No doubt that we love our hamsters, and they love us back! Love has to do with many things, and we show our love in many different ways, for example, offering them treats or shrimps and nice toys. One question about treats remains, can hamsters eat shrimp? Let’s find out.
We can use many household items like snacks, especially when it comes to food. That’s why so many people ask if hamsters can eat shrimp, and the good news is they can! Your furry friend will love these shrimps as long as you feed him the right amount!
This article will examine what shrimp is, how to feed it to hamsters, and the benefits and risks of providing it to your pet. We’ll also let you know how much you should feed your pet!
Can hamsters eat shrimp? The facts
Shrimps are a type of shellfish that is common all over the world. They are farmed everywhere. After all, they come from the ocean! Over 1.4 billion shrimps are eaten each year, and that’s just Americans! With over 5 billion shrimp produced each year, it’s not hard to get this food for your pet! There are over 128 species of shrimp, and they have more than ten legs. It’s an intriguing creature, and your hamster will love eating it!
Can hamsters eat shrimp? – The answer
Yes, hamsters can eat shrimp! It can be a fulfilling and healthy treat for them, but feeding the recommended amount is crucial. If you feed too much, you may have a problem!
It’s essential to serve your hamster only cooked shrimps, do not offer them raw shrimp by any chance. Caution is needed when feeding shrimps to your hamster, and you need to make sure that the shrimps are.
Well-cooked because raw shrimps can cause severe adverse reactions.
Can hamsters eat shrimp? – preparation
The most important thing to note when feeding shrimps to hamsters is to make sure you only feed them unsalted, freshwater shrimps; feeding salted shrimps to your hamster may be pretty harmful to them.
As with any other live pet food, the source of the shrimp must be considered. You should avoid getting food from the wild, as it is likely to contain harmful bacteria to your pet. However, if you must source shrimp in this manner, you must perform the following actions.
Do not use saltwater shrimp, as they contain too much salt and may make your hamster very sick. Freshwater shrimp can be found in rivers around the world, and these are a much safer option.
Never feed your hamster raw shrimp. Food should always be well cooked (and cooled) before feeding it to your pet hamster, even if you intend to freeze-dry it.
When you give your hamster food like shrimp, make sure you hold them or make sure you are near them. This is because giving your hamster treats can strengthen your bond and help socialize them. Only give your hamster a small amount at first. This is to find out if they like shrimp; they’ll nibble it up if they like it. However, your hamster will probably put the food on their cheek.
Consider feeding shrimp to your hamster only as part of their diet, including foods like pumpkin seeds, cabbage, and carrots! Plenty of fruits and vegetables are perfect for your ham!
Can hamsters eat shrimp? – The recommended amount
The amount of shrimp you can give your furry friend depends on their species. Syrian hamsters can eat more than Roborovski hamster breeds, and Roborovski hamsters can eat more than dwarfs hamsters. A few pieces of shrimp eat time will do and keep your hamsters healthy and nourished.
How many shrimp can a Syrian hamster eat?
Your Syrian hamster will love shrimps, but you need to make sure they’ll only eat a small amount!
Give your Syrian hamster a teaspoon of shrimp each week! It’s vital to stick to this; too much shrimp can cause problems for your pet!
How much shrimp can a Roborovski hamster eat?
Roborovski hamsters are more miniature than Syrians, so they can’t eat shrimps like a Syrian hamster. Give your Roborovski hamster a teaspoon of shrimp every other week! Make sure you don’t overfeed them as it could lead to some severe health problems.
How much shrimp can dwarf hamsters eat?
All dwarf hamsters (including Winter White Dwarf Hamsters, Chinese Hamsters, and Campbell’s Dwarf Hamsters), the most miniature domesticated hamster breeds, should only be fed about one teaspoon of shrimp in one single month. You need to focus on giving them regular hamster food instead!
Benefits of Shrimp
Giving your hamster shrimp has a lot of benefits, as long as you give your furry friend the current amount! Shrimp has many benefits for humans and the same benefits for your pet! Some of the benefits include.
Iron: This helps keep your furry friend’s energy levels up and keeps them healthy!
Protein: This protects your hamster’s muscles and gives them great strength!
Magnesium: This helps keep your furry friend’s bones in check.
Vitamin B – This helps keep your hamster energized and prevents lethargy!
Zinc: This protects your hamster’s immune system and keeps it healthy overall.
The risks of shrimp
While there are apparent benefits to eating a tiny shrimp now and then for your hamster, there are some risks if you overfeed them.
You need to make sure your furry friend is safe, which means you should be aware of these risks. This includes.
Obesity: Shrimp contain a fair amount of fat, so you need to ensure you don’t overfeed them. Too much fat content in your hamster’s diet can lead to obesity.
Diabetes: As with most foods, overfeeding shrimp can lead to diabetes.
Nutritional issues: Hamsters need a wide variety of foods. This means that feeding high-quality shrimp can cause problems for your furry friend because they don’t have room for other foods!
Blood pressure problems: Saltwater shrimp contain a lot of salt, leading to blood pressure problems. Stick to freshwater!
Can hamsters eat dried shrimp?
Yes, hamsters can eat dried shrimp. Dried shrimps are the steaks hamsters, and is a popular option for pet hamsters is shrimp. You may think this is strange because it will never be part of their natural diet in the wild.
Dried shrimp can be used as a snack for hamsters, but many things to consider before throwing a portion into the cage.
Can hamsters eat shrimp crackers?
No, they shouldn’t. That’s because they’re fried and therefore contain too much fat for hamsters to digest!
Can hamsters eat colored pink/white/brown/red shrimp?
Yes! It doesn’t matter what color the shrimp are! As long as you stick to the quantity, then it should be fine!
Can hamsters eat shrimp? – The Conclusion
Hopefully, we have answered your questions; hamsters can eat shrimp! Remember to feed only small amounts because of the risk of overfeeding. You shouldn’t give your furry friend shrimp crackers, but you can offer them dried and shrimp of any color.
Have you ever fed shrimp to your pet before? Let us know in the comments!
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclopedia_of_Life_Support_Systems
- http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/shrimp
- http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/crabs-crayfish-and-other-crustaceans/5
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/935855.stm
- http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00027829/00049
