fruits and vegatables

Question
Hello!
If I give a hamster healhy fruits and vegatables every 5 days or so will that keep the hamster healthier? What kinds of fruits and vegtables are good for hamsters? Also my hamster Champ is almost 2, I know hamsters don't live to long but he looks like a very healthy hamster with nice, shiny fur, bright eyes, exersizes alot and eats and drinks alot. How long more do you think Champ will live? Do you think he'll live a long time?

 THX
  -Alexa

Answer
Hi Alexa,

Yes, fruits and vegetables do help keep a hamster healthy.  You can give them a small (emphasis on *small*) piece every day if you wish.  However, start out with a small piece once or twice a week, then gradually build up.  Fruits and vegetables must be introduced slowly to hamsters.  Here is a list of good fruits and vegetables for them, as well as some that are not good for them:

Alfafa
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
Courgettes
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

Vegetables and herbs that should not be fed are:

Kidney Beans (raw)
Onion
Potato (raw)
Potato tops
Rhubarb (raw)
Rhubarb leaves
Tomato leaves

And a note on lettuce - it should *not* be iceberg lettuce.

As for your other question - Every hamster has a different life expectancy.  As long as you take good care of it, it can live up to 2 1/2 - 3 years.  Of course, there are exceptions.  I believe the oldest hamster on record was 5 years old.  So it varies widely.

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

Kelly