Can hamsters eat cantaloupe?

Yes, in small amounts

Yes, in small amounts. Melon such as cantaloupe is listed as safe by vets and UK charities, but it is sweet and juicy, so keep it to an occasional small cube.

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 melon 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: 7.9 g / 100 g

How to serve it

Wash the rind before cutting so dirt is not carried onto the flesh
Remove the seeds and rind
Cut a small cube of flesh
Remove any uneaten piece, including from the hoard, within a few hours

Why

Risks. Sugar and water content are the concerns: too much can cause loose droppings and weight gain.

Benefits. Contains beta-carotene and adds variety.

Questions owners ask 2

Can hamsters eat melon seeds?

Remove them. Vets advise taking seeds out of fruit before feeding it to hamsters.

Can hamsters eat honeydew or other melons?

Yes, the same rules apply: a small cube of flesh, no seeds or rind, as an occasional treat.

Cantaloupe: nutrition per 100 g

Water	90.2 g
Energy	34 kcal
Sugars	7.9 g
Fat	0.2 g
Protein	0.8 g
Fibre	0.9 g
Calcium	9 mg
Phosphorus	15 mg
Calcium : phosphorus	0.6 : 1
Sodium	16 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)	169 µg
Vitamin C	36.7 mg

“Melons, cantaloupe, raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 169092). Public domain.

Sources & method 7

The sources below discuss cantaloupe 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.