what food do u give hamsters

Question
QUESTION: This is kayleigh here i would like to no what food a are aloud and not aloud to give a hamster. How much exercise should they get a day
thanks i hope u can get back to me

ANSWER: Hi Kayleigh,

Besides giving your hamster his dry hamster mix, you can also give him fruits and vegetables.  However, you'll need to start out slow.  If you feed your hamster too many fruits and vegetables, he'll get diarrhea.  Start out by giving your hamster one small piece of fruit or vegetable 3 times per week.  After about 4 weeks, then you can give your hamster one small piece of fruit or vegetable every day.  Here's a list of safe fruits and vegetables for hamsters (from petwebsite.com):

Alfalfa
Apple (seedless)
Asparagus
Avocado (skinned and seedless)
Banana
Basil
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts - small amounts occasionally - not all hamsters like the strong taste
Calabrese
Cabbage - should only be fed in small amounts occasionally as too much can cause health problems
Carrots
Cauliflower leaves and stalks
Celery
Cherries - stones should be removed as they can be dangerous if gnawed
Chestnuts
Chicory
Chinese Leaves
Coriander
Corn-on-the-Cob
Corn Salad
Courgette
Cranberries
Cress
Cucumber
Curly Kale
Dates
Endive
Fenugreek
Feijoa
Figs
Grapes
Green beans
Kale - should only be fed in small amounts occasionally as too much can cause health problems
Kidney Beans (cooked)
Kiwi Fruit
Kumquat
Lettuce - small amounts occasionally - in excess it can cause liver problems
Logan Berries
Lychee
Mange Tout
Mango
Marrow
Melon
Mint
Mung
Okra
Pak Choy
Papaya
Parsley - a good tonic
Peach
Pear
Peas
Plums - stones should be removed as can be dangerous when gnawed
Potato (cooked)
Raspberries
Raspberry Plant leaves - beneficial for diarrhoea
Rhubarb (cooked)
Rocket Chard
Sage
Sorrel
Squash
Star Fruit
Strawberries
Sugar Cane - small amounts
Sweet Potato
Soybean Sprouts
Swede
Sweetcorn
Sweet Peppers
Ugli Fruit
Turnip
Water Chestnuts
Watermelon
Water Spinach

If a fruit or vegetable is not on this list, consider it unsafe for your hamster.  (Better safe than sorry!)

As far as exercise, make sure your hamster has a solid wheel, which is more comfortable for his feet.  If your hamster has a wire wheel with rungs, replace it with a solid wheel.  Also, you might want to buy a hamster run-around ball, available in pet stores for around $6.  If you have a Syrian hamster (also known as a Teddy Bear hamster, a Black Bear hamster, or a Golden hamster), the ball should have an 8" diameter.  If you have a dwarf hamster, choose a ball for dwarves.

Let your hamster run in the ball for about 15 minutes 1-2 times per day.  Make sure there are no stairs around, and if you have other pets such as a cat or dog, make sure they are out of the room where your hamster is.

Have a great weekend!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask :)

Kelly

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Kelly
how many hamsters are you suppose to have in one cage
this has not got anything to do with it but how old are you i like to no how old people are when i speak to them

Kayleigh
ANSWER: Hi Kayliegh,

How many hamsters you have in one cage depends on what type of hamsters they are.  If they're Syrian hamsters (also known as Teddy Bear hamsters, Black Bear hamsters, or Golden hamsters), then you can only keep one per cage.  If more than one Syrian hamster is kept in one cage, they will fight violently, often resulting in the death of one of the hamsters.

However, if they are Dwarf hamsters, you can keep them in same-sex pairs (no more than 2 per cage, though sometimes 3 males can be kept in one cage).  Dwarf hamsters are very social animals that appreciate the company other Dwarves.

To answer your other question, I'm 21 years old.

Have a great day!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask :)

Kelly

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi Kelly
thanks for replying what type of toys can you give your hamster. I am 12 years old nearly 13 in two weeks.
ok i will ask if i have any other questions

have a great weekend

how do you no all of these questions

kayleigh

you can call me kays if you like.
ANSWER: Hi Kays,

There are many types of toys for your hamster, from playgrounds to little houses with multiple entrances.  Just have fun with them, because the hamster toys found in pet stores and online are a lot of fun for both the hamster and the owner :)

My favorite toy is by Super Pet/Crittertrail.  It's called Puzzle Pieces, and it comes in several sizes.  You can place the puzzle pieces however you like, and you can come up with a bunch of different combinations.  It's a lot of fun!

You have a great weekend, as well, and Happy Early Birthday!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask :)

Kelly

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi kelly
thanks
how do you no all this stuff you are so cleaver

kays

Answer
Hi Kays,

Well, I've always had a lot of pets, and I always wanted to know all I could about them.  So, I spent a lot of time researching them on the internet and in books.  It was a lot of fun for me, because the more I knew about my pets, the more I wanted to know :)  Small animals, especially hamsters and gerbils, are such interesting creatures!

Have a great weekend!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask :)

Kelly