Hamsters are small rodents that are known for their love of food. While they can eat a variety of different things, some hamster owners may be wondering if millet is a good option for their furry friend.
In this blog post, we will explore whether or not hamsters can eat millet and provide some tips on how to introduce this food to your pet.
Let’s get started!
can hamsters eat millet? Millet is not good food for hamsters to eat. It contains quite the amount of water with hints of sodium and fat which means that their stomachs might get full too quickly or have an adverse effect on other nutrients in some cases due to just one serving size being too much!
A small amount would be okay but if they were feeding themselves than this wouldn’t really work as well because there are so many different ingredients found within these grains – including phosphorus-
something very toxic when ingested at high doses by animals such as certain types of rats/mice who may also develop kidney problems from consuming them over time.
Nutrient in millet
- Monounsaturated 0.8 g
- Potassium (4%) 195 mg
- Niacin (B3) (31%) 4.72 mg
- Polyunsaturated
- Vitamin C (0%) 0 mg
- Calcium (1%) 8 mg
- Thiamine (B1) (37%) 0.42 mg
- Fat 4.2g
- Dietary fiber 8.5 g
- Carbohydrates
- Phosphorus (41%) 285 mg
- Vitamins 72.8 g
- Minerals
- Vitamin B6 (29%) 0.38 mg
- Vitamin K (1%) 0.9 μg
- Iron (23%) 3.0 mg
- Manganese (76%) 1.6 mg
- Pantothenic acid (B5) (17%) 0.85 mg
- Saturated 0.7 g
- Folate (B9) (21%) 85 μg
- Selenium 2.7 µg
- Water 8.7 g
- Zinc (18%) 1.7 mg
- Sodium (0%) 5 mg
- Magnesium (32%) 114 mg
- omega‑6
- 4.2 g
- Riboflavin (B2) (24%) 0.29 mg
What grains are safe for hamsters?
Your hamsters will enjoy munching on nuts as a reward! Shelled nuts can be a fun and educational toy for your hamster since it will have to work hard to get them.
Do keep in mind, though, that nuts contain a large amount of calories and fat, so be careful.
As overfeeding nuts can cause obesity in hamsters, it is recommended that they be fed one a day or once every two or three days.
- Cooked Pasta, dried
- Walnuts (if with shell, drill a hole for a hamster)
- Cooked Rice, dried
- Soybeans
- Peanuts (ideally raw and in shell, hamsters love it as a chew)
- Dry toast
- Popped Quinoa
- Flaxseed
- Pine nuts
- Sesame seeds
- Unflavoured Popcorn
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Bran
HEALTHY SNACKS AND TREATS.
| Food | Syrian | Robo | Winter White | Campbell's | Chinese | Serving Size | Feeding Recommendation |
|---|
| FOOD | Why it should be avoided |
|---|---|
| Fruit seeds/pits | Apple seeds, pear seeds, pits of cherries and apricots and the oils and extracts in grape seeds contain cyanogenic acids that can be lethal if eaten. |
| Onion, garlic, leak, chives | Garlic can cause indigestion and blood disorders. Chemicals in onions, garlic and leek can damage red blood cells resulting in anemia, as well as gastroenteritis. Avoid these foods as an ingredient in treats, foods etc. |
| Human "junk food" | Too high in sugars, unhealthy hydrogenated fats, and salts |
| Raw potatoes | All raw potatoes contain oxalic acid and arsenic that comes from the roots when they grow. These chemicals are toxic to hamsters. |
| Iceberg lettuce | Filled with natural water and can cause liver problems if eaten in excess. Can cause diarrhea. Has little nutritional value. Alternatives include dandelion, greens, romaine lettuce and kale. |
| Peanuts | Too high in fat. Salted peanuts can cause dehydration. One unsalted peanut per week is fine. |
| Chocolate | Chocolate contains Theobromine, dark chocolate contains even more Theobromine and remains in the system for prolonged periods. Prolonged ingestion of Theobromine can cause testicular damage. Contains Caffeine which affects the central nervous system of the animal, increasing arousal and heart rate leading to stress and even death. Chocolate is also extremely toxic for unborn hamsters of pregnant pets because it can pass through the placenta and can even get in breast milk. |
| Pineapple | Too acidic and contains too much sugar. |
| Tomatoes | Tomato leaves are toxic to hamsters. Although a tiny piece of tomato is okay, I wouldn’t recommend it as it is very acidic and can cause an upset stomach and/or diarrhea. |
| Chilli peppers, spices and seasonings | Chilli peppers or anything spicy will cause discomfort hamsters stomach. Very harsh and difficult to digest. |
| Canned or processed foods | Very high in salt and chemicals. |
| Pork products and deli meats | Pork (bacon, ham) not healthy and toxic to your hamster. |
| Almonds | Unroasted bitter almonds contain cyanide – too much can lead to death. Moderately high in fat. |
| Kidney beans (raw and canned) | Very toxic. |
| Jams and jellies | Very high in sugar. Very sticky and can get stuck in their cheek pouches. Full of chemicals. |
| Pickles | High acidic content can cause upset stomach and tooth degradation. |
| Candy | Full of chemicals and sugar. Empty calories. Can lead to diabetes if eaten in excess. |
| Eggplant | Toxic to hamsters and can upset their stomach. |
VEGETABLES
The serving sizes given assume that the item in question is the only item you are feeding. If you wish to feed multiple items within the feeding recommendation time, you must reduce the serving of each item appropriately. For example, if you were to feed broccoli and bell peppers, you would not feed 1 teaspoon of each (total 2 tsp). You would feed 1/2 tsp broccoli and 1/2 tsp pepper (total 1 tsp).
Variety is ideal. Feeding multiple vegetables is highly preferable to feeding the same one day after day. All vegetables should be fresh, ripe, and in good condition
| Food | Syrian | Robo | Winter White | Campbell's | Chinese | Serving Size | Feeding Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1-2 days |
| Carrots | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Pumpkin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1-2 days |
| Bok Choy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2-1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Squash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2-1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Zucchini | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1-2 |
| Asparagus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2-1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Brussels sprouts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Celery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | Once per week |
| Sweet Potatoes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2-1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| peas(split) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Cauliflower | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2-1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Endive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Sweetcorn | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 |
| Bell Pepper (any color) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Parsnips | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1-2 days |
| Cucumber | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | Once per week |
| peas(sugar snap/ snow) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Turnip | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Potatoes (cooked) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2-1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Radicchio | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 - 1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Tomato | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | Once per week |
| Green beans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2-1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Bean sprouts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2-1 teaspoon | Every 1 - 2 days |
fruits
All fruits should be fresh, ripe, and in good condition.
| Food | Syrian | Robo | Winter White | Campbell's | Chinese | Serving Size | Feeding Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| blueberries | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1- 3 berries | 1-2 times per week |
| blackberries | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 berry | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Kiwi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 - teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| Grapes (No seeds) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 small grape | 1-2 times per week |
| cherries (No pits) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 cherry | 1-2 times per week |
| pears | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| cantaloupe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| Bananas | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| Mango | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| plums (No pits) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| Raspberries | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 raspberry | 1-2 times per week |
| coconut | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| Honeydew | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| Watermelon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| Apricot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| Apples No seeds) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| lychee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| papaya | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| strawberries | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| pineapple | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
| peaches(no pits) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times per week |
MEATS AND ANIMAL PROTEIN
| Food | Syrian | Robo | Winter White | Campbell's | Chinese | Serving Size | Feeding Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | Every 1-2 a week |
| Cricket (pet shop) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 insect | Every 1 - 2 days |
| Turkey | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | Every 1-2 a week |
| Grasshoppers (pet shop) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times a week |
| Chicken | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times a week |
| Mealworms (pet shop) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2-5 insects | Every 1 - 2 days |
| shrimp | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times a week |
| Fish (fresh, not canned) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times a week |
| Egg white (boiled / scrambled) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/2 teaspoon | 1-2 times a week |
| Pork (lean, uncured cuts only) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1/4 teaspoon | 1-2 times a week |
Conclusion: can hamsters eat millet?
Hamsters should not eat millet because it is bad for their health. Millets are high in water, sodium, and some fat- which means it will be hard on their systems if they down one or two doses every day!
There are many types out there with varying levels that you can find at your nearest grocery store – just make sure these have been proven safe by looking up labels like “garden center” first before feeding them to your furry friend.
