Yes, hamsters can eat strawberries but only in small amounts, and that too occasionally—once or twice a week. That said, most vets advise against offering even tiny amounts of strawberries to Dwarf hamsters, as they are at higher risk of developing diabetes. Since strawberries are loaded with sugar, we should limit feeding them to our hamsters.
What you should do is to give them only a teaspoon of strawberry, which is almost enough for an adult hamster.
Read: Can Hamsters Eat Celery?
What do Hamsters Eat Usually?
Hamsters can eat a variety of foods like:
- Hay
- Hamsters pellet
- Nuts
- Grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Seeds
- Oats
- Cracked corn
- Millet
- Alfalfa pellet
Some of the human foods can be harmful to hamsters. Therefore, if you have a hamster at home, you must take care of its diet and make sure that it only eats what is healthy for them.
Can You Give a Hamster Strawberry?
Yes, you can give your hamster a strawberry, and they would accept it with pleasure. Strawberries are a healthy fruit that causes no health risk if fed in moderate amounts. In fact, it is a highly nutritious fruit, having multiple benefits for hamsters.
Strawberries are considered a safe and healthy fruit choice for hamsters. Similarly, other fruits like blueberries, bananas, grapes, cranberries, apples, cherries, blackberries, watermelons, and lychees are also suitable for hamsters to eat—they enjoy their taste and juicy effect.
Having said that, you should never give a whole size fruit to your hamster as it might get stuck in its throat, leading to choking. Always cut the fruit, i.e., strawberries into small pieces, which hamsters can easily swallow.
Hamster safety is in your hand!
Precaution!
Never give spoiled or rotten strawberries or any other fruit or vegetable to your hamster. It would upset their stomach and lead to the development of gastrointestinal health issues.
Read: Can Hamsters Eat Grapes?
Can Syrian Hamsters Eat Strawberries?
Yes, Syrian and Roborovski hamsters can eat strawberries. But as with other hamsters, it should only be offered occasionally in small amounts. Moreover, make sure that they are not fed the whole fruit. Instead, cut it into smaller slices before feeding it to your hamster, whether Syrian or Russian.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Strawberries?
No, Dwarf hamsters cannot eat strawberries. The reason is the higher risk of the development of diabetes in dwarf hamster breeds. Since strawberries have high sugar content, consuming them would increase the risk of diabetes in Dwarf hamsters.
Similarly, Campbell hamsters are also at a higher risk of developing diabetes. So we shouldn’t share strawberries with them as well. If you are not sure about the breed of your hamster, you should ask your vet on your next vet visit.
No Strawberries for Dwarf and Baby Hamsters!
Given the high sugar content of strawberries, they should be kept away from baby hamsters as well as Dwarf hamsters (they are prone to diabetes).
Is Strawberry a Healthy Diet for Your Hamster?
Yes, strawberry is a nutrient-rich fruit that contains many useful nutrients for hamsters. To understand if strawberry makes a healthy treat for hamsters or not, we should take a look at its nutrient profile.
Nutrient Profile of Strawberries
| Nutrient | Amount per 166g |
|---|---|
| Calories | 53 Kcal |
| Dietary fibers | 3.30 g |
| Calcium | 27 mg |
| Vitamin C | 97.60 mg |
| Magnesium | 22 mg |
| Phosphorus | 40 mg |
Health Benefits of Strawberries for Hamsters
Strawberries are not only healthy for us humans to eat, but they also have to offer many health benefits to our little friends, provided they are being fed in moderate amounts.
Strawberries Are Laden With Dietary Fibers
Strawberries are loaded with dietary fibers, which help hamsters maintain their overall gut health by smoothing their bowel movement.
Strawberries are a Great Source of Vitamin C for Hamsters
Like humans, hamsters cannot make their own vitamin C. They require an external source of vitamin C. Since strawberries are rich in nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin B9, eating strawberries will allow hamsters to stay healthy and their bodies to work properly. In addition, it also strengthens their immune system.
Source of Calcium and Phosphorous
Calcium and phosphorus are mandatory for hamsters’ health to strengthen their teeth, ensure teeth growth, fulfill nervous system requirements, and ensure steady bone development. More so, phosphorous alsohelp hamsters fight inflammation and keeps the body healthy.
Comparatively lower sugar content
Compared to many other fruits, strawberries contain a low sugar content and a high amount of water content, a combination that is good for the health of our hamsters. Therefore, strawberries can be safely introduced to the pet’s diet, but just in moderation. As this fruit contains glucose and sugar, it is harmful to hamsters suffering from a disease like diabetes.
How to Feed Strawberries to Hamsters?
If you are going to share strawberries with your hamster, you should be careful. Otherwise, you can get your little furry friend in trouble.
- Only share fresh strawberries with hamsters. No canned or dried strawberries for hamsters.
- Thoroughly wash strawberries to get rid of any pesticides or insecticides.
- Never share the whole strawberry. Always dice it into small cubes to reduce the choking hazard.
- Never make strawberries an integral part of your hamster diet. Only share it in small amounts (a teaspoon is more than enough), occasionally—once or twice a week.
- Never share strawberries or any other sweet fruit with diabetic hamsters—it will spike their sugar levels.
- Never share spoiled strawberries with your hamsters.
Hamsters can also munch on strawberry leaves and strawberry seeds quite comfortably. So you don’t have to worry if you catch your hamster nibbling on strawberry leaves.
Reminder
If you want to introduce a new food to your pet’s diet, you should consult the pet’s veterinarian first and then take the next step after discussion and taking suggestions.
The Final Verdict: Can Hamsters Eat Strawberries?
Yes, hamsters can eat strawberries. Strawberries are not only a safe but a healthy treat for hamsters as far as it is being fed in small amounts, once or twice a week. That said, Dwarf and Campbell hamster breeds should not be given even small amounts of strawberries as they are prone to developing diabetes.
