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Hamster · Fruit

Can hamsters eat apples?

Yes, in small amounts

Yes, in small amounts. Apple flesh is a good occasional treat, but always remove the seeds and core, which contain compounds that release cyanide, and keep portions tiny because of the sugar.

Portion
A piece about 1 cm (⅜ in) across, no bigger than your hamster's ear, for a Syrian; about 5 mm (¼ in) for a dwarf.
How often
Once a week (twice at most) for a Syrian; no more than once every two weeks for a dwarf.
Dwarf hamsters
Campbell's, Winter White, their hybrids and Chinese hamsters are prone to diabetes. Give apple only rarely, as a 5 mm (¼ in) taste no more than once every two weeks, or skip fruit and use a low-sugar vegetable such as cucumber as a treat. Roborovskis are less studied, but they are tiny, so keep their portions just as small.
Sugar
10.4 g / 100 g

How to serve it

  1. Wash well
  2. Remove all seeds, the core and the stalk
  3. Cut a small piece; washed skin can stay on
  4. Remove any uneaten piece, including from the hoard, within a few hours

Why

Risks. Apple seeds, stems and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides, which release cyanide when chewed. The flesh is sugary, so too much can cause soft droppings and weight gain.

Benefits. Adds variety, moisture and a little fibre, and most hamsters enjoy it, which makes it useful for hand-taming.

Questions owners ask 3

Can hamsters eat apple seeds?

No. Apple seeds contain compounds that can release cyanide, so remove every seed and the core before feeding. If your hamster has eaten seeds, call your vet for advice.

Can hamsters eat apple skin?

Yes. Washed skin is fine on a small piece of apple.

Can hamsters have dried apple or apple sauce?

It is best not to. Drying concentrates the sugar, and vets advise avoiding dried fruit and sugary foods for hamsters. Apple sauce often has added sugar too.

Apples: nutrition per 100 g
Water85.6 g
Energy52 kcal
Sugars10.4 g
Fat0.2 g
Protein0.3 g
Fibre2.4 g
Calcium6 mg
Phosphorus11 mg
Calcium : phosphorus0.55 : 1
Sodium1 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)3 µg
Vitamin C4.6 mg

“Apples, raw, with skin (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 171688). Public domain.

Sources & method 13

The sources below discuss apples for hamsters (or for pet rodents generally). Confidence: high. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.

  1. What to feed hamsters — RSPCA
  2. What to feed your hamster - safe foods, fruit, veg and a complete feeding guide — Woodgreen Pets Charity
  3. Hamsters as pets — PDSA
  4. Dwarf Hamster Care Sheet — PetMD (written by Maria Zayas, DVM; reviewed by Melissa Witherell, DVM)
  5. What Can Hamsters Eat? — PetMD (written by Angelina Childree, LVT; reviewed by Melissa Witherell, DVM)
  6. Can Hamsters Eat Broccoli & What to Feed Your Hamster — Northgate Veterinary Clinic, Seattle
  7. Apple (toxic and non-toxic plants list) — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  8. Hamster care — Blue Cross
  9. Are Dwarf Hamsters Prone to Diabetes? Rodent Health Facts — ExoCare Veterinary Medical Centre (medically reviewed by Dr Asma Fariha)
  10. The Chinese hamster as a model for the study of diabetes mellitus (Gerritsen GC, Diabetes 1982;31 Suppl 1:14-23) — Diabetes (American Diabetes Association) - PubMed record
  11. Fine structural studies of the islets of Langerhans in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) (Voss KM, Herberg L, Kern HF, Cell Tissue Res 1978) — Cell and Tissue Research (Springer)
  12. Providing a Home for a Hamster — Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version)
  13. Owning a Pet Hamster — VCA Animal Hospitals (Gregory Rich, DVM; Laurie Hess, DVM; Rick Axelson, DVM)

Other pets

Can budgies eat apples?Small amountsCan cockatiels eat apples?Small amounts

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All 68 foods for hamsters →