All hamsters love to eat! That’s why we’ve put together the complete dwarf hamster feeding guide to help you provide the nutrition your pet needs. We’ll go through some of the best dwarf hamster foods, healthy treats as well as the foods you should avoid. A balanced diet will certainly keep your small friend happy and healthy.
Choosing The Best Hamster Foods
A good dwarf hamster food mix is an essential part of hamster care and it’s important to find a reliable brand that provides a healthy blend of foods. We’ll cover the best dwarf hamster food mixes later in this article.
Most foods on the market are formulated for a Syrian hamster. Try and find a product that has been created with dwarf hamsters at mind. A dwarf hamster mix will usually be healthier and less sugary than your standard Syrian mix.
You’re also going to want to provide your hamster with treats, fresh fruit and other hamster-safe foods (maybe even insects). This keeps meal time interesting and creates a balanced diet for your pet.
How Often Should I Feed My Dwarf Hamster?
The bottom line is that hamsters need fresh food every single day. One feeding per day will be absolutely perfect to keep your pet hamster sustained.
When Should I Feed My Dwarf Hamster?
There are two sides to the argument on this one. Some people prefer to feed their hamster in the morning, while others prefer the evening. Some hamster owners claim that it’s best to feed in the evening as hamsters are nocturnal and that’s when they’re active.
The truth is, dwarf hamsters are active during the day, waking up every few hours for a stretch, drink and a bite to eat. In the wild, hamsters will forage for food during the night and wake up throughout the day to enjoy their findings. Morning feeds or evening feeds are perfectly fine, just keep each feed around 24 hours apart.
How Much Should I Feed My Dwarf Hamster?
A tablespoon per hamster per day is the rule of thumb when it comes to feeding your dwarf hamster. This should of course be supplemented with the odd treat and piece of fruit. This rule is also the same for Syrians, dwarf hamsters usually have a faster metabolism which allows them to match a Syrian’s eating habits.
The daily intake may fluctuate. Just cater it to your hamster’s specific needs. One spoon of food mix per day along with a couple of treats will provide the perfect balanced diet.
Toxic And Unhealthy Dwarf Hamster Foods
Not all food should be consumed by hamsters. The obvious is human junk food such as chips, chocolate and anything unnatural. There are some less obvious toxic hamster foods though. Never feed your dwarf hamster avocado! Avocados may seem like your average healthy fruit but they are actually poisonous to hamsters.
Another example of toxic food is almonds. Avoid them at all costs! Not to worry though, most foods are fine and there are plenty of natural foods your dwarf hamster can enjoy.
Here’s a list of toxic and unhealthy hamster foods:
- Almonds
- Avocado
- Apple seeds
- Chocolate
- Watermelon
- Jam
- Onions
- Leeks
- Garlic
- Junk foods
- Rhubarb
- Pork
The Best Dwarf Hamster Food Mix
Below we’ll detail some of the best dwarf hamster foods for everyday feeding. These food mixes are perfect for feeding Robos, Chinese and Russian hamsters. A good hamster food mix will combine all the daily nutrients a hamster needs including important vitamins, plenty of protein and much needed energy.
Kaytee Fiesta Hamster Food Review
Click here to see the latest price.
Kaytee have managed to produce a healthy food mix that’s perfect for both dwarf hamsters and the larger Syrian hamster! This food mix incorporates natural veggies and fruits to add some variety and improve the nutrient content of the mix. It’s a great little food mix that should keep your hamsters very happy indeed!
The only real problem with this food mix is that some hamsters will rush to pick out the more fatty nuts first, ignoring the healthier foods in their bowl. As long as your dwarf hamster does come back and finish off the food bowl this shouldn’t become a problem.
Key Benefits:
- Ideal for all types of hamsters (and gerbils)
- Naturally preserved and plenty of natural fruits and veggies for your hamster to enjoy
- Food shapes and textures support natural dental care
- Rich in antioxidants for immune system support
Tiny Friends Farm Hazel Hamster Mix
Click here to see the latest price.
The Tiny Friends food mix is perfect for a picky dwarf hamster. It’s a great tasting mix of seeds, mealworms and other healthy treats. Having mealworms incorporated into the food mix really packs some extra protein and it’s the perfect way to get a dwarf hamster eating healthy without any fuss – all hammies love their mealworms!
Lots of dwarf hamster owners try this food mix once and don’t look back, you can tell when your pet starts loving meal time. This is probably the best food mix when feeding multiple breeds of hamster.
Key Benefits:
- A great tasting food mix
- The best food mix for fussy hamsters
- Nutritionally balanced
- Suitable for all hamster breeds
- Added vitamins and includes mealworms
- Promotes natural foraging
Kaytee Forti Diet Pro Health Hamster Food
Click here to see the latest price.
If health is a big concern, this is the dwarf hamster food mix for you. The Kaytee Diet Pro has incredible reviews from hamster owners and it’s easy to see why. This hamster food mix is packed full with the nutrients your dwarf hamster needs to thrive in captivity.
The only real complaint about this food is that there are too many sunflower seeds in some packets. As long as you monitor your pet’s seed intake, there shouldn’t be any real problems. This is another food mix that can be used for gerbils, as well as hamsters.
Key Benefits:
- Larger pieces support natural dental care
- Contains key omega-3 oils
- Supports immune health
- Good value for money
- Contains probiotics
The three dwarf hamster foods above are perfect for even the fussiest of animals! Don’t be afraid to experiment with a few different food mixes to discover your hamster’s favourite foods and treats. These are probably the best hamster foods on the market so I’m sure your pet will love at least one of them.
The Best Dwarf Hamster Treats
Providing treats for your dwarf hamster is one of the best parts of hamster keeping! Hammies love their treats and can get pretty excited when something sweet is heading their way.
The key is to feed treats sparingly and use them as rewards when handling your pet. Not all treats have to be unhealthy and listed below are some of the best hamster treats money can buy. We’ve covered package treats as well as more natural alternatives.
Tiny Friends Farm Lovelies
Tiny Friends Farm is a great brand for hamster treats and their ‘lovelies’ are a great option. As you can see from the reviews, all kinds of hamsters love these treats! There aren’t too many ingredients which makes the nutritional info much easier to understand. Tiny Friends have ensured these treats are perfectly safe for both dwarf and Syrian hamsters.
Kaytee Healthy Bits
Kaytee is another reputable pet brand and their ‘Healthy Bits’ treat packet doesn’t disappoint. This is a largely healthy treat but it’s produced with honey which is why hamsters love it! They’re nicely held together (so won’t fall apart all over your floor) and the treats are small enough to be edible for all species. This is your best healthy hamster treat option.
Hamsters Are Nuts For Nuts!
Hamsters love eating different types of nuts. It’s a natural food that provides much needed energy and protein for your pet. I’ve found monkey nuts are a favourite for many of my hamsters and it’s great fun watching a hamster attempt to break through the hard shell.
Try out some different nuts (list below) and see what your pets love best. Then you can use this as a treat to reward good behaviour.
Other Options
Dwarf hamsters love their natural foods which is why sweet fruits are perfect for treat time. You can also provide safe insects, seeds and any other foods your hamster loves to eat!
The Best Fruit and Veg To Feed A Dwarf Hamster
Hamster’s love a fresh treat from time to time. Fruit and veg are part of a balanced diet and should always be provided. Natural foods like seeds and nuts are also very healthy and good food mixes will incorporate these into their recipe.
List of the best fruits for a dwarf hamster:
- Apple (no seeds)
- Banana
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Cantaloupe
- Coconut
- Cherry
- Grapes (seedless)
- Guava
- Honeydew
- Lychee
- Mango
- Melon
- Papaya
- Peach
- Pear
- Plum
- Raspberry
- Strawberry
List of the best grains, seeds and nuts for a dwarf hamster:
- Barley
- Cashew
- Flaxseed
- Lentils
- Millet
- Oats
- Peanut
- Popcorn (unsalted)
- Pumpkin seed
- Sesame seed
- Soybeans
- Squash seeds
- Sunflower seed
- Walnut
List of the best vegetables for a dwarf hamster:
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Bean sprouts
- Bell pepper
- Broccoli
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Choy sum
- Clover
- Cooked potato
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Green bean
- Kale
- Okra (a.k.a ladies’ fingers)
- Parsnips
- Peas
- Spinach
- Sweet potato
- Turnip
- Watercress
- Wheatgrass
Other hamster snack ideas:
- Brown rice
- Brown pasta
- Egg
- Plain tofu
Do Hamsters Eat Insects?
Yes! Dwarf hamsters (and Syrians) love insects. This is one of their main food sources in the wild and it’s packed with protein and energy. Some owners don’t like keeping creepy crawlies at their home and it’s definitely not an absolute essential.
That being said, insects are definitely worth considering. Your hamster will love them and it provides the nutrients you can’t get from a standard food mix.
Insects Hamsters Can Eat:
- Mealworms
- Wax worms
- Hissing Cockroaches (Syrians only)
- Crickets
- Grasshoppers
Should I Use A Food Bowl?
Yes! Food bowls are the best way to feed your dwarf hamster as they keep leftover food clean while providing a designated area for feeding. Hamsters will become accustomed to checking their food bowl each morning/evening and will likely come to greet you as you refill it.
Hamsters like to fill their cheek pouches with food and build secret food stores close to their bed. This is to keep their food safe and hidden from other animals who may steal it. You may even find dwarf hamsters hiding food from each other when kept in the same cage!
It’s best to go for a ceramic food bowl as these are weighted and less likely to topple over during an excited hamster’s feeding time. Click here for an example of a good food bowl.
Creating A Balanced Diet
The best thing you can do to keep your dwarf hamster healthy is provide a balanced diet. Use a mixture of the food suggestions listed above to create a nutrient-rich diet that’s packed with energy.
You’ll want to choose a good food mix as the backbone of your hamster’s diet and then add treats, fresh fruits and insects on top of this. One tablespoon of food mix coupled with the odd piece of fruit and a couple of treats will be perfect.
Mix it up! Keep food time interesting for your pet by providing different types of fruit veg and nuts on a regular basis. It’s always fun watching a hamster chow down on its favorite foods. Also, don’t be scared to reduce portion sizes if your hamster is on the larger size, or increase portions to fatten him up!
Avoiding Dwarf Hamster Diabetes
Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes. Their small bodies struggle to cope with high sugar levels which is why they’re so vulnerable. The main cause of diabetes is poor feeding habits and high-sugar treats that are provided by the owner.
You can easily avoid this problem by simply proving a healthy, balanced diet and avoiding too many high-sugar foods. Go easy on the treats (and choose low-sugar treats) to stay on the safe side.
And there you have it! Hopefully you now have all the info you need to create a healthy diet for a dwarf hamster. We’ve covered some of the best dwarf hamster food mixes, treats, fruits etc. as well as how much to feed you your hamster on a daily basis. Now get out there and grab some healthy food!