You might prepare tasty fruits for your hamster and wonder if it’s good to add grapes to the mixture. If you have other pets, such as dogs, cats, and rats, then you may already know that grapes are toxic for those pets. The difference is that grapes are not harmful to hamsters. Hamsters can eat grapes, but you need to be careful about how they are prepared and how often you give them to your little friend.
The benefits of feeding grapes to hamsters
Grapes are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They are rich in vitamins K and C, as well as rich in phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Vitamin K helps the hamster’s body to prevent blood clots. Vitamin C is essential for maintaining a healthy and strong immune system. Phosphorus and calcium help your hamster build and maintain a strong bone system.
Hamsters can suffer from vitamin C deficiency, so grapes can increase their dietary intake of this vitamin.
Grapes are rich in fiber, which can help the hamster’s digestive system function properly. They also have a high water content, helping hamsters stay hydrated during warmer weather.
The risks of feeding grapes to hamsters
Too many grapes in one serving could give the hamster gastrointestinal problems, including stomach pain and diarrhea.
You might also like my articles on whether hamsters can eat oranges, bread, or bananas.
Grapes also have high sugar content, so too many grapes can cause health problems, including diabetes and fatty deposits on the liver. Eating too many grapes can also cause the hamster to gain unhealthy weight.
While grapes are not toxic to hamsters, your hamster may be allergic to them.
How to feed your hamster grapes safely
If you want to try to feed grapes to your hamster, start with a very small amount, just like any other new food. We recommend feeding only one-eighth of grape for the first time, and after that increasing the amount to a quarter of grape once or twice a week.
Hamsters should have a portion of fruit the size of a teaspoon only twice a week. A grape exceeds over half of the weekly portion! It is a good idea to clean the grapes and cut them into quarters or eighths.
Watch the hamster’s behavior to check if it’s not suffering from an allergic reaction or a gastrointestinal disorder. The side effects include:
- If your hamster develops loose stools or diarrhea, stop feeding them grapes. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration if it is not treated quickly.
- If your hamster seems to lack energy after eating new food, it may struggle to digest it.
- Lack of appetite is another sign that new food, such as grapes, has not agreed with the hamster’s digestive system.
If any of these symptoms continue for more than 48 hours, it is a good idea to consult your veterinarian and schedule to check your hamster.
Hamsters under 4 weeks should not eat grapes.
Can hamsters eat grapes with seeds?
Grape seeds are large enough to cause a choking hazard for your little hamster, so be sure you remove the seeds first.
This can be difficult, so choosing to use grapes without seeds is the easier option.
If someone accidentally feeds your hamster with a piece of grape without the seeds being removed, we recommend that you contact your veterinarian for your tranquility. Although the seeds should not be toxic, they can create a blockage in the hamster’s digestive tract.
How many grapes should a hamster eat?
Most of the hamster’s nutrients should come from pellets and from daily vegetables. Fruits, including grapes, can be used as an occasional treat, but should not be a common part of the hamster’s diet.
If your hamster is fed with a high-quality pellet, then grapes will not be able to provide other nutritional benefits that they do not already get from their existing diet.
Can hamsters eat grapes with peel?
The peel of a grape is not toxic to hamsters, but you can remove it to reduce the risk of your hamster being exposed to pesticides. You can also wash the grapes thoroughly instead of cleaning them.
What kind of grapes can hamsters eat?
Hamsters can eat both green and red grapes. Try both, peeled and debunked, and see which one your hammy prefers!
What other fruits can hamsters eat?
Hamsters should only be given a teaspoon of fruit twice a week. You can decide to give them grapes, but given the high sugar content, it’s probably better to mix them with other fruits, like:
- Banana
- Pear
- Apple
- Currants
- Strawberry
- Watermelon
Final words
Hamsters can have grapes, but they should be given in very small portions, no more than twice a week. Grapes contain antioxidants and vitamins, but they do not provide nutrients that a hamster cannot get from their regular portions of pellets and hamster vegetables.
Grapes are high in sugar, so if you’re going to feed them grapes, they should be combined with other low-sugar fruits. Too much sugar can cause the hamster to get overweight or even develop diabetes. Certain varieties of hamsters, such as the Chinese dwarf, are at a very high risk of developing diabetes, so they should never be fed high sugar content foods, such as grapes, not even as an occasional treat.
You should clean and remove the seeds before cutting the grape into very small pieces, and if they show any signs of digestive problems, stop giving them.
If you are still not sure that you should be feeding them as a snack to your hamster, we recommend you consult your veterinarian for more details.
