Each hamster may have different tastes but not all hamsters like the same items to eat. However, it is important to understand what can and can’t be fed to hamsters to prevent harming the hamster by feeding something which might be poisonous and to keep the hamster healthy by feeding a nutritious diet.

Hamsters have cheek pouches which they’ll use to gather food. They push thier food into the pouches which expand and then carry the meals to a “safe” place. Here the hamster will empty thier food from the pouches by pushing the food forwards and out of the mouth and make a food store. The inner lining of the cheek pouches are extremely delicate and sharp or sticky foods may become stuck.

Most pet shops sell dried food mixes specifically made for hamsters. These usually include crushed oats, barley, rodent pellets, peanuts, sunflower seeds, maize, dog biscuit and a few of the better hamster mixes supply a wider variety with the addition of ingredients such as dried fruit and vegetables.

Although the hamster mix can provide the hamster with a good basic diet, hamsters also enjoy fruit and vegetables. However, it is crucial that fruit and vegetables should be introduced to a hamster’s diet gradually as a sudden large number of fruit or vegetables may cause diarrhea.

To start with the hamster should only be given a small piece of fruit or vegetable a few times a week and over a period of weeks this will be increased to a small piece each day. If at any time the hamster shows signs of diarrhoea all feeding of fruit and vegetables should stop until the hamster has recovered and then gradually re-introduced into the diet.