What Do Hamsters Eat?
If you are thinking about adopting a small animal to have in your home, have you thought about a hamster? Popular in the United States and Europe after World War II, they are now very common in homes around the world. Hamsters are easy to care for, adapt easily and do not take up much space. They are perfect pets for children and adults. In this article we will share some data about these small animals. From what are their characteristics to what to take into account to feed them. Let’s get to know them better and find out what hamsters eat.
Although there is a wide variety of hamsters, the Syrian is one of the most popular. It looks like a teddy bear and its color is golden. There are also other breeds such as Roborovski and some dwarf species.
Syrian types are probably the best pets for children, in part because they are larger and easier to keep and manage.
The friendliness of the hamster is relative. Don’t expect the same devotion from a dog and a rodent.
Hamsters eat?
Hamsters must have food and water available throughout the day. While these small animals can be fed commercial food, it doesn’t have to be the only source of food.
Hamsters eat sweet vegetables and fruits such as apples, lettuce, carrots, cauliflower and pears. If you don’t use herbicides on the grass, you can also cut some leaves overnight, as they are a real treat.
– Hamsters eat seeds, grains, nuts and broken corn when domesticated.
-Hamsters eat insects when they are wild, frogs, geckos and other small animals.
The diet of a captive specimen of this type must be at least 16% protein and 5% fat.
The word hamster comes from the German Hamstern , which means treasure. This is a very apt way to describe how these animals eat. When they do, they fill the bags in their cheeks with food, as if they were guarding a treasure.
And know that: they usually store food in their cage, under their “bed linen”.
What are the other characteristics of the hamster?
One disadvantage is that hamsters tend to have a very short lifespan. For example, the Syrian hamster lives between two and three years, while the dwarf varieties live only a year or two.
In addition, they are rodents that have great vitality. In the desert, they have to search far away for their food, so their bodies are “designed” so that their movements adapt to the circumstances of the terrain.
These small rodents, which house a lot of energy, need to get plenty of exercise. That’s why your pet will spend a lot of time on his wheel playing.
In this sense, it is recommended that your cage also has tunnels, toys and other accessories to preserve the physical and mental health of this type of rodent.
If you want to have more than one, the best thing is to buy two cages so that each rodent has its own space. Why? Because they are very aggressive with each other.
Living with two Syrian specimens together is impossible. However, you can keep together those that belong to the Chinese or Russian variety.
Remember: don’t mix different breeds to live in the same cage.
Also, they are nocturnal animals. So don’t forget to put the cage in a place where your rodent’s nocturnal activities won’t wake you up. The sound of your toys is definitely not conducive to your sleep.
During the day, these little rodents sleep and are usually in a bad mood. In fact, a tired hamster is prone to bite children who want to play with it.
Caring for a Hamster
Hamsters are very clean creatures. Therefore, you should not place the food and water dish near the area where they need to be served.
Thoroughly clean the cage at least twice a week. Remember that hamsters are somewhat accumulating, so be sure during cleaning to remove any leftover food.
Finally, give your hamster safe toys that are made of wood, and don’t forget to put a shelter, such as a house, so your rodent can hide there during the day.
