Many pet owners often worry about giving their hamsters the right kind of food and treats, and it’s perfectly normal. Hamsters have a delicate digestive system, and knowing what to feed them is crucial. That brings us to the question, can hamsters eat plums?
Let’s find out.
As a pet owner, you need to be cautious about the type of food you feed your pet hamsters because these little creatures have delicate digestive systems.
If you wonder, “can hamsters eat plums” then this article will assist you in making the right decision about this question.
Several species of wild hamsters still live in many places around the world. In the wild, most of these hamsters are omnivorous, which means they eat plants and animals. Hamsters in the wild are scavengers by nature. They eat wild fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, insects, tiny animals like frogs, and even lizards!
As a pet, a domesticated hamster is a small pet hamster that you keep in your home. You can keep your pet hamster on a healthy special hamster food diet, and, of course, the occasional fruit and vegetable is an excellent treat for your little hamster. It is vital to know which foods are safe for hamsters and which may be harmful to them.
So, can hamsters eat plums?
The answer is YES. Hamsters, when fed properly, can eat plums without any adverse risks. However, just like any other sweet, sugary fruit, there are some basic things you need to keep in mind before giving plums to your hamster. This is all you need to know about feeding plums to your hamster.
Plums are lovely and acidic by nature, which is why you can feed your Syrian hamster a small serving of plums once a week as a treat. However, you need to ensure that you do not overfeed your hamster, as it can be very dangerous for your pet.
Campbell’s dwarf hamsters are much smaller and have a much more delicate digestive system. You should not feed these hamsters acidic or sugar-loaded foods because they are more susceptible to diabetes and obesity. It is best not to feed sweet plums to your Campbell’s dwarf hamster.
The winter white dwarf hamster is also a dwarf hamster that is highly susceptible to diabetes and obesity. You should avoid feeding these dwarf hamsters sugary foods such as plums as they are very harmful.
The Roborovski hamster is very similar to the Syrian hamster. These hamsters are larger, stronger, and have a tougher digestive system. Although these hamsters are prone to diabetes and obesity, they have stronger digestive systems and can occasionally handle more sugary foods than other dwarf hamsters. You can feed your Roborovsky hamster plums only once a week as a treat.
Chinese hamsters are also among the dwarf hamster family. You should avoid giving plums to Chinese dwarf hamsters altogether as they can be very harmful to their health due to plums’ nutritional content.
Can hamsters eat plums? – The benefits
Plums are fleshy, purple, or red fruit that is available seasonally. They have a lemony-tart flavor but are sweet and very beneficial to health. Plums contain dietary fiber, vitamin C, carbohydrates, potassium, and vitamin K.
The dietary fibers in plums are fantastic for the digestive health of hamsters. They help the hamster’s digestive system, relieve constipation, and promote healthy bowel movements by providing fiber.
The vitamin C in plums is important for hamster eye health as well as promoting a healthy coat.
The carbohydrates in plums are fructose, which provides energy for hamsters and as well as prevents anemia.
Potassium is very beneficial to hamsters because it reduces the risk of blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.
Vitamin K in plums is great for bone metabolism and plays a huge role in blood clotting.
What are the health risks for hamsters eating plums?
Plums contain high levels of citric acid and sugar. Feeding your little hamster too many plums can lead to:
- diarrhea,
- obesity
- and diabetes, among other ailments.
Since Chinese dwarf hamsters are much smaller; thus with a weaker digestive system than Syrian and Roborovski hamsters, they are at greater risk to develop such diseases, which is why you should avoid feeding them plums.
Hamsters also have a habit of hoarding food in their cages. If you don’t clean the cage regularly, the leftover plums can rot and cause health problems for your hamster.
Other related questions about feeding plums to hamsters
Can hamsters eat dried plums?
Dried plums are very sugary, sticky, and sweet. While it is best not to feed dried plums to your hamster, you can give Syrian and Roborovski hamsters a small piece of dried plums about once a week if you wish. Remember to provide them with a small amount, as the stickiness of the fruit can cause it to stick to the hamster’s cheek pockets.
As for your dwarf hamsters, you should not feed them dried plums because they are too sugary and sticky and do more harm than good.
Can hamsters eat plum pits?
Don’t feed pits to your hamster. This is because it can be a choking hazard for them. Hamsters do not vomit so that that choking hazards can be a severe problem for them.
Can hamsters eat plum peels/skins?
Hamsters can eat plum peels; just make sure you wash them first. Feed them the same amount of pulp as we recommend.
Can hamsters eat plum juice?
We do not recommend feeding your pet any juice. This is because of the high concentration of sugar in the juice. Juice also contains fewer minerals than fruit. So do not feed your hamster plum juice.
How many plums can you feed your hamster?
For your Syrian and Roborovsky hamsters, a quarter teaspoon of plums once a week is sufficient, as this fruit is very sugary and citrusy for your hamster. However, you should completely avoid feeding plums to your dwarf hamsters, such as Campbell’s dwarf hamsters, winter white rat dwarf hamsters, and Chinese hamsters. These dwarf hamsters are more susceptible to diabetes and obesity.
Can hamsters eat plums? The Conclusion
The best diet to keep your hamster healthy is a healthy balanced diet of special hamster foods and the occasional fruit, nut, grain, seed, and vegetable. Be sure not to overfeed your hamster with plums. Only give plums as a snack every once in a while because some hamsters are more susceptible to obesity and diabetes than others.
