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Corn is a common food item that humans consume.
It can be cooked in a number of different ways depending on your tastes and is easy to come by.
If you’re a Hamster owner, you might wonder if Hamsters can eat corn as well.
Can hamsters Have Corn?
The short answer is yes, hamsters can eat corn.
You’ve probably even noticed it in commercial hamster food.
Corn is a known carb source, as well as high in protein and vitamins, including antioxidants.
Unless your hamster is allergic, corn is not toxic or generally harmful.
Plain corn – meaning without salt, butter, pepper, paprika, Cojita cheese, or any other additional ingredients – is okay to feed to your hamster and should not cause problems.
If your hamster is allergic to corn, you’ll see a reaction immediately in the form of hives, itchy skin, or an upset tummy.
Take note that hamsters can also develop allergies later on in life.
So even if your hamster has been fine with corn, that may not always be the case.
Nutritional Benefits of Corn for Hamsters
Studies show that corn is easily digestible and provides above-average nutrient levels for hamster diets.
Corn can be a good source of proteins, carbohydrates, antioxidants, and linoleic acids.
Carbohydrates make up most of the nutritional value of a kernel of corn followed by protein.
Corn can be a good source of their dietary fiber under certain conditions.
Corn’s main limitation as a source of nutrition is the limited amounts of vital animal acids that it contains.
Lysine and tryptophan are among the amino acids that corn lacks in abundance.
So yes, corn does have some nutritional value.
And corn for hamsters can provide some protein and certain vitamins and minerals.
Is Corn Bad for Hamsters?
Feeding your hamster an optimal diet is all about maintaining the right balance of nutrients.
While non-cob corn isn’t immediately dangerous to hamsters if it makes up a large share of their food it has the potential to harm in the long term.
High sugar and carbohydrate concentrations are not great components of good hamster food.
So it’s important to avoid sharing corn with your hamsters in large amounts or very frequently.
How Much Corn to Feed My hamster
Typically, servings of this food are like most things in life: Okay with moderation.
There are a variety of views, but all emphasize moderation. Some suggest you can feed your hamster corn up to 10% of your hamster’s diet.
Many feel it’s best to give just a few kernels – to make sure they are eating a safe level.
Can Hamsters Eat Canned Corn?
The answer is yes, hamsters can eat sweet corn.
But they really don’t need to.
This incredibly starchy food is difficult to digest and often passes straight through the gut completely intact.
You may have noticed this in humans too!
Fortunately, sweet corn is completely non-toxic. As long as your hamster doesn’t have any allergies or intolerances.
Tips on How to Serve Corn to Hamsters
Here are some of the tips on how you can opt to serve corn to your hamsters properly:
- Avoid serving buttered corn kernels or salted ones to avoid problems indigestion.
- Only allow your Hamster to eat minimal amounts of corn.
- If you’re serving corn to your hamster for the first time, it’s best that you should monitor his intake for the first time for any allergies and abnormal reactions.
Conclusion
Corn is safe for hamsters to eat if served in the right way.
On the other hand, corn kernels are perfectly fine to share in small amounts if cooked, unsalted and unseasoned.
Not only will it be safe to feed your hamster with some properly served corn, but it will also be beneficial and provide him with some healthy nutrients.
