Can Hamsters Eat Grapes

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can hamsters eat grapes

If you’re the owner of a pet hamster, you might be concerned about diversifying their diet, in which case you might ask yourself – can hamsters eat grapes? The short answer is yes, they can! In fact, there is no reason why your little buddy should not eat delicious grapes. Hamsters can generally eat different types of fruit, as well, not only vegetables. The only kinds of fruit you will want to avoid are citrus fruit, because of their high acidity. That means you should skip the lemons, oranges, grapefruit, etc.

Related Read : The Best Hamster Cages

can hamsters eat grapes

Feeding Grapes To Your Pet Hamster

Although, there is no problem with giving your hamster grapes to eat, you must still be careful about the manner you administer it. You can’t just give them the whole grapes and expect them to be able to consume them. Instead, make sure to remove the skin. Then take the time to slice each grape into pieces that are easier for the hamster to ingest. Cutting them into quarters is best, but in half is also good.

Another problem that will arise is represented by the seeds in the grapes. You need to either pay careful attention and remove them or, better yet, buy seedless grapes especially for your hamster to consume. This way, you can have peace of mind that the seeds will not become a choking hazard for your pet.

Can Hamsters Eat Grapes? Some Of Them Can’t!

While there is no problem with grapes as a food group for hamsters, in general, they may be problematic for your particular hamster to eat. Most hamsters won’t have any issues with them, but some may display discomfort while or after eating them. Before attempting to introduce grapes into your pet hamster’s diet, you should take a smaller piece and feed it to them, in order to test whether or not they are able to eat it and if they like it. If everything goes well, there is no reason why you shouldn’t continue to feed your hamster grapes. If, however, it becomes sick or shows signs of disinterest or discomfort, it is best not to insist.

Do Hamsters Like Grapes?

As mentioned earlier, most hamsters do, but you have to be aware that not all of them will. It is entirely possible for them to be able to eat them and for them not to become ill, but they simply might not like them! Just like people have foods they like and dislike, so do hamsters. This is another good reason why you should have a taste test before you start feeding grapes to your pet hamster on a regular basis.

Introducing Grapes Into Your Hamster’s Diet

After you’ve done the taste test, it’s fine to continue to feed your hamster grapes, but you still have to be careful! Especially in the beginning, only give it small pieces and just a few of them. This is the same rule with every new kind of fruit you are attempting to add into your pet’s diet. Why? Because a large amount of fruit may cause diarrhea, which will be unpleasant both for the hamster and for you.

In order to prevent this from happening, you should add more pieces of fruit (grapes, in this case) gradually, over a longer period of time. Start out with just one small piece a week (or a maximum of two) for a few weeks, after which you can start increasing the amount little by little. This way, your hamster’s digestive system gets used to the novelty of grapes and it won’t make it sick.

Can Grapes Be Dangerous For Hamsters?

Grapes are not harmful to hamsters, but there are things you need to be mindful of. As mentioned in the beginning, the seeds are a choking hazard, so they need to be dealt with before you give any piece of grape to your hamster. A larger amount of grapes than the hamster can handle will also make it ill. Grapes are quite large, so one single grape is more than enough for a small hamster, especially if they are just starting out. Grapes are also known to be toxic for dogs, for example, although it is not known why. However, no such effects have been observed in hamsters.

Do Hamsters Have A Preference For Green Grapes Or Red Ones?

There is no evidence to suggest that you should only feed your hamster one type of grapes over the other. Both kinds are entirely safe, as long as you respect the quantities and remove the seeds. There is no reason to avoid or prefer either type. Of course, your hamster might theoretically have a preference for one or the other, they may like both or they may refuse to eat any, at all. There is no universal reaction to grapes and it is all down to each hamster’s personal preferences.

Related Articles:

Can Hamsters Eat Watermelon

Can Hamsters Eat Celery

References:

http://thehamsterhouse.com/can-hamsters-eat-grapes/

http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/hamster_fruit_vegetables.asp#.VbeWSPmqqko

https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/hamsters/hamster_care/feeding

http://www.hamster-club.com/article.asp?ID=83

http://www.hammysworld.com/index.php?p=grapes

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