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Introduction
Unlike other kinds of pets, hamsters may not be a picky eater so choosing and changing diet for them is not a big hassle. However, it’s still necessary for hamster owners to understand their eating habit, preferences and foresee some possible threats relating to their food.
FAQs about Hamster Food Problems
What are the dangers to hamsters caused by bugs in hamster food?
Just like human beings, hamsters are omnivores and they are fond of a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables (except for citrus, high sugar or high water content foods), and meat.
That means both wild hamsters and domestic ones can eat a mixing diet of grasses, grains, seeds, and even insects.
So, if you’re wondering whether it is safe for your hamsters to eat food that was infested with small bugs, don’t worry! Most bugs in hamster food appear to be weevils.
They are apparently harmless and your hamsters will just end up eating them.
The only bad thing is that food containing bugs reveals that it’s not of the best quality or the bugs may be eating the best parts of the food.
Additionally, although bugs cause no danger to your hamster health, they can multiply and over-run your house. Therefore, the best way to keep bugs away is by putting food in the freezer right after you buy it so the bugs will die.
Read More for hamster hideout toys
Can I feed my hamster dry cat food?
To raise a hamster healthily, a nutritionally balanced and hygienic diet is a must.
Therefore, a responsible owner should acknowledge ways to pick up the best food for hamsters.
Some people usually doubt if they can feed their hamsters dry cat food.
In fact, this kind of food contains 8 – 10% moistures, fat, and made by extrusion cooking under high heat and pressure.
Dry cat food may not be the most ideal food for hamsters to eat.
However, if you both have a hamster and a cat, a few pieces of dry cat food as a treat or a supplement of hamsters’ standard diet would be fine.
Indeed, hamsters can even benefit from extra proteins in cat food.
However, in the long run, hamster food is decidedly the best one to feed your hamsters.
What would happen if I left my dwarf hamster alone for a week with plenty of food and water?
There is no doubt that you always want to take care of your hamsters in the best way.
However, there are occasionally some periods of time that you have to absent from home and of course, leave your hamster alone.
This can cause some inconveniences. When it comes to a dwarf hamster, although it is easy to handle, fun to watch pet, its requirements for food and water, a clean cage and place for exercise are of extreme importance.
A dwarf hamster needs a well-balanced diet consisting of nutrients and vitamins which come into the right amount.
In addition, no more than 10% of supplemental food should be provided to your hamster’s total daily diet.
More importantly, vegetables and fruits that are left over within 24 hours should be discarded.
Also, you have to supply filtered, chlorine-free water to your hamsters daily so it won’t get thirsty.
Because of the above, you should not leave your dwarf hamster alone for a week. Instead, ask your neighbors to keep an eye on it at least once a day when you are not home.
Would a hamster drink every drop of water and eat any food in its cage if it was starving?
Supply your hamsters with food and fill the water bottle are daily fundamental tasks to keep them alive and hydrated.
However, the thing is that a hamster often begs for food even when they are not hungry.
This is because, in the wild, they tend to restore food in their cheek pouches and eat later.
The best place for hamsters to hoard its food is hamster cage bedding that brings them a sense of security.
Hamsters are also happy to try new food and eat anything when they are hungry.
Therefore, if you intend to change their diet, just add a small amount and recognize whether your hamsters accept it or it doesn’t cause diarrhea or indigestion.
My hamster escaped from his cage. How can I locate him and draw him out? I left food out to no avail.
Hamsters are very energetic and despite how large their habitat is, they tend to hide. You can call hamsters escapologists who make breakouts as a profession.
It is because they desire a little more freedom and stay calm. Once your hamster escapes from his cage, finding him can be a tricky task that requires your patience and calmness.
If you’re lucky enough, just open the cage door and wait for him back home.
Otherwise, you’ll need to do the following steps. First, remember that hamsters are nocturnal and they probably only get out at night to find food.
Make sure all your doors closed. Then, put sunflower seeds on the floor in each room and sprinkle a little flour or cornstarch around the piles of seeds to follow his way leading to the hiding place.
Once you find his location, create a “bucket trap” with a thick towel on the top topped with some really tasty treats like a layer of peanut butter or apple slices.
Finally, wait for your hamster to jump into the bucket to find food and catch him.
Conclusion
Getting to know hamsters’ diet and eating habits play a crucial role in adopting them.
Thanks to this, you can not only take care of them well, feed them in the right way but also deal with problems like catching a lost hamster.