Diet and Nutritional Requirements

Unlike some other rodents, hamsters are omnivores and require a diverse diet consisting of seeds, animal protein such as insects, herbs, flowers and fresh vegetables. Their anatomy includes large cheek pouches which range from their mouth all the way to their shoulders. They use these to collect and store food and nesting material to easily transport them back to their den.

Hamsters are known for creating large hoards in their houses. Any additional food will be stored and a large hoard gives your hamster a feeling of safety and comfort. A hamsters hoard should generally stay untouched, with the only exception being to remove fresh vegetables to avoid rotting.

In many countries the nutritional values are listed on the package of the food mix. This will be more likely the case with industrially made seed mixes as to opposed to those made by small companies. Generally it is helpful to look at the nutritional values when determining if a purchased mix is suitable for your hamster but it should not be the only thing to look out for. 

A food mix can have great nutritional values but be just as good or worse than a seed mix with a large variety but a lack of nutritional information. The types of ingredients also play a big role in determining if a food mix is a good choice for your hamster. 

The following nutritional requirements are recommended:

Protein

The necessary protein intake can vary and a few factors, such as age and conditions. Pregnant and growing hamsters generally require a larger amount of protein.

Under 6 months: 18 – 25 %

6 – 18 months: 15 – 20 %

Over 18 months: 12 – 15 %

Fat

There is a variety of fats and they are essential for the body to absorb important vitamins. Generally a fat level between 4 and 10 % is recommended.

Fiber

Fiber is mainly found in plants, specifically fruit, vegetables, whole grains and seeds. It is necessary for proper digestion. Hamster require at least 5 % fiber in their diet, with the optimal value being between 10 and 15 %.

In the wild hamsters feed on many different seeds. Both for enrichment as well as to cover all their macro and micro nutritional needs it is preferred to offer a main food mix containing a large variety of seeds and ingredients.

We recommend a seed mix containing at least 20 unique ingredients. Many great food mixes contain up to 40 different ingredients! 

When comparing ingredients lists it is important to pay attention to repeating ingredients. Some industrial food mixes contain a smaller variety than it initially seems like due to including the same ingredient in several forms. For example, a food mix can include wheat, wheat flakes and wheat feed – which are all the same ingredient!

One should also be wary of food mixes that are primarily hay based or contain a hay product as the first ingredient (for example, alfalfa pellets). Hay offers very little nutritional value to hamsters and many will choose to ignore them entirely. 

The five different species of hamsters we as humans decided to domesticate and keep in our homes come from different regions and therefore have slight variations on their diet. While there are overlaps, especially in the dwarf hamster species, it is important to keep the selection they would have in the wild in mind when selecting which foods to offer.

Syrian hamsters have lived alongside human agriculture for millennia which made them naturally adapt to adding true grains such as wheat and oat into their diet. Overall Syrian hamsters feed on a larger variety of grains, seeds and nuts, as well as developed plants, vegetables and fruits.

Chinese hamsters and the dwarf hamster species on the other hand are found in more sparse regions of the world, inhabiting steppes and deserts, and their diet reflects that. The variety in their diet isn’t as large as compared to Syrian hamsters, and they will generally prefer pseudo grains like millet variants and buckwheat. 

Particularly Chinese hamsters and Campbell dwarf hamsters are not used to feeding on grains and fruits in particular. This reflects in their genetics and their predisposition to diabetes and obesity. While all hamster species are able to get diabetes, Chinese and Campbell dwarf hamsters (and in extension, Hybrid dwarf hamsters) are more prone to it.

It is therefore generally recommended to avoid feeding Chinese, Campbell and Hybrid hamsters foods that increase their blood sugar levels. To do so it is useful looking at the Glycemic Index as well as the sugar levels in fruits and vegetables. 

Some owners might be confused how much and how often to feed their hamsters, especially when considering the large hoards they like to build. Hamsters have a natural urge to stash food and build these hoards and will feel safe and comfortable with a large hoard. It is not advised simulating a food shortage by reducing or stopping the daily feeding schedule. This will only cause your hamster to feel a sense of stress and panic and is not an effective strategy to get a hamster to loose weight.

Good food mixes will give instructions on how much to feed your hamster and generally the schedule should look similar to this:

Syrian Hamsters – 1 Tablespoon per day

Chinese and Dwarf Hamster species – 1 Teaspoon per day

It is possible to spread these out over a larger period of time, for example giving 2 Tablespoons every 2 days. To make sure your hamster is eating properly we advise against spacing out the feeding days by more than 3 days.

Generally we recommend scatter feeding over bowl feeding. This means, instead of offering the daily food mix in a bowl, scatter and sprinkle it around the cage. This will stimulate your hamsters natural urge to forage, providing them with entertainment and enrichment. Hamsters are also less likely to selectively eat only their favorite seeds when they have to work for their food.

To ensure their hamsters are getting the proper balance of nutrients, some owners choose to supplement their hamsters seed mix with lab blocks or pellets. This might be useful if only low quality seed mixes are available to you.

We rather recommend providing a high quality seed mix since pellets often contain unnatural ingredients and do not stimulate your hamster the same way foraging for a large variety of seeds does.

Fresh and clean water should be provided on a daily basis. Many owners might be concerned about their hamsters water intake, especially new owners express confusion if their hamster is drinking enough water. 

As already mentioned, hamsters in the wild inhabit rather dry and sparse regions such as steppes and desert, which is why they naturally do not drink a lot of water. A healthy hamster will drink about 1 to 2 ml of water every day, which might even be lower if offered vegetable or fruit containing lots of water.

Water Bottle or Bowl?

Many people tend to pivot towards offering a water bottle as it has been the standard for many years. They are easy to attach to barred cages, can hold a large volume and one does not have to worry about the water getting soiled or covered.

Unfortunately bottles have a few issues. For one, it is not uncommon for them to leak or drip, slowly draining water, sometimes emptying completely in just a few hours and leaving the hamster without any water to drink. Due to their design and ability to hold several days worth of water it is easy for owners to forget to check and refill the bottle if it has drained.

Another issue lies with the metal pipe that holds the small metal ball. It is hard to clean and can over time build up bacteria from the water and the hamsters spit. Water bottles should be cleaned at least once per week and it is best to leave the metal pipe sitting in a cleaning solution overnight and rinsed thoroughly to get rid of any bacteria build up.

Last but not least, when positioning the bottle one must pay attention to its height so the hamster does not bend their back unnaturally when drinking for the bottle. They should be able to comfortable reach it.

Some hamsters might not initially know how to use a water bottle as they cannot see and smell the water like they can in a bowl. Despite this many will quickly figure out how to drink from one.

Bowls on the other hand need a solid and preferably raised ground to stand on, so they cannot be knocked over or buried in bedding. A good place to put the water bowl is on a house or platform easily accessible.

Bowls should be refilled on a daily basis and cleaned with dish soap at least every couple of days. Due to their open design they are prone to getting soiled, whether it be due to bedding or food being dropped inside or hamsters soiling it with feces or even urine. 

Large bowls should be avoided, as hamsters can fall into it, getting their fur wet. A small tealight holder is sufficient enough to provide them with enough water for a day.

Many prefer bowls because the hamster forms a more natural posture while drinking from it. They are also easier to clean and and refill. Unlike with bottles, hamsters will naturally know how to drink from them by smelling and seeing the water.

Vegetables add important vitamins and fiber to your hamsters diet. Vegetables can be fed on a daily basis once they have been carefully introduced. 

When getting a new hamster that has not yet been eating vegetables it is important to introduce them slowly to avoid your hamster getting diarrhea. To do so you can provide a small (finger nail sized) piece every 3 days and observe their droppings. If they are not mushy or soft the frequency can slowly be increased. 

Offering a variety of vegetables can be beneficial to your hamsters health but it shouldn’t be their main diet. Make sure to only give them small pieces and remove stored vegetables from their hoard to avoid them rotting or molding.

Sprays are dried grain plants that can be offered as enrichment and decoration. Many owners like to place them around the cage where they can provide coverage and serve as clutter. Hamsters seem to greatly enjoy eating and picking apart different kinds of sprays, but it is important to pay attention to the frequency to prevent them from overeating especially on sprays high in calories.

Especially sprays like flax are high in fat and calories and should be fed in moderation. Millet variants are particularly favored by dwarf hamster species, while Syrian hamsters prefer true grains such as wheat and oat.

Flowers and Grass sprays on the other hand are less favored for consumption and can be used to clutter and decorate the enclosure.