Can Hamsters Eat Banana?

Can Hamsters Eat Banana?

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Who doesn’t love banana?

These sweet, yellow fruits are popular all over the world, and they’re a favorite treat for many animals as well as for us humans. Here’s the thing, though: You know that this fruit is really good for you, but is banana ok for hamsters to eat?

If so, how much banana can you give a hamster?

The short answer is that yes, you can give a hamster banana, but you need to be really careful about portion size since this is one of those treats that can make your pet sick if overeaten.

Keep reading to get the scoop: We’ve put together a complete guide to banana for hamsters.

Banana Nutrition Stats

Banana is an awesome food for quick energy, and it’s a great source of healthy fiber to keep your digestive system in good working order.

If you eat a medium-sized banana, you’re getting about:

• 105 calories
• 27 g carbohydrates
• 3 g fiber
• 3 g protein
• .4 g fat

Bananas Nutritional Facts

Pound for pound, bananas are higher in calories than most other fruits, but that’s part of their appeal. They’re the ideal natural “energy bar” for anytime you’re on the go, and they can help you recover quickly after an intense workout.

A medium-sized banana offers approximately:

• 6 mg calcium
• 76 IU vitamin A
• 3 mg vitamin C
• .31 mg iron
• 14 mcg folate
• 0.5 mg riboflavin
• 5 mg vitamin B6
• 5 mg manganese
• 17 mg magnesium
• 24 mg phosphorus

Can Hamsters Have Banana?

Yes – but only in small amounts and not very often.

Only give your hamster fresh banana or dried banana that has no sugar or preservatives added. Never offer banana with extra sugar – it’s really bad for your pet.

Is Banana Good For Hamsters?

Banana isn’t unhealthy but it shouldn’t be a major component in your hamster’s diet. Use it as an occasional treat.

Do Hamsters Like Banana?

Just like other sweet fruits, banana is a hamster favorite. We didn’t take an official poll but all the hamsters we know go nuts over bananas.

How Much Banana Can A Hamster Eat?

Cover your hamster’s ears because they aren’t going to like this answer: Not much at all! Here’s how much banana to feed a hamster:

Age	Amount
Baby hamster	None
Adult hamster	¼ teaspoon

Hamsters everywhere hope that the above number is a typo. Sad to say, it isn’t! We value your hamster’s health and we want to make sure that you don’t give them too much sugar.

That’s not all: There’s a little more you should know before you measure out that tiny banana treat for your hamster:

If your hamster has never had fruit, don’t make banana the first sweet treat you give them, as it’s a very rich food. Start with something less sugary instead, like a blueberry or maybe a little bit of grape.

If your hamster already eats fruit and vegetables, you can give them half the recommended amount the first time they try banana. Over the next 12 hours or so, watch for signs of diarrhea or an upset tummy.

If everything goes smoothly and there are no issues, you can progress to the full serving size next time.

How Often Can A Hamster Eat Banana?

Again, your hamster will not like our answer – particularly if they’ve come to know and love sweet banana treats. Hamsters should only have banana about once a week, and they shouldn’t have it on the same day that they eat other sugary treats.

• If your hamster is a new addition, then banana isn’t a good choice! Since sudden dietary changes can make your hamster really sick, start their fresh food adventures with something else – cucumber is a good, gentle choice. Gradually introduce other fresh foods including other fruits such as watermelon, strawberry, grape, or blueberry, and wait until your hamster is happily enjoying those for a few weeks before you introduce a tiny amount of banana.

The Correct Diet is Important

In the wild, hamsters eat lots of different foods depending on the season and what they happen to find. Hamsters are omnivores, meaning they eat animal protein as well as plants, so feel free to offer your hamster a tiny bit of hard boiled egg or a few dried mealworms every now and then.

Of course there’s no need to do this since hamster pellets are formulated to offer complete nutrition. At the same time, your hamster will thank you for offering an interesting variety of foods!

Besides good-quality hamster pellets, here’s what else you should be feeding your hamster:

• Fresh Timothy hay is an important and enjoyable part of your hamster’s diet, so give them an unlimited supply. They’ll nibble on it plus they’ll have fun using it for nesting and tunneling.
• Clean, fresh water is vital for all animals. Rinse and refill your hamster’s water bottle every day.
• Birdseed is fun for your hamster to eat and it’s a good source of important fats. Offer about a teaspoon per week. Your hammy will probably eat some right away and stash the rest for later.
• Very small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables can be offered once a day or once every other day.
• Chewable treats must be available 24/7 as they keep your hamster’s teeth from becoming painfully overgrown. Favorites include hay cubes, coconut shell, untreated softwood sticks, and unbleached loofah. There are plenty of other hamster toys available, too!

Since hamsters are notorious hoarders with a habit of saving food for later, it’s important to remove any uneaten fresh food from their habitat as soon as they finish nibbling. This probably won’t be an issue with banana but it’s worth remembering since hidden fruit and veggies can spoil or become moldy.

What Are Other Healthy Alternatives To Banana In A Hamster’s Diet?

Banana might be a favorite hamster treat but there are plenty of other options to choose from – and most can be offered more frequently!

Here’s a list of some veggies hamsters usually like:

• spinach
• red lettuce
• bibb lettuce
• buttercrunch lettuce
• escarole
• green beans
• bell pepper
• celery
• cucumber
• winter squash
• pumpkin
• parsnip
• broccoli
• broccolini
• summer squash
• zucchini
• tomato
• sweet potato
• okra
• watercress
• cauliflower
• yu choy
• bok choy
• sweet corn
• baby corn
• artichoke
• basil
• asparagus
• cabbage
• parsley
• cilantro
• mint
• carrot
• carrot tops
• beets
• beet tops
• romaine
• potato (cooked only)
• sprouts
• arugula
• rocket
• endive
• swiss chard

Although most fruits, herbs, and veggies are safe for hamsters, it’s important to do a little bit of research each time you consider what to add to their diet next.

The reason for this is that some foods are toxic to hamsters – and the last thing you want to do is accidentally feed your pet something that will make them sick!

For now, giving your hamster banana might be the ideal way to make them very happy – or it might have to wait until you’ve gotten them accustomed to some other fresh foods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is banana safe for hamsters?

Yes! It’s safe to give banana to a hamster but be really careful about offering the right amount.

Can banana make my hamster sick?

Banana can give your hamster a tummy ache and a serious case of diarrhea if overeaten. That’s why we’re going to put on our serious faces one more time and remind you to take a really careful approach to introducing banana to your hamster’s diet and make sure that you give them no more than ¼ teaspoon once per week after they’ve been properly introduced to fresh food.

Can hamsters have banana peel?

Banana peel is only safe for hamsters to eat if it’s organic, or if you’ve scrubbed it very well to remove toxic residue. If you decide to see if your hamster likes banana peel, give them a tiny sliver to try. This isn’t something they normally enjoy but it does contain some nutrients.