Fresh Food

Some fresh fruits or vegetables are also a part of a hamster's diet. However, do not give your hamster too many fruits or vegetables because too many will make them sick. Slice and dice the fruits and vegetables into small pieces so they don't get too big of bites. If they swallow too much, it might get stuck in their throats! Some fruits and vegetables are not good for your hamster. Never feed your hamster citrus fruits (lemon, tomato, lime, orange, grapefruit), pickled fruits (olives, pickles), or spicy or starchy vegetables (onions, radishes, rhubarb, potatoes). Do not feed your hamster cooked, canned, or marinated (with added salt or sugar) fruits or vegetables. Instead, give your hamster uncooked fresh vegetables and fruits such as romaine or other leafy dark green lettuce, broccoli, carrots, peeled apple, green beans, celery (ALL strings removed), sugar snap peas, or even a piece of fresh (not canned!) peeled peach. Make sure you thoroughly wash, dry, peel (of any skin or strings), and slice all fruits and vegetables into small pieces.

If I were to recommend one fruit or vegetable for hamsters, I would recommend a small piece of peeled apple. It provides your hamster with lots of nutrition and moisture. Apple is extremely good for a dehydrated hamster or if you breed hamsters. If you breed hamsters, you can put small pieces of the apple in the cage for the mother hamster so she can regain the moisture that her body lost while giving birth to her pups.

*Health Note* Some types of fruits and vegetables are more water than nutrients. These should be avoided, as too much of them can lead to illness from too much water in the body. The fruits and vegetables like this that you should avoid are iceberg lettuce (96% water), watermelon (92% water), cucumber (95% water), etc. Citrus fruits should be avoided for the same reason (that includes tomato, which is 95% water). Avoid corn, as well.

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