Hamsters should be fed a hamster mix or lab blocks as their main diet. The following list of foods may be given as a treat. Introduce any new foods very slowly to avoid stomach upset. Fruit and vegetables may have more of an upsetting effect on your hamster’s digestive system.

Fruits and Veggies For Hamsters

  • Apple – No seeds as they contain cyanide, higher sugar content
  • Asparagus
  • Avocado – Skin, rind, seeds and leaves are toxic, high fat content
  • Banana – May cause constipation in your pet. Do not feed when giving antibiotics, higher sugar content
  • Basil – Blackberries Higher sugar content
  • Blueberries – Higher sugar content
  • Broccoli – May be gas causing
  • Brussel Sprouts – May be gas causing
  • Cabbage – Small amounts, rarely, too much can cause illness, may be gas causing for your pet
  • Carrots – Higher sugar content
  • Cauliflower – May be gas causing
  • Celery – Only in very small chunks due to choking hazard from string
  • Cherries – Stones/pips removed, higher sugar content
  • Cilantro/Coriander
  • Chicory
  • Corn – Higher sugar content
  • Courgette or Zucchini
  • Cranberries Higher sugar content
  • Cucumber
  • Dates – Higher sugar content
  • Endive
  • Fenugreek – Use with caution may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
  • Grass – Avoid ornamental grass
  • Green Beans
  • Kale – Use only small amounts on occasion, may cause health problems for your pet
  • Kidney Beans Must be cooked only
  • Kiwi – Higher sugar content
  • Kumquat
  • Lettuce – Small amounts on occasion, may cause liver problems, no iceberg.
  • Loganberries – Higher sugar content
  • Mango – No pit/stone, higher sugar content
  • Melon – Higher sugar content
  • Mint
  • Okra
  • Papaya
  • Parsley
  • Peach – No pit/stone, higher sugar content
  • Peas – Higher sugar content
  • Pear – Higher sugar content
  • Plum – No pit/stone, higher sugar content
  • Potato – Cooked only, raw is toxic
  • Raspberries – Leaves are edible, higher sugar content
  • Sage
  • Sorrel
  • Squash
  • Star Fruit Higher sugar content
  • Strawberries Higher sugar content
  • Sweet Potato
  • Swede
  • Sweet Peppers or Bell Peppers – No seeds
  • Turnip
  • Water Chestnuts

Other Safe Treats for Hamsters

  • Acorns – Beware of pesticides
  • Almonds Shell – Contains cyanide and is toxic, Unsalted only, higher fat content
  • Baby Food – Free of onion and garlic
  • Beechnuts – Unsalted only, higher fat content
  • Brazil Nuts – Unsalted only, higher fat content
  • Bread – May get stuck in pouches if too soft
  • Cereal – Beware of high sugar content
  • Cashews – Unsalted only, higher fat content
  • Chicken or Turkey – Cooked and unseasoned
  • Cheese – Avoid strong cheeses, higher fat content
  • Crackers – Unsalted only
  • Coconuts
  • Crickets
  • Dog Biscuits – No charcoal (black)
  • Egg Scrambled or boiled – no seasoning
  • Fish – Cooked and unseasoned
  • Hazel nuts – Unsalted only, higher fat content
  • Meal worms
  • Pecans – Unsalted only, higher fat content
  • Peanuts – Unsalted, roasted never raw, shelled or unshelled, higher fat content
  • Pine Nuts – Unsalted, high fat content
  • Pistachios – Unsalted, higher fat content
  • Pumpkin Seeds – Unseasoned, higher fat content
  • Tofu – Packaged only, never raw
  • Yoghurt – If using antibiotics ensure that yoghurt is not given within two hours of giving the antibiotic.
  • Walnuts – Unsalted, shelled or unshelled, higher fat content

Never feed a hamster anything containing onion, garlic, chocolate or excess salt or sugar. If you are unsure if something is safe, do not feed it.