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The best part about having a hamster in possession lies in the fact that as an owner, you will be spared from worrying about its diet.
Hamsters can be fed almost everything but, grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables are their staple and the primary sources from where they derive most of their nutrition.
If you are wondering if kiwi makes to this list of principal foods for hamsters, then keep reading.
Can My Hamster Have Kiwi?
Like all fruits, kiwi too contains a generous portion of natural sugar and if overfed, the small bodies of these furry animals can become prone to diabetes and obesity.
Therefore, the answer to whether or not can hamsters eat kiwi, would be a definite Yes.
Like we have already delineated in the aforementioned lines, kiwi is packed with sugar and water thus, implying that this fruit should be served to your hamster only two times a week.
Besides being extremely sweet, kiwis are classified under the category of wet foods; meaning, if your pet ends up consuming more than it should, it can get diarrhea.
What Are the Benefits of Your Hamster Eating kiwi?
Kiwi fruits are rich in antioxidants, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, carbohydrates and fibers and this makes them an imperative addition in the hamster’s diet.
Frequent doses of Vitamin A and Vitamin C from kiwi can enormously benefit the skin and eye health of the little furry beings.
Similarly, fibers prove advantageous in improving their digestive health by eliminating signs of constipation and gut issues.
Additionally, antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids safeguard the hamster’s body from free radicals and keep away severe diseases like a few varieties of cancer.
Lastly, kiwis’ Vitamin E content enhances the overall strength of the bones hence, preventing untimely rupture.
Downsides of Feeding Kiwi to Your Hamster
Other than sugar and water, citrus and salt are the two principal components in kiwi and quite evidently, the presence of all these constituents can take a toll on your hamster’s wellbeing when overfed.
Hamsters are animatedly susceptible to diabetes and obesity; and if any of these two conditions are triggered, a string of other grave diseases will inexorably follow.
Furthermore, the compound citrus is not very favorable for hamsters and so, you should only feed very tiny bits of the fruit to your pet.
If you have owned a hamster previously, you will know that they have a habit of hoarding food.
Consequently, to make certain that your furry friend has only eaten the portion you wanted him to, clean the cage regularly and remove even the minutest crumb that you come across in the coop.
How Many Kiwis Should you Feed Your Hamster?
The portion of kiwi suitable for hamsters majorly depends on the breed; nevertheless, bear in mind that the quantity should be in moderation.
For instance, the Syrian and Roborovski hamsters should be given a very small amount of kiwi fruit only once or twice or week.
On the other hand, for the Chinese and winter white dwarf hamsters, you should steer away from serving them kiwi fruit altogether.
But, if you want to change their taste once in a while, resort to a miniature, paw-sized slice of kiwi once three or four weeks apart.
How to Serve Kiwi to Your Hamster?
Because the digestive system of the hamsters is known for being overly sensitive, serving anything apart from the mushy portion of the kiwi fruit can make way for innumerable problems.
Rather than mixing it with anything else or mashing it up, carefully peel the skin of the fruit and remove each of its seeds and then cut it into tiny pieces to feed the hamster.
Make sure that you are providing your furry pet the exact amount that has been recommended; less is preferable but, not more.
Out of their tradition of hoarding food, they will eat most of the kiwi serving and store some of it to be utilized later only to open doors to overdose or mold formation in the fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Can hamsters eat kiwi skin?
No, according to experts, you must not feed kiwi skin to your hamster.
Thus, when you are offering your pet kiwi fruit, diligently unwrap its skin to the extent that you are confident that the pieces do not contain any speck of the cover at all.
The reason being, the skin of kiwi is extremely dry and more importantly, is tasteless.
Amidst the delicious treat that it has been subjected to, the kiwi skin will be the most unpleasant part.
Moreover, the surface that binds the skin of the kiwi to the real fruit inside comprises high-levels of sugar when contrasted against the rest of it; this way, the sweet and sticky texture of the skin can get stuck in the munchkin’s cheek pockets leading the way for choking and a series of problems like dental issues and rotting of teeth.
- Can hamsters eat kiwi seeds?
The answer to this would be again no; hamsters cannot and should not eat kiwi seeds.
Although removing all the seeds precisely from the fruit is not humanly possible but, still, try and eradicate as much of them as you can.
After removing the seeds, chop the kiwi into petite parts and let the hamster have it.
As the kiwi seeds are super-small, they can inflict congestion in the animal’s throat and escort to additional complications.
- Can hamsters eat kiwi every day?
No, hamsters cannot eat kiwi every day. To confirm that the fuzzy little being is safe and healthy, you should follow a specialized hamster diet that doesn’t contain fancy foods and approve the inclusion of delicious treats like sweet fruits and leafy vegetables only once in a while.
Based on the species of hamster you own and its appetite, you can feed them kiwi once or twice a week or only on one occasion in three or four weeks’ time.
