Best Hamster Food

This is one of the few hamster food bags that are specifically for hamsters and that comes in a 2-pack. Even though it is one of the more expensive bags, it is a little more cost-efficient than most of the other single bags.

The size alone lets you have enough food for several months too, especially if you only feed your hamster dry food once or twice a week.

Because it is such a good deal, it can go out of stock fairly often or have limited stock. Still, if you manage to see that it is in stock, you may want to give it a try.

This food is about the same as the other food, but it can be eaten by gerbils and hamsters alike. It also has more DHA and probiotics which contribute to the development and digestive regulation.

The food pieces are a little bigger than the last one, which can help with keeping your hamster's teeth conditioned, too.

There are some pellets in here but less when compared to other formulas, and the pellets are usually the pieces that your hamster may be picky about eating. Still, this is one of the best foods when it comes to the quality of the ingredients.

This is another one of the few foods that are made just for hamsters, and it is about as much as most of the other foods are. Like the last one, this bag also contains seeds, nuts, grains, veggies, fruits, and pellets.

So your hamster might be a little picky when it comes to not eating their pellets and/or grains, but most are pretty good at eating most if not all of the other ingredients.

This bag is a little larger than some of the other, holding roughly 2.5 pounds of food, and it is often kept in stock too, making it a good backup for when your favorite one is out of stock.

This is another bag that is good for hamsters and gerbils, and like the last bag, it weighs a little more than most; 2.5 pounds.

This bag is also a great choice for younger or older hamsters who have trouble going to the bathroom too since the extra probiotics that they have help to keep them regulated.

This is also a preservative-free and dye-free mix, too, making it a little healthier and easier on your hamster, especially if they have a sensitive stomach.

Another gerbil and hamster food, this one is mainly made up of a variety of fruits, vegetables, and seeds; about 2 dozen or so.

It does contain gluten and wheat, but their bodies are actually made to eat that stuff and it is very rare for them to be or become intolerant to it, so you do not have to worry about that.

The bag is the same size as most of the others, 2 pounds, and has a pretty detailed nutritional chart and instruction list on the back that is fairly easy to read and understand.

This is also one of the most affordable bags that you can get, too.

Best Hamster Food

If you were to compare them, you would probably see that the best one out of these five would have to be the first bag: the Sunseed Vita Prima Sunscription Dwarf Hamster Formula (2 lb / 2 Pack).

They are big enough to last for a long while for one or even three hamsters, they can be more cost-efficient, and they are just as healthy if not more so than most of the other foods out there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can all hamsters eat the same food?

Technically, yes they can, but some hamsters need more protein, omega-3s, and/or omega-6s than others. It depends on what kind of hamster you have, how old they are, and how often you feed them what.

Some foods that all hamsters eat are leafy greens, vegetables, pellets, and fruits.

Can hamsters eat gerbil food?

In most cases, yes. As long as the gerbil food does not contain byproduct, artificial ingredients, or anything else that could be bad for the health of the hamster, then it is usually fine.

However, a good rule of them is to only get gerbil food that specifically says that it can be fed to hamsters, like the second product. This is an extra assurance that the food is safe enough for your hamster.

What size bag should you get?

Hamster food usually comes in small bags of about 2 pounds, and this can last a few weeks to a month depending on the hamster's appetite. Although, you can find larger bags that you can stock up on or 2-packs that are a little more cost-efficient.

The dry food only needs to be given to them every few days or so, but you can give them a small amount of fresh fruits, veggies, and sometimes flowers every day. Never give your hamster more food if they still already have food in their bowl, fresh or dry.

Exactly how much food should you feed your hamster?

It can be pretty easy to overfeed your hamster, but if you start noticing that their food is not lasting 4 days to a week, you should try to lay off on the dry food and give them more fresh food.

A regular portion is about a quarter cup every 3 to 7 days, and you are also giving them some fresh fruit, veggies, and/or grains with that too; very little (ex. a single cherry tomato, a piece of lettuce, a piece or two of spinach, or a couple peas)

How much food do hamsters eat?

On average, hamsters eat about one or two tablespoons of food every day. The food they do not eat, they store in their cheeks or may move it under the bedding in their cage. You can also supplement the packaged food you feed your hamster with fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

What do hamsters eat?

Hamsters can eat a variety of different foods. Packaged foods for hamsters are typically made of seeds, grains, barley, malt, oats, fruits, and/or vegetables. Antioxidants, amino acids, probiotics, and prebiotics may also be added to the food to support the overall health of your hamster.

Should I buy seed mixes or pelleted foods for my hamster?

Many veterinarians agree that pelleted foods are better than seed food mixes. With a pelleted food, all the ingredients are mixed and your hamster will ingest all the essential nutrients found in the food.

When hamsters are feed seed mixes, they often become selective eaters and only eat some of the different components of the food. This can cause them to miss out on essential nutrients their bodies need, which could lead to health problems.

What fresh foods can hamsters eat?

In addition to the packaged hamster food you can pick up at a pet store, your hamster will also enjoy eating a variety of fresh foods. They love many fruits and vegetables and may also enjoy whole grains and proteins.

Some items they will enjoy include:

• Broccoli
  
• Cauliflower
  
• Cucumber,
  
• Lettuce
  
• Squash
  
• Carrots
  
• Spinach
  
• Berries
  
• Bananas
  
• Apples
  
• Grapes
  
• Pears
  
• Whole grain cereals
  
• Whole grain breads
  
• Boiled eggs
  
• Scrambled eggs
  

If you feed your hamster fresh foods, you should still plan on giving them their packaged food mix. These mixes are formulated to include the essential nutrients that hamsters need.

Use fresh foods as a treat and give them to your hamster in smaller quantities to make sure they don't overeat and get sick.

What foods are toxic for hamsters?

While hamsters can enjoy many fresh foods, there are also many foods that can be toxic to them. Avoid feeding your hamster these foods:

• Citrus fruits: oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and limes
  
• Onions
  
• Garlic
  
• Almonds
  
• Avocado
  
• Potatoes
  
• Potato chips
  
• Tomato leaves
  
• Apple seeds
  
• Chocolate
  
• Alcohol
  

How often should I feed my hamster?

Hamsters should be fed once every day. Many people choose to feed their hamsters at night, since they are nocturnal animals. Whether you choose to feed your hamster in the morning or evening, you will want to pick a time and feed them at the same time everyday so your hamster is able to eat on a regular and reliable schedule.

Will hamsters overeat?

No, hamsters will not overeat. You will still want to make sure you feed them an appropriate amount of food each day, though. And, since hamsters may store their food, you should regularly clean out their cages and remove any old food that could spoil and make them sick.

How long can hamsters go without food?

Hamsters really should be fed every day. While they may be able to physically survive for a few days without food, it is best to keep with a consistent feeding schedule to ensure the health and happiness of your hamster.

If you will be away from your home, you will want to make arrangements to have someone else come to take care of your hamster or bring your hamster to stay with a friend or family member while you are away.

How much water should a hamster drink?

The amount of water your hamster should be getting will depend on their weight. Hamster need around two teaspoons of water for each 100 grams they weight. Some hamsters may weight as much as 200 grams, so these hamsters would need about four teaspoons of water. You'll want to determine how much your hamster weighs to help you decide how much water they should be getting each day.

Should I use a water bottle or a water bowl for my hamster?

You will want to purchase a water bottle that attaches to your hamster's cage. Using a bottle helps ensure that the water will stay clean and easily accessible for your hamster. When you use a bowl, it is very easy for the water to get dirty or spill out in the cage.

Do hamsters pee and poop a lot?

Young hamsters will pee and poop more frequently. They also haven't developed good control of their bowels or their bladders, which can lead to you getting peed or pooped on more frequently shortly after getting a new hamster. Stress or fear may also cause hamsters, especially younger ones, to pee or poop more.

If your hamster pees on your clothing or other fabric items, you will want to wash the material right away. Otherwise, the pee can stain your fabrics.

After hamsters get a little older, they become better at controlling the bladder and bowels, so they should pee and poop less and have more control over when and where they do so.

Do hamsters like to be held?

No hamsters do not especially like to be held. They may try to bite if they are picked up.

They may be more likely to bite if you pick them up when they are sleeping or startle them. Hamsters may also be more likely to bite if you do not wash your hands before picking them up and the hamster smells food or another animal.

What should I do if my hamster seems afraid of me?

It will take your hamster some time to get used to you and your scent. Having patience and implementing the hand-training method can help your hamster to become more comfortable with you.

For the first week you have your hamster, avoid trying to pick it up. Several times each day, place your hand into your hamster's enclosure so they can smell it.

The first few times you do this, you should expect your hamster to run away from you. However, they should start coming over to smell your hand after you've put it in their cage a few times.

You will want to continue this practice for a few days until your hamster starts to climb into your hand. When they decide to climb into your hand, pet them very gently using very slow and steady movements. Be careful not to move too quick and startle your hamster, as this could lead to you needing to restart the entire process.

After your hamster seems comfortable crawling in to sit in your hand, and has done so for a few days, you can start picking him up very carefully and gently.

Should you get one or two hamsters?

Unlike other animals that get lonely easily and need companionship, hamsters are pretty solitary animals. If you put more than one hamster in the same cage, they will often become violent towards one another.

For this reason, you are fine to get just one hamster. If you want more than one, you will want to purchase a separate enclosure for each hamster.

When do hamsters sleep?

Hamsters are nocturnal animals. This means they are most active and alert during the evenings and get most of their sleep during the day. You should not try to interfere with this natural cycle, as it could be dangerous for the hamster or cause them to be stressed or lead to biting or other negative behaviors.

How big are hamsters?

There are actually three different types of hamsters, each which have different body sizes. The largest hamsters are Syrian hamsters. These hamsters are around 34 centimeters long.

Teddy Bear hamsters are also about 34 centimeters long, but they have shorter hair than Syrian hamsters.

The smallest hamsters are Dwarf hamsters, which are between 5 and 10 centimeters. These include Roborovski, Chinese, Russian, and Djungarian hamsters.

What types of toys do hamsters like to play with?

Hamsters need chew toys and hard objects they can chew on. They are important because the chewing motion helps grind their teeth down. Since hamsters' teeth grow continuously, if they are not provided with safe things to chew on, it can prevent them from being able to grind their teeth down, which could lead to trouble eating or being able to close their mouth.

Some toys that a hamster may enjoy chewing on include paper towel rolls and wooden blocks.

Hamsters can also enjoy running on a hamster wheel. When choosing a hamster wheel, selecting one with a solid design instead of an open design can help prevent your hamster from getting injured.

You may also find that your hamster enjoys a hamster ball where they can run and roll around on the open floor. If you are going to get a ball for your hamster, you will want to limit their time in it to 30 minutes at a time. You should also make sure any children (or adults) in the house know that they shouldn't try to pick up, roll, or kick the ball, as this could cause unnecessary stress for your hamster.

Some other toys your hamster may enjoy include tubes or tunnels, bridges, hammocks, ladders, climbing blocks, and sand for digging.

Why is my hamster making odd noises?

When a hamster makes strange noises, it can mean a few different things. The noises could be a sign that they are feeling stressed about something. Noises may also indicate that your hamster is hungry or thirsty, and could be a sign that you need to feed them or refill their water bottle.

What type of bedding should I use for my hamster?

You will want to look for a bedding material that will be safe for your hamster. They enjoy burrowing in their bedding.

Choosing a product made from hardwood shavings or clean crumpled paper is best. You will want to avoid using any cedar-based beddings with your hamster.

How do I clean my hamster's cage?

When cleaning your hamster's cage, you will want to empty everything from the cage. This involves taking out any toys, bedding, or other objects. Use water to wipe down the sides of the cage. You will not want to use any cleaning products that could be potentially dangerous for your hamster's health.

You should also clean your hamster's food bowl and water bottle to freshen them up. Next, clean all of the toys and other objects that are in the cage. Again, you will just want to use water when cleaning these items, since you don't want to accidentally poison your hamster by using any harmful chemicals.

Once the cage has dried completely, replace the bedding with new, clean bedding. Then, you can put back in the toys, food bowl, and water bottle once they are all dry.

How often should I clean my hamster's cage?

A deep cleaning of your hamster's cage should take place about once every month. However, other cleaning tasks should take place on a more routine basis.

Each day, you will want to clean out the dirty bedding where your hamster has used the bathroom. This should typically be limited to one or two corners of the cage, since hamsters tend to use the same area for peeing and pooping.

Each day, you should also clean your hamster's food bowl and water bottle. Keeping these items clean will reduce the chance that your hamster will get sick by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

About once a week, you will also want to remove all of the bedding in the cage and replace it with fresh bedding for your hamster. When completing this step, be sure to also take out any of the food your hamster may have stashed under their bedding.

Do I need to give my hamster a bath?

No, hamsters are capable of cleaning themselves and will not need to be bathed. If your hamster seems dirty or has something sticky on their fur, you can use a damp towel to clean up that area of fur. You will want to make sure you keep your hamster away from colder areas though, if you get their fur wet.

How long do hamsters live?

If they are well-taken care of, hamsters can live between two and three years.

Can my hamster learn her name?

Yes, hamsters can learn their names if you use it frequently around them.