It won’t be wrong to call hamsters the smallest ever creature domesticated. Being small, their owners need to be extra cautious of their dietary needs. Feed it something wrong—something not friendly to their stomach—and it may become a problem for them—and you.
Hamsters eat an omnivorous diet, so fresh fruits and vegetables make a great snack for hamsters. That said, not all fruits and veggies are safe for hamsters to eat—some, like onion and garlic, could be life-threatening for them. Therefore, before you offer any fruit or veggie to your hamster, you should first make sure that it is safe for them to eat. As we are on the topic of what veggies hamsters can safely eat, one may wonder about cucumbers. Can hamsters eat cucumber? Is cucumber safe for hamsters?
The short answer is yes, cucumber makes a healthy snack for hamsters, provided it is given in the right quantities. Keep on reading to learn all about hamsters and cucumbers.
Let’s address all your concerns surrounding “can hamsters have cucumber?”
Can Hamsters Eat Cucumber?
Yes, hamsters can eat cucumbers. Low in calories and rich in vital nutrients, including potassium, magnesium, silica, and vitamins K, and A, make it an excellent treat for hamsters. Having said that, you still cannot make cucumbers an integral part of your hamster’s diet. Cucumbers are healthy for hamsters as long as they are being fed in small amounts, occasionally as a treat. Roughly a teaspoon-sized cucumber serving, once or twice a week (never two days in a row), would be a perfect—safe and healthy—way to include cucumbers in your hamster diet.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Cucumber?
Yes, cucumber is safe for dwarf hamsters as well. But given that they are much smaller in size, you will have to be more careful with feeding cucumbers to your hamster. You should offer them half the amount that you would have offered usual hamsters. So, around a half-teaspoon amount of cucumber would be more than enough for a dwarf hamster.
Rule of Thumb About Hamster Diet!
While hamsters do enjoy treats, they should consume no less than 90% of their daily meal in the form of high-quality hamster food specially designed to fulfill their nutritional requirements. Other snacks, such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, and meats, should account for only 10% of their diet.
Hamster owners must be cautious about the amount of cucumber they feed to their small pets. Cucumber is one of the many vegetable hamsters love, and they will consume as much as they can, but moderation is the key here. You cannot just throw a whole cucumber at them—do so, and you may have to take your hamster to a vet for diarrhea.
The Benefits of Cucumber
Keep Hamster Hydrated
Cucumbers are mainly composed of water—around 96% of cucumber is water. The excess water content in cucumbers makes it a great snack for hamsters that do not like drinking plain water. Thus, eating cucumber help hamsters stay hydrated. Besides, what can be a refreshing snack on a hot summer day other than a cucumber?
Relief from Constipation
If your hamster doesn’t drink water, he may get constipated. If so, give him a couple of cucumber slices to munch on. Loaded with dietary fibers and brimming with water, eating cucumber will help with his bowel movement and provide relief from constipation.
Low-Calorie Snack
You won’t gain any weight from eating cucumbers since they contain relatively few calories. Likewise, cucumbers are perfect for overweight hammies who need to shed some pounds. Hamsters will not gain weight from eating cucumbers, making it a highly beneficial snack for them.
Minerals and Vitamins
Cucumbers are high in magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper, iron, silica, and vitamins C, K, A, and B, even though they are mainly water.
Given this veggie is high in vitamins and minerals, it makes a nutritious snack for humans and hamsters to eat as part of a well-balanced diet.
View on Chewy: Treats Exclusively Designed for Hamsters
Can Cucumbers Cause Health Issues For Hamsters?
While cucumbers are a nutritious snack for hamsters, there are a few risks to be aware of before feeding them for the first time. Remember that hamsters are small, and you should not rely only on cucumbers to fulfill their nutritional requirements. If you feed an excessive amount of cucumber to hamsters, they can develop loose stools and frequent urine, flushing nutrients out of the body prematurely.
When provided in big chunks, cucumber skin can be a choking threat to hamsters. This is especially true for young hamsters who have not yet fully grown their teeth. Cucumbers should thus be peeled or chopped into tiny, manageable pieces before being given to hamsters.
What if Hamster Consumes Too Much Cucumber?
Excessive consumption of even the best meals may be hazardous, not only for hamsters but all living beings.
Your hamster’s stool may get excessively loose if they consume too much cucumber because of the high water content in cucumbers.
A slice or two of cucumber twice a week is an acceptable amount for your hamster to consume. Anything more than that could be problematic.
Diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and several health issues for hamsters. Cut down the vegetables and fruit from your hamster’s diet if they get diarrhea from overeating cucumber, and consult a vet immediately if symptoms don’t improve fast.
Can Hamsters Eat Cucumber Skin?
The cucumber skin is perfectly edible and will not harm your hamster’s health in any way. However, wash it thoroughly before feeding it to your hamster. More so, when offered in large pieces, it poses a choking hazard to our hammies. So, if you are not going to cut the cucumber into small pieces before offering it to your little ham, you should peel it off, especially if what you have is a baby hamster who hasn’t fully developed its teeth yet.
Can Hamsters Eat Seeds of Cucumber?
Cucumber seeds are safe for hamsters to ingest. The seeds are very delicate, and they will not harm your hamster. But it is better that we remove the seed—it is better to err on the side of caution than to risk a hamster choking on a cucumber seed.
What Is the Best Way to Give Cucumber to Your Hamster?
Always make sure you hold your hamster while feeding him treats because feeding your hamster snacks with your hands can improve your relationship with them. Here is how to properly give cucumber to a hamster.
How to Give Cucumber to Your Hamster?
- Make sure it is fresh
- Thoroughly wash it to get rid of pesticides or chemicals
- Discard the thick stem of the cucumber
- No need to peel cucumber unless you have a finicky hamster
- No need to get rid of seed either
- Make sure your tiny friend does not eat more than a tablespoon
Remove the uneaten cucumber from the hamster cage after a few hours
If your hamster has never eaten a cucumber before, you should start offering a tiny amount of cucumber to your hamster and observe if they enjoy the vegetable. If they like it, include it in its treats. But not all hamsters are alike—some may not enjoy cucumber. Should that be the case, stop giving it cucumbers and find something else. Grapes, celery, or carrots, maybe?
Making Hamster Eating Cucumber Fun!
- Cucumber Balls—toy cum snack for hamsters: Using a melon ball scooper, you can cut a cucumber ball out of the cucumber flesh. Your hamster will be eating cucumber while playing.
- Cucumber stew—mix finely chopped cucumber into yogurt (natural) and make a cucumber stew for your hamster. Hamsters’ love for yogurt will make the treat more enticing.
Dig a cucumber tunnel—hamsters love to burrow and tunnel. You can cut a cucumber into half and scoop out most of the inner flesh, making a snack tunnel for your hamster. You will have to remove this if your hamster has eaten around a tablespoon amount of cucumber.