What Can I Feed My Hamster If I Run Out Of Food – What Foods Can Hamsters Eat?
Hamster food is commercial, high-quality, nutrition-packed pellets. So what can I feed my hamster if I run out of food? Pellets are such an important, and non-negotiable, part of the daily diet of hamsters. They’re specially and very carefully formulated for providing well-balanced nutrients in the form of fulfilling their daily consumption of minerals, vitamins, etc.
But in case this food happens to get over, there are options to rely on until you get the next batch of pellet food for your little hamster. I would also like to mention at this point that treats for hamsters are something you feed as an add-on. Meaning treats cannot be their only food or meal of the day.
Also, make sure that your pet’s daily diet is 90-percent hamster food and just 10-percent treats. At the same time, avoid making drastic and/or sudden changes in their diet. Otherwise, hamsters tend to get stressed out. So change the food slowly and gradually to prevent your adorable pet rodent from feeling sick (for example, developing a wet tail).
Anyway, back to the main discussion…
Best Food for Hamsters
A well-balanced diet of hamsters consists of seed mixes, pellets, treats, and fresh foods. The greater part of this is store-bought, high-quality hamster-specific food. And not food formulated for cats or mice or rats!
All the food options at a pet food store can end up confusing you as to what to buy. Irrespective, always narrow down your search to those made for hamsters only. The same applies to commercial treats; these too should be hamster-specific.
So what foods can hamsters eat?
- Hamster Pellets
A completely balanced hamster diet includes hamster pellet food. Pellets are highly recommended and quite popular as well. The shape of pellets can differ; they come in the form of cereal, biscuits, cookies, and more (small-sized of course).
With seed mixes, it’s quite normal for some hamsters to be slightly picky with this kind of loose food. But then this means they eat only what they like, thus leading to an unbalanced consumption of nutrients.
Then there’s also the possibility of hamsters refusing to eat pellets once in a while because this type of diet can get a little monotonous. At such times, you can and should supplement the pellets with some other food items provided that the bulk of the diet is still made up of pellets.
- Hamster Seed Mix
Seed mixes for hamsters are a combination of dried vegetables, grains, and seeds. Some of these also contain pellet food, which is surely a healthier choice if you ask me.
And to ensure that your pet hamster is consuming all of it instead of just eating his/her favorite stuff in there, the food bowl should empty completely before you add more.
What to Feed Hamsters When You’re Out Of Hamster Food?
Never take for granted that a hamster will thrive only when his/her daily diet is well-balanced and healthy. This means the right amount of proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins being consumed on a daily basis.
But on those rare occasions when the base food for hamsters, hamster pellets, gets over, you can feed all that’s listed below. But only for a few days until the original hamster diet is restored.
1. Vegetables
You obviously already know that veggies are full of minerals and vitamins. And, at the same time, they make such healthy and tasty treats for pets.
So which vegetables are safe for hamsters to eat? Squash, peas, green bell peppers, spinach, cucumber, and broccoli. You know what they all have in common, don’t you? That’s they’re ALL green in color!
Much like most small-sized creatures, even hamsters enjoy eating crunchy food. So fresh vegetables are a great alternative when hamster food runs out. Along with being a healthy snack!
2. Fruits
If you’re looking for the answer to what can dwarf hamsters eat, fruits then are certainly NOT on the list. Simply because dwarf hamsters, precisely due to their tiny size, are highly susceptible to developing diabetes. So that additional fructose sugar can really increase their already elevated chances.
As for what can Syrian hamsters eat? Fruits are safe and healthy for their consumption. Such as melons, bananas, blueberries, apples, and grapes. Just make sure to eliminate the seeds from the fruits before you serve them.
3. Grains and Proteins
In a limited quantity, certain proteins and grains can be included as a healthy treat for hamsters when out of proper hamster kibbles for wholesome nutrition.
Protein sources – pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, tofu, and cooked eggs.
Grains – whole oats, millet sprays, and whole-wheat toast.
More Fresh Treats That Hamsters Can Eat
As far as feeding human food is concerned, there are only a few fresh items that are okay for you to include in your pet hamster’s diet at times when his/her pellet food has run out. Avoid junk food please and instead include only fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Also avoid sugary treats like honey sticks and yogurt drops. Naturally, these store-bought treats are packed with sugar, which you don’t want hamsters to consume in large amounts. Especially dwarf hamsters since they’re already prone to get affected by diabetes. This also means fruits should not be a part of their diet.
And now here’s the whole list…
- Kale
- Cauliflower
- Squash
- Spinach
- Cucumber
- Peas
- Dandelion greens
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Romaine lettuce
- Potato (cooked)
- Sweet potato
- Bananas
- Apples
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Hay
- Whole-grain toast or bread
- Cooked brown rice
- Cooked whole-wheat pasta
- Whole-grain cereal (with no sugar)
- Crickets
- Mealworms
- Cooked chicken (small pieces)
- Peanuts (unsalted)
- Other nuts too (unsalted), except for almonds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Lentils
- Eggs (hard-boiled)
- Popcorn (air-popped, unsalted, and with no butter)
- Peanut butter (only in limited quantity, no matter how much your hamster loves it!)
Foods Hamsters Should AVOID
It starts with just about anything salty, sugary, or processed. That is why feeding whole foods is the best. You want to make sure that toxic ingredients/foods are kept away at all times. And so is salty stuff or anything that’s bleached or contains plastics and glues.
Here’s a whole list of harmful or toxic foods that often lead to health problems in hamsters…
- Caffeine
- Sugar
- High-fat treats/foods
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Raw potatoes
- Apple seeds
- Citrus fruits
- Onions
- Garlic
- Raw beans
- Almonds
- Raw rhubarb or rhubarb leaves
- Salty food
- Junk food
So This Is What the Best Hamster Diet Looks Like!
The most ideal and healthiest diet consists of hamster pellets. And these you can supplement with other human food items that are safe for hamsters to consume.
So if you’ve run out of normal hamster pellets or if your hamster is unwilling to eat those pellets (most probably he/she is bored of the same pelleted diet), there’s no harm in adding a little bit of seed mixture and fresh veggies and fruits to create a healthy and tasty blend.