Yes! Hamsters can eat Blueberries. In fact, feeding blueberries to your hamster is a good thing, but one thing one must remember that never try to include blueberries as a daily meal. Therefore, giving blueberries every twice a week is a good way of feeding them.
One must remember the diet index for the hamster. All hamsters are able to eat blueberries as it is a good source of vitamins and minerals which are the sure requirements for their diet.
Are Blueberries Safe for Hamsters?
When you love someone, you want to share the good things in life with them. This holds true regardless of species.
It is just a natural impulse to want to offer our pets the foods we like and see what they do with them. But before you act on that impulse, it is important to first answer the question “Can hamsters eat blueberries safely?”
The short answer to that question is yes, but there are also some caveats to keep in mind. Blueberries are perennial flowering plants bearing blue or purple berries as fruits. Native to North America, this fruit is pretty safe for hamsters.
The only issue is that like all good things, it should be eaten in moderation. The natural fruit sugars in blueberries may be too much for your hammy if eaten excessively.
Can Blueberries Be Bad for Hamsters?
For people, eating a handful of beautiful blueberries can be quite a treat. However, if you offer your hamster a palm-sized portion, it could lead to adverse effects.
Any type of treat, including blueberries, should never exceed more than 20% of your pet’s total daily diet. This roughly equates to one teaspoon of blueberries per day for one hamster. For dwarf hamsters, the amount is even less.
While blueberries are low in sugar and calories, they can quickly make your hamster pack on the pounds. Hamsters are easily prone to obesity, and they’ll probably gobble up every sweet morsel you give to them.
When it comes to proper portion control, hamsters are completely clueless. They will eat and eat and eat to their little heart’s content. This means that a large helping of blueberries can quickly result in one plump little rodent.
What are the benefits of your hamsters eating blueberries?
Blueberries are delicious, small round fruits that are a favorite amongst both humans as well as their little hamster friends! Blueberries are rich in antioxidants as well as fibers, Vitamins, and manganese.
Antioxidants help in removing the free radicles released in the body. Subsequently, this decreases the number of toxins in the hamsters’ body and makes them stronger and healthier.
The fibers contained in blueberries help in improving your hamsters’ digestive health and keep your hamsters from getting constipated. It promotes a healthy gut and bowel movements in your hamster.
Vitamin C contained in blueberries helps in boosting the immunity of your hamsters’ health, thus making them healthier and able to ward off diseases and germs. The vitamin C also helps in promoting healthy tissues in the hamster.
Manganese is another compound which is found in blueberries. When it comes to your hamsters’ health, manganese contained in the blueberries helps to manage proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates healthily. It also promotes bone health as well as reduces the risk of certain diseases in the little hamsters’ body.
How Many Blueberries Can My Hamster Eat?
Remember that a big, Syrian hamster requires about a tablespoon of food per day. Blueberries and other snacks should approximate 15% of the amount of food your furry friend receives each day.
In the case of blueberries, this translates into two medium blueberries for a Syrian hamster and half a medium blueberry for a Dwarf hamster, once or twice per week.
When you first introduce blueberries to your hamster, give him half at first. Notice if there are any side effects, particularly GI distress. If not, it’s safe to assume your hamster tolerates blueberries and won’t react badly if you offer more.
How Often Can A Hamster Eat Blueberries?
Here’s the tricky part (well, a little tricky, anyway): Your hamster can have a teeny, tiny bit of fruit once a day, but no more than that. So don’t give your pet a blueberry if you’re planning to give them some other kind of fruit like an apple or grape unless you provide an even tinier amount of each one.
There’s a little more to consider the first time you give your hamster blueberry:
- If you’ve had your hamster for a while and they’re already accustomed to fruits and vegetables, it’s fine to give them one blueberry per day. When offering other fruit, make sure you give them a tiny blueberry or half a larger one, so they don’t eat too much sugar at once.
- If you just brought your hamster home and you’re not sure whether they’ve had fresh food in the past, offer a tiny amount of fresh fruit or vegetable once every other day for the first week and gradually increase the amount from there. Remember to watch for diarrhea – it’s a sign that you’re transitioning to fresh food too quickly.
Can Hamsters Eat Blueberry Muffins?
Blueberry muffins taste great to humans, but they are loaded with simple carbs that can cause various health issues for your pet.
So, if you are tempted to give it to your hamster, don’t do it.
Similarly, don’t give your hamster blueberry jams, pies, and other products that contain blueberries – they are loaded with sugars (especially commercial products) and can cause various health issues to the hamsters.
