just ensure you’ve cut the cleaned and de seeded watermelon into tiny pieces.
Read More Tips and Trick on TopTipsForHer.Com?
