Can Hamsters Eat Strawberries?

One of my favorite parts of having pets is introducing them to new things! Food can be such a fun way to do this, especially with hamsters who benefit from variety in their diet. However, it’s also vital to ensure everything you’re feeding is safe! Can hamsters eat strawberries?

Hamsters can eat strawberries in very small amounts, but they shouldn’t have more than ½-1 teaspoon per week. Dwarf hamsters should have less sugar in their diets, especially Chinese dwarf hamsters due to their increased risk of diabetes.

Can Hamsters Eat Strawberries?

Hamsters can eat strawberries in moderation. An adult hamster can have no more than a teaspoon of strawberry once a week.

Be sure to limit fruit in general–for instance, don’t give your hamster the maximum amount of each fruit weekly, or there’ll be too much sugar in their diet.

Strawberries are good sources of the following nutrients that hamsters need in their diets:

• Fiber
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B9
• Vitamin K
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Antioxidants

However, a hamster eating a healthy diet should be getting all of these nutrients already, and don’t need strawberries to be healthy. Their primary diet should consist of a quality dry food mix and daily vegetables.

If your hamster is still a baby, please wait until they’re fully grown to feed them sugary foods like strawberries.

What About Dwarf Hamsters?

Your dwarf hamster should be fed around half as much strawberry as larger hamster species–or around ½ teaspoon per week.

Chinese dwarf hamsters are at an increased risk of developing diabetes, so it’s best to keep the amount of their sugar in their diet very low.

Dwarf hamsters are also smaller than other hamster species, which is another reason to limit their sugar intake.

If you have questions bout your hamster’s diet, please speak to your veterinarian. They can give you professional, individualized advice, as every hamster is different.

Can Hamsters Eat Every Part of a Strawberry?

Yes! Hamsters can eat strawberry leaves, flesh, and seeds. They’re all perfectly healthy and nutritious, so long as they’re fed in limited quantities. Remember that hamsters are very small!

Hamsters might prefer the fruit itself to the leaves since the fruit is sweet and the leaves can taste a little bitter.

How Many Strawberries Can a Hamster Eat?

Hamsters can eat around a teaspoon of strawberry. Therefore, you’ll need to cut it up into small pieces instead of feeding a whole berry–and definitely don’t feed them multiple strawberries at once!

How to Prepare Strawberries for Your Hamster

Preparing strawberries for your hamster isn’t much different than preparing them for yourself–they just need much smaller portions!

Here’s how to prepare strawberries for your hamster:

• Wash the fruit. You want to remove pesticides and chemicals, as these aren’t healthy for your hamster.
• Chop the strawberry into small pieces. Remember that hamsters have itty-bitty mouths, and also can’t have large portions of strawberries.
• Feed no more than ½-1 teaspoon, depending on your hamster’s species. If this is their first time eating strawberries, start with a very small piece to see if they like it and to ensure it won’t upset their stomach.
• If your hamster doesn’t eat the strawberry, remove it before it rots. It’s natural for hamsters to store their food, but we can’t let them keep rotten fruit in their cage!

Always watch your hamster for signs of stomach upset after they eat a new food. Symptoms to look for include decreased appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, and pica (eating non-food items such as bedding).

See a veterinarian if these symptoms persist for more than 24 hours.

Which Fruits Can’t Hamsters Eat?

Hamsters can eat most fruits without a problem so long as they’re fed in moderation. However, eggplant is toxic to them.

There are also many safe fruits that hamsters can’t eat in their entirety. Seeds may pose a choking risk, or pits may be toxic.

Examples of fruit parts hamsters can’t eat include apple and cherry pits, tomato leaves, and unripened tomatoes.

What Fruits are Safe for Hamsters?

When fed in moderation, hamsters can have most fruits. Aside from strawberries, some great options include raspberry, watermelon, and kiwi.

It’s important for hamsters to have a varied diet, though fruit should only make up a very small percentage. Be sure to also feed them a variety of daily vegetables and a good dry food mixture.

Thank you for reading! If you have feedback on this post, please contact the AZ Animals editorial team.