Can Hamsters Consume Peanuts? All You Need to Know!

hamster, rodent, animal

The omnivore Hamsters can eat any food. They will forage fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and insects in the wild. You can feed your hamster high-quality pellet food. However, you can also provide hay, fruits, and vegetables at home.

Even small treats such as mealworms or boiled eggs can be fed to your hamster. Peanuts are safe for your hamster and, when used in moderation, can be healthy for your rodent. Peanuts should not be salted, flavored, or boiled, but can be cooked or raw, and even given in their shells. Peanuts can be a good addition to the diet of your hamster, but they shouldn’t be the only food you feed them.

Typical Hamster Diet

hamster, gold, animal

Hamsters are rodents originating mainly from Syria, but also from Greece and Romania, Belgium, northern China, and Belgium. They prefer warm climates, particularly dunes and areas near the edge of desserts. They will eat all fruits and vegetables they can find in the wild. They are omnivores and will eat any insects they find.

Hamsters can be fed an omnivore diet as pets. A diet containing approximately 16% protein, 5% fat, and carbohydrates is recommended. A hamster pellet will provide most of its nutritional requirements. You want to make sure that the pellet is high quality and contains good quality ingredients.

Peanuts shouldn’t be your rodent’s primary food source, but they can be safely and healthily added to your pet’s diet or given as an occasional treat.

Peanuts are rich in vitamin E, vitamin B, and niacin. This doesn’t mean you should give your hamster peanuts every single day. It is important to keep track of how many peanuts you give and the preparation of each peanut.

Can Salt Kill Hamsters?

Your hamster should not be fed salted peanuts. Salt is harmful to hamsters and should be avoided in any form. Salt can increase the risk of heart disease and vascular problems, and may even reduce your hamster’s lifespan by as much as 30%.

Salt can dehydrate your hamster and increase their thirst for water in the short term.

How many peanuts can you feed your hamster?

But, even though salted peanuts can be harmful to your hamster’s health, plain peanuts will not. Although they have high-fat content, too many peanuts can lead to being overweight in your hamster. A peanut can be fed once or twice per week. However, you shouldn’t feed it more than that.

Peanut butter is safe to give your hammies, at least in certain forms. Peanut butter should be unprocessed, pure, and not salted. You can only feed peanut butter to these animals once per week. You should not feed your pet more than that or more often.

shallow focus photo of peanuts on blue textile

Are Hamsters attracted to Nuts?

In the wild, hamsters would eat nuts or seeds. They will eat a variety of nuts and seeds, including peanuts when they are available. Every hamster is unique and will eat different types of nuts. However, they all love peanuts and the taste of them.

Alternatives to Peanuts

You can feed your hamster one peanut or less once or twice per week. This should not be more than 10% of your hammies’ diet. Their diet will include 90% pellets and 10% of other foods. You can also give your hamster the following treats:

Vegetables

Green vegetables can be a great option for Hamsters. They love broccoli and will eat romaine lettuce. However, they should be avoided Iceberg lettuce due to their high water content. You can also give carrot tops and cabbage.

Vegetable and Crops Beside Spilled Basket

Fruit

You can also feed some fruit to your hamster, but only in moderation. The fruit has a high natural sugar level that can lead to obesity. When feeding apples, make sure to only eat the flesh and take out the skin and pips. Instead of giving citrus fruits, choose pears or grapes.

Can Your Hamster Eat Raisins?

Raisins can be described as a dried grape form. Raisins are a popular food, and in some places, they can be made into alcohol. These sweet little treats are convenient and small, so hamsters love the taste and smell of them. Raisins are safe to give to your hamsters. However, due to their high sugar content, you shouldn’t feed them to dwarf hamsters. You should limit the number of raisins you feed your hammer to one per day, though it is best to have less.

Can Hamsters Eat Bananas?

Bananas, another naturally sweet fruit, are safe for hamsters if they are consumed in moderation. A quarter teaspoon of the yellow fruit can be fed to your hamster once or twice per week.

Last Thoughts

A diet of 90% high-quality food pellets should be provided to hamsters. You can add 10% more ingredients, such as hay or high-protein foods like mealworms and boiled eggs, or a mixture of fruits and vegetables. Unflavored and unsalted peanuts are a delicious and healthy addition to their diet. One peanut can be fed once or twice per week. Or, you can give the peanut equivalent of peanut butter.

Can hamsters eat raw peanuts?

Yes, hamsters can eat peanuts. It is safe for them. They must, however, be unsalted peanuts. They can be cooked or not, and they can be presented with or without the shell.

What cannot hamsters consume? 

Foods You Should Not Feed Hamsters Apple seeds. Raw beans. The potatoes are raw. Almonds. Citrus fruit. Garlic. Onions. Rhubarb leaves or raw rhubarb.

What is harmful to hamsters?

Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate: Contains theobromine and is hazardous in big doses, which is simple to accomplish with the little, sweet-toothed hamster. Garlic: In modest doses, it might induce indigestion and blood issues. Uncooked kidney beans: These are poisonous to hamsters; do not feed them! 

Can hamsters eat eggs?

Hamsters are omnivores in the wild, meaning they consume both meat and fruits, and vegetables. You’ll need to feed your hamster some protein. Give him a slice of hard-boiled egg, a teaspoon of cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, or a sliver of cooked chicken twice a week.

What do hamsters prefer to play with? 

Because hamsters enjoy chewing on objects, it’s always a good idea to supply a non-toxic chew toy. Wooden toys are a fantastic alternative if the wood is pesticide/chemical free (not pressure-treated or painted). Avoid wood from cedar or evergreen trees because their fragrant oils might cause respiratory discomfort. 

What human food can hamsters consume?

What Human Foods Can Hamsters Consume? Breakfast cereals or grains that are sugar-free. Greens. Seeds. Carrots. Apples. Raisins. Peas. Pepper. 

What is a hamster’s favorite snack? 

Hamsters appreciate lush greens like dandelions and clover, as well as fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, carrots, and cabbage.

Can a hamster eat spaghetti?

Some meals are extremely hazardous to your pet’s health. Chips. Chocolate (unless particularly for hamsters) (unless specifically for hamsters) Biscuits.

What nuts can I give my hamster?

Depending on your hamster’s strength, they may not be able to crack it open, so give them a half-opened walnut shell as a treat. Peanuts, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, and pistachios are some of the other nuts that hamsters may consume.