Tips On Choosing The Best Hamster Treats
Hamster’s treats can virtually be anything you are willing to feed them because they are not picky eaters. They love food-they love to find it, they love to hoard it and they love to eat it! Actually it is really easy to have an overweight hamster for this very reason. And though they will eat anything put into their cage, anything is not always good for them.
It is true that hamsters, like every other creature have individual tastes but it is safe to say among the majority of them they like foods like: A variety of fruits-apples, bananas, dates, figs, grapes, mango melon, pears, strawberries, and watermelon; and vegetables-sweet potatoes, peas, okra, lettuce (only on occasion), green beans, cucumbers, corn, celery, carrots, cabbage (only on occasion), broccoli, and asparagus.
There are also some herbs they like and that are good for them such as alfalfa, basil, coriander, cress, marrow, mint, parsley, and sage.
Before you start feeding hamster treats to your pet make sure he/she is on a good diet of food especially formulated for hamsters. Feed them according to the package directions in the morning so you know they will get the complete nutrient value of the food they eat through out the day. This is usually 1-2 tablespoons of pellets. Through out the day you can add little nibbles of treat foods you think he/she will enjoy.
In the evening-about the same time everyday, you will want to give your hamster another tablespoon or two of regular hamster food. Get him on a regular schedule before adding treats to ensure he/she is getting the nutrients needed.
You can keep a record of the foods your pet likes best as well as how much is eaten and if it interferes with the eating habits involving his regular diet. Hamster treats can be good supplements, but you do not want to give it so many they do not eat their regular food. Always check their stash area also-they may have stale food they haven’t eaten.
Hamsters have cheek pouches-large enough to store ample amounts of food for transport (so to speak). Hamsters like to scratch about for their food so they store it in their pouches until they are stocked up. They will then take what is in their pouches and put it in a hiding place for later. This common practice is called hoarding.
They may eat it later that day or they may save it for another day. This is one of the reasons you will have to check for spoiling food. Do not do this everyday, but when you give the cage its by-weekly thorough ‘going over.’
Caution has to be given to hamster treats because of their cheek pouches. Certain types of food can get ‘stuck’ in cheeks causing later trouble. Others that rot quickly can also cause trouble if it gets trapped in cheeks.
All this said there are some favorite hamster treats that all of the little ‘guys’ seem to like. Unsweetened Cheerios or Rice Krispies are two of them. Whether it’s the crunch or the taste, it’s always a hit. Another is nuts-unsalted, of course.
Though they are a high oil content food-which is not necessarily good for the hamster, they love them. Treat them once a week or so with just a few little tidbits. Others on the favorite treat list are toast, dog biscuits, or pieces of whole wheat crackers.
There are also great prepared hamster treats you can purchase if time is a factor but you still want your pet to ‘feel special.’ And do not think that because they love fruits and vegetables that they do not like a bit of protein every now and again. They love cooked meats, fish, hard boiled eggs and pieces of cheese.
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