Can Hamsters Eat Potatoes

All those pet owners who have little hamster pets at home know how much joy these little furry creatures bring to us with the way they play, sleep, and even eat! Watching your little hamsters nibble on their favorite foods can be a delight to watch. However, as a pet owner, it is vital that you know what kind of foods are safe to feed your hamsters and which ones are dangerous for them. If you are wondering ‘can hamsters eat potatoes’ then the answer is yes! Hamsters can eat potatoes!

As you already know, potatoes are high in complex carbohydrates and are very starchy. Depending upon the species of hamsters you have, you should feed them potatoes. Here is everything you need to know about feeding your hamsters potatoes.

If you have Syrian hamsters at home, then you can safely feed them potatoes. Syrian hamsters are a larger, more robust species of hamster which can digest sugar and carbohydrates in moderation. Give your Syrian hamsters a half teaspoon serving of potatoes 2 times a week.

Campbell’s Dwarf hamsters are a much smaller species of hamsters whose digestive systems do not allow them to digest high carbohydrate and sugary foods. You should altogether avoid feeding potatoes to your dwarf hamsters.

Winter whites dwarf hamsters are also a kind of dwarf hamster species with delicate digestive systems. You can put your winter whites dwarf hamsters at risk of diabetes and obesity if you feed them potatoes, so avoid giving them potatoes completely.

Roborovski hamsters are a larger species of hamsters just like Syrian hamsters. These hamsters can also digest some amount of carbohydrates, fat, and sugar. You can feed your Roborovski hamsters a half teaspoon serving of potatoes twice a week, however, do not overfeed them as it can lead to diabetes and obesity.

Chinese hamsters are also a species of tiny dwarf hamsters, which means that these hamsters also cannot digest complex carbohydrates and fats as it puts them at risk for diabetes and obesity. You should altogether avoid feeding your Chinese hamsters potatoes for their health.

There are several species of hamsters which still live in the wild in many parts of the world. Here in the wild, these hamsters live as scavengers and hunt and pick their foods. They do not have a very balanced diet in the wild and mainly survive on wild fruits and berries, vegetables, leaves, plants, and sometimes even small insects, frogs, and lizards.

Your domesticated hamsters survive mainly on individual hamsters food from pet stores, and of course, the occasion tasty treats such as vegetables, fruits, and leaves.

Are there any health benefits to feeding potatoes to your hamsters?

Potatoes are okay for your Syrian and Roborovski hamsters in moderation. However, you cannot feed it to your Dwarf hamster species as it is too risky for their health. If you want to feed potatoes to your Syrian and Roborovski hamsters, you should stick to the recommended amount only and feed them in moderation so that they can enjoy the health benefits of potatoes.

Potatoes are high in potassium, Vitamin C, antioxidants, and Vitamin B6.

The potassium content in potatoes reduces the risk of heart diseases and stroke in your hamsters if you feed it to them in moderation.

Vitamin C is excellent for improving your hamster’s eye health as well as promoting healthy skin and fur.

Vitamin B6 is excellent for preventing anemia in your hamsters by promoting the production of hemoglobin. It also helps improve brain health in your hamsters.

The fiber content in potatoes helps in relieving any digestive issues in your hamsters as well as encouraging healthy bowel movements and a healthy digestive system.

Finally, the antioxidants in potatoes are excellent for dispelling the toxins from your hamster’s body, improving their overall health, immune system and helping them fight off diseases.

What are the risks of feeing potatoes to your hamsters?

As you already know, potatoes are complex carbohydrates, which takes a lot of time to break down in your body. They are also extremely starchy vegetables. When it comes to your Dwarf hamsters, you should altogether avoid feeding them potatoes as it is too risky for them. However, your Syrian and Roborovski hamsters can tolerate potatoes in moderation.

Overfeeding potatoes to your hamsters can lead to bloating, obesity, diabetes, and other related problems such as laziness, bone, and joint issues, constipation or diarrhea, and other digestive issues.

Your hamsters also have a habit of hoarding away food in their cages. Hoarded away potatoes can rot, which your hamsters might later consume and fall sick. Make sure to always clean out your hamster’s cage of any uneaten pieces of food.

Can you give dried potatoes to your hamsters?

Yes, you can feed small portions of dried potatoes to your Syrian and Roborovski hamsters, but not to your Dwarf hamsters. Give your Syrian and Roborovski hamsters just a tiny piece of dried potato about once or twice a week only. The dehydration process uses heat and cooks the potatoes, so it is safe for you to feed your hamsters with dried potatoes in moderation.

Can you feed mashed potato or potato leaves to your hamsters?

You can definitely feed small portions of mashed potato to your hamsters, especially elderly hamsters who cannot chew as well. However, you should altogether avoid feeding the potato leaves to your hamsters.

Finally, when you feed potatoes to your Syrian and Roborovski hamsters, make sure that you boil or cook them first (without any salt or spices) and give them to your hamsters. Do not feed raw potatoes to your hamsters.

How many potatoes can you feed your hamsters?

As for your Syrian and Roborovski hamsters, stick to half a teaspoon serving of cooked potatoes just about twice a week.

However, do not feed your Campbell’s dwarf hamsters, winter whites dwarf hamsters and Chinese hamsters any potatoes as it is too risky for them.

Conclusion

You can feed certain species of hamsters potatoes every once in a while, but do not make it a part of their everyday diet. To keep your pet hamsters healthy and happy, keep them on a healthy, balanced diet of exceptional hamster food you find in pet stores and the occasional tasty treats which are safe for them.