What can hamsters eat?

Pet hamsters do best on a complete pellet with a small daily portion of fresh food. Below, 68 common foods are rated for hamsters, with portions for Syrian hamsters and stricter notes for diabetes-prone dwarf species.

10Yes
37Small amounts
10Better not
11Never

Never feed your hamster

Diet basics

Base the diet on a hamster pellet. Every piece is the same, so your hamster can’t pick out the sugary bits and leave the fibre, as it can with a muesli-style mix.
Add a small daily portion of vegetables and herbs: about one or two teaspoons in total. Keep fruit to an occasional treat.
Always provide clean, fresh water, ideally from a bottle with a metal spout.
Scatter pellets around the enclosure or bury them in deep bedding, so your hamster can forage and dig as it would naturally.
Hamsters hoard food in their nest. Remove uneaten fresh food every day so nothing spoils in the stash.
Dwarf hamsters (Campbell’s, Winter White and their hybrids) are prone to diabetes, so keep sugary fruit and treats especially small.
Occasional protein treats such as a little boiled egg or a few mealworms are fine.