3D illustration: a hamster next to a dish of watermelon
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Hamster · Fruit

Can hamsters eat watermelon?

Yes, in small amounts

Yes, in small amounts. Seedless watermelon flesh is safe as an occasional treat, but it is mostly water and sugar, so large pieces can cause loose droppings.

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 watermelon 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
6.2 g / 100 g

How to serve it

  1. Wash the outside before cutting
  2. Remove all seeds
  3. Offer the red flesh only, not the rind
  4. Remove any uneaten piece, including from the hoard, within a few hours

Why

Risks. Watery, sugary fruit in excess can cause diarrhoea, which can quickly become serious in a small hamster. Seeds should be removed.

Benefits. Refreshing, but it adds little nutrition because it is mostly water.

Questions owners ask 2

Can hamsters eat watermelon rind?

It is best not to. The rind is tough, may carry residues on the outside and offers little benefit.

Can watermelon keep my hamster hydrated?

Fruit is not a substitute for water. Your hamster should always have fresh water in a clean bottle or bowl, changed daily.

Watermelon: nutrition per 100 g
Water91.5 g
Energy30 kcal
Sugars6.2 g
Fat0.2 g
Protein0.6 g
Fibre0.4 g
Calcium7 mg
Phosphorus11 mg
Calcium : phosphorus0.64 : 1
Sodium1 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)28 µg
Vitamin C8.1 mg

“Watermelon, raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 167765). Public domain.

Sources & method 8

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

  1. Hamsters as pets — PDSA
  2. Can Hamsters Eat Broccoli & What to Feed Your Hamster — Northgate Veterinary Clinic, Seattle
  3. Hamster Nutrition — Dogwood Animal Hospital, Lawrenceville, Georgia
  4. Rodents: Feeding — VCA Animal Hospitals (Gregory Rich, DVM; Laurie Hess, DVM; Rick Axelson, DVM)
  5. Hamster Care Sheet — UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine and Surgery Service (PDF hosted by Wise Owl Animal Hospital)
  6. Are Dwarf Hamsters Prone to Diabetes? Rodent Health Facts — ExoCare Veterinary Medical Centre (medically reviewed by Dr Asma Fariha)
  7. 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
  8. 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)

Other pets

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

More fruit

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All 68 foods for hamsters →