When it comes to treats for hamsters, nuts are a common type of food that are thought of, especially walnuts. But is it safe for you to give walnuts to your hamster? Walnuts are a high-calorie and high-fat food, but in moderation, walnuts can add some nutrition to a hamster’s diet due to the vitamins and minerals that they have. So can hamsters eat walnuts? Yes, hamsters can have walnuts in small amounts. Read on to see what considerations you need to have in mind when giving walnuts to your hamster.
What Kind of Walnuts Can Hamsters Eat?
Hamsters can have plain walnuts that don’t have any extra ingredients.
Just Walnuts
Walnuts, like many nuts intended for humans, can come with extra ingredients. So when selecting walnuts for your hamster make sure that walnuts are the only ingredient on the packaging. You do not want any added salt, additives, sweeteners, or spices. Even in small amounts, things like salt can cause serious issues for hamsters.
Organic
Organic walnuts are best when selecting walnuts for a hamster. Non-organic foods often have chemicals like pesticides and herbicides used on them when they are grown. These can be dangerous for small creatures like hamsters even if it is a small amount that is on the foods you give them.
How Many Walnuts Can You Give Your Hamster?
Larger hamster breeds, like Syrian hamsters, can have 1 walnut a week.
Dwarf hamsters and other small hamster breeds should only have a half of a walnut a week maximum.
If your hamster is not very active only give walnuts as a treat every two weeks instead of each week.
Are Walnuts Good for Hamsters?
Walnuts contain the following vitamins and minerals that can be beneficial for hamsters: (source USDA.gov)
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Calcium
- Choline
- Copper
- Folate
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Selenium
- Zinc
Are There Risks Giving Walnuts to Hamsters?
Yes, there can be risks when giving a hamster walnuts for a treat. The biggest risk is giving them too many walnuts. Stick to the recommended amount advised above when feeding them to your hamster. Walnuts have a high-calorie count (185 calories per ounce). So even just once walnut can have a lot of calories for a hamster since they are so small.
You need to make sure to watch the weight of your hamster. When getting too many high-calorie snacks their weight can easily get out of hand. This leads to more serious issues such as diabetes down the road. So if your hamster currently has a weight problem it would be best to skip walnuts as a snack and give them lower calorie alternatives.
GI issues can also be a concern. Anytime you are introducing a new food to your hamster, just like humans, they can have a reaction to the food and possibly a sensitivity to it. Always monitor your hamster for 12 to 24 hours after giving them something new to eat. This way you can make sure they don’t have any reactions or GI issues as a result of the new food. If you do notice any type of reaction call your veterinarian and discontinue giving them the new food.
Frequently Asked Questions About Feeding Walnuts to Hamsters
The shell can be another issue for smaller or young hamsters. If you have a younger hamster or a small breed then it would be best to give them an unshelled walnut. Otherwise, it is ok to give the walnut in the shell to your hamster. Many times they enjoy cracking the shell open.