The Russian hamster has gained popularity as a pet due to its beautiful appearance and ease of care. In the wild, it hails from the Russian steppe, so it prefers cool places to live. Its life expectancy is 2 years, so during this type it requires adequate nutrition.
What do Russian hamsters eat? On our site we know that food should be adapted according to the stage of its life, so you need to know what to give your Russian hamster at each age. Read on to find out!
Russian Hamster Characteristics
The Russian hamster reaches a maximum of 11 centimeters in length and weighs between 35 and 50 grams It has a round body and a chubby face nice and pretty. The colors of their fur are varied, although they are usually recognized by a black or grayish line in a dark tone on their back.
This species of hamster makes an excellent pet thanks to its docile personality However, this may change if you adopt one of each sex. The Russian hamster is more active at night and requires adequate space to live, as well as hygiene care to maintain its good he alth.
On the other hand, the feeding of the Russian hamster responds to the needs of each stage. Do you know what Russian hamsters eat? Coming up next, we tell you!
Russian Hamster Feeding
In the wild, the Russian hamster is an omnivorous mammal, meaning that it consumes both plant-based foods and animal protein.
Russian Hamster Seeds
Its diet is based mainly on seeds, such as:
- Barley.
- Sunflower.
- Sorghum.
- Safflower.
- Corn.
Insects for Russian Hamster
These seeds can be found in the grasslands and steppes that it inhabits, where they grow naturally. In addition, they supplement their diet with the consumption of animal protein, from insects they hunt, such as:
- Crickets
- Grasshopper.
- Arachnids.
Russian Hamster Fruits and Vegetables
On the other hand, it should be noted that sometimes they can also eat pieces of fruit or vegetables, such as:
- Carrot.
- Spinach.
- Banana.
- Apple.
For more information, you can consult this other article on our site about What do hamsters eat?
What do baby Russian hamsters eat?
From the third week of life, you will take care of the baby Russian hamster food. Before this, it only feeds on the mother's milk. The baby's teeth are not yet very developed, you must take this into account when feeding him.
As with other species, solid foods should be introduced gradually and observe their reaction when introducing a new ingredient; for example, check for diarrhea or vomiting.
At your local pet supply store, pick out sunflower, sorghum, marigold, and other seeds you can buy. They must be natural seeds, without additives, sweeteners or candied. If some of the seeds are too big for the little hamster, grind them up a bit, but not too much, as they need to learn to eat them. Use a metal container as a feeder, the hamster can nibble the plastic ones and die from ingestion.
Complement this diet with a few bits of fresh fruits and vegetables Peach, strawberry, broccoli and spinach are among the most recommended. Also, remember to keep a container of fresh water available at all times, but not too deep, as the baby could fall and drown in it; You can also opt for a tube drinker.
To better care for your baby hamster, we recommend you also read this other article on How to care for a baby hamster?
What does an adult Russian hamster eat?
If you wonder what adult Russian hamsters eat, the answer is simple: their diet is very similar to that of their young. It is possible to feed it with commercial food formulated for hamsters, be careful that it contains a high proportion of seeds, some protein and little fat. If you prefer to feed him with natural ingredients, keep in mind that his diet should be based on the following:
- Seeds: Seeds also form the basis of the pet Russian hamster's diet. The type of seed varies so that you can take advantage of its properties and give it a diet similar to what it would have in the wild.
- Proteins: Regarding the protein, it is preferable that you do not add it raw. Getting crickets and other dried insects is one option, but you can also choose to give him an uns alted hard-boiled egg from time to time. Uns alted cottage cheese, low-s alt turkey breast, and mealworms are other good sources of protein.
- Nuts: Russian hamster food may also include some nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Being very caloric, it is an occasional supplement, only once or twice a month.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Two or three times a week include chunks of fruit and green vegetables. In this other article we talk about the best fruits and vegetables for hamsters.
Remember that vegetable foods must be well washed, peeled and cut into pieces. Also, keep a container of fresh water available.
Russian Hamster Prohibited Foods
Some foods can cause diarrhea and vomiting in our Russian hamster due to poor digestion, such as:
- Lettuce.
- Orange.
- Lemon.
- Mandarin.
- Lime.
- Onion.
- Potato.
To make sure you don't give your hamster any dangerous food, we advise you to take a look at this other article on Forbidden Hamster Foods on our site.
How to take care of a Russian hamster?
To properly care for your Russian hamster, we recommend you also take a look at the following articles on our site:
- Basic care of a Russian hamster.
- How long does a hamster live?
- How to tell a male hamster from a female?
