Question on fresh food

[clerbird321]

Do Syrian hamsters need to have fresh fruits and veggies in their diet? I feed Bernard a high-quality seed mix, treats almost every day (dried veggies and fruits, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, forage, etc) and he has sprays that he enjoys but he’s only had a few bites of fresh cucumber here and there. Is it a necessity to incorporate fresh fruits and veggies in their diet? If so, how often?

 

[Socks' Mum]

Do Syrian hamsters need to have fresh fruits and veggies in their diet? I feed Bernard a high-quality seed mix, treats almost every day (dried veggies and fruits, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, forage, etc) and he has sprays that he enjoys but he’s only had a few bites of fresh cucumber here and there. Is it a necessity to incorporate fresh fruits and veggies in their diet? If so, how often?

Yes, Socks' fresh veggies and salad were the highlight of his day. You can feed quite a variety and should vary his fresh food. They also enjoy cooked butternut squash, cooked plain boiled potato, cooked broccoli, peas and sweetcorn (plain boiled) in small amounts. I would avoid tinned food as it tends to contain salt. Avoid onions and plants related to onions, anything prepared with flavourings or dressings, avocado, leeks, and chillis. They can eat small amounts of parsley and coriander as well

 

[Maz]

Yes it’s good to give them a bit of fresh veg every day - occasionally fruit rather than veg. It’s often their main reason to get up! The smell of fresh veg. Just a tiny bit though, no bigger than his ear or maximum 1cm cubed size. They then eat it straight away so you don’t risk it being hoarded and going off. Cucumber and broccoli are favourites here and they tend to keep about a week in the fridge. Occasionally a couple of peas. Or the occasional blueberry or bit of strawberry if we have some in. I’ve attached the safe food list, which includes safe veg.

Safe and Unsafe Food list for Hamsters

Many human foods are safe for hamsters, but some are toxic to hamsters. Our hamster site has a researched and referenced food list gives up to date information on safe and unsafe foods for hamsters.

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[clerbird321]

@Socks' Mum @Maz

You guys are the best, thanks! I thought it was an optional treat so now I feel bad for not giving him much Will go get some produce today!

 

[Maz]

He will love it

 

[Magpie]

As above- I give Mr Maggie a tiny piece of fresh every night. Mainly veg but now and then put in a bit of fruit: (apple/strawberry/blueberry) as an extra treat.

His veg I rotate between broccoli, cucumber, courgette,
Carrot, celery, baby corn, red pepper depending what I have in the fridge!

 

[clerbird321]

@Magpie @Maz @Socks' Mum

Ummm guys…why the heck was this Bernard’s first reaction to his first fresh blueberry? He enjoys the freeze dried blueberries I give him but he’s acting like this is burning his eyes or something. I tried to offer it a couple more times and he reacted the same and ran away. Just 20mins before this he was coming up to the front, letting me pet him, and eating dried snacks from my hand.

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[Magpie]

No idea…?!

Only thoughts are: Is it cold? Did you wash it first?

I only ever give half a blueberry at a time. ( I eat the other half! ) I’m not sure if that makes any difference but would change the way it feels/smells though?

 

[Maz]

He just looks a bit cautious I bet he would eat it if you leave it out on top of his house on a tile or a dish or something. Even now some of mine won't take veg from my hand - only if it's left out! They like "finding" it! Either that or maybe he isn't a blueberry fan! He's very cute.

 

[clerbird321]

@Magpie @Maz

Thanks guys!! I was so confused Funny little guy. He did take a fresh piece of carrot though!

 

[Magpie]

I usually leave Mr Maggie’s fresh veg/fruit on a piece of slate near his water/food rather than feed him it by hand.

 

[clerbird321]

@Magpie @Socks' Mum @Maz

I was also worried about fresh stuff spoiling, for example last night he didn’t eat the fresh carrot right away, he pouched it and ran off to his burrow. Is that going to mold if he doesn’t eat it? It was a piece about the size of a pea.

 

[Maz]

That is quite unusual. They usually eat it straight away, but if you hand fed it, he might have been running away from the hand With fresh veg it is better to leave it out on a dish or slate or something and then they know where to expect it every day in the same place. And tend to sit at that place and eat it there. However I do think he'll have eaten it straight away and not hoarded it Carrot is the least favourite with mine. One used to very much turn his nose up at it but ate it with a look on his face ha ha. They seem to prefer green veg mainly. Although mine also like a little slice of baby corn.

 

[clerbird321]

@Maz

Oh geez, now I’m going to worry about it rotting and making him sick lol. I just cleaned his burrows last weekend. Should I worry about digging around in there trying to find it? I don’t want to stress him. Maybe since it’s so small (IF he didn’t eat it) it would just dry and shrivel up rather than rot and mold?

I will try leaving fresh stuff on a small dish for him. He pouches literally everything, except for the 2 times I’ve given him cucumber and he ate that right away.

 

[Maz]

I'm sure he'll have eaten it I have never known a hamster hoard fresh veg unless it was a very large amount they couldn't eat in one go.

 

[Magpie]

I think he will have probably eaten it in the privacy of his burrow!

 

[clerbird321]

@Maz @Magpie

Thanks guys!

Tried a fresh blueberry again tonight, he just stared at it I tasted one and they’re pretty sour so that might be the problem. He had a piece of fresh green bell pepper and ate that right in front of me, then I gave him a fresh carrot which he pouched lol. Maybe he just prefers to pouch carrots I’m hoping he either eats them in his burrow like you guys said or they’re small enough pieces that they just dry out rather than mold

 

[Angel’s Teddybear]

That video made me giggle. He looked like me waking up in the morning - or even a vampire seeing the light. I’m glad he is taking other veggies; I think it’s funny how he likes to pouch the carrots. Our little furballs all have their unique personalities and quirks that make them so fun and loveable!!