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If you are fond of small animals, you may be very conscious of their diet, habitat, surroundings, and anything that matters to their normal health and wellbeing. Can hamsters eat mealworms? Small animals like hamsters are very fragile species that need your utmost care to remain protected from environmental stresses.
They need a little more care and attention. Do you know that diet is the main constituent that mostly affects health and wellbeing? If you know, you are at the very right place where you can learn what your hamster prefers to eat.
You should know that hamsters prefer the diet their ancestors have preferred in the wild. Their diet formulation is done considering the dietary needs of their wild ancestors. In this article, we will be talking about mealworms, especially. So, read along to know whether hamsters can eat mealworms.
Are mealworms good for hamsters?
The simple and clear answer to this question is yes. They are undoubtedly good for hamsters. Canadian foundation of human societies recommends that the protein content of hamsters’ diet should be at least 16%. Protein is the essential dietary component of the diet responsible for the growth and development of the body.
Mealworms are rich in proteins. As an occasional treat, mealworms can prove a delicious, nutritious, and healthy diet for your hamster.
Besides proteins, they contain plenty of water responsible for carrying out almost all the body’s metabolic reactions. They contain a rich source of fatty acids but a small number of carbohydrates. Therefore, mealworms serve a wonderful diet for your hamster.
Do hamsters like to eat mealworms?
The matter of likeness may differ from one hamster to another. As a general notion, hamsters are very fond of mealworms, and they even prefer mealworms over vegetables and fruits. Therefore, if you are reluctant to buy mealworms, you must give it a try.
You should buy fresh, alive mealworms as well as dried mealworms. As a test experiment, you should offer live mealworms once and dried mealworms some other time. After that, you should notice the fondness of your hamster. Whatever type of mealworm your hamster prefers, you can continue on that.
It may even be possible that your hamster does not show any interest or show very little interest in mealworm. In that case, you should not worry but try offering mealworm some other time. In the meantime, you can continue on other fruits and vegetables.
Do You Know?
We also have looked if hamsters can eat Parsley, a popular garnish. Find out here: Can Hamsters Eat Parsley?
What are the benefits of feeding hamsters mealworms?
Mealworms are a very good source of supplement nutrition for hamsters. If you offer mealworm as an occasional treat, your hamster can get several nutritional benefits out of it. The main nutritional benefits of mealworms are extra protein, fats, fibers, iron, and potassium. Proteins are a good energy source for developing and growing body tissues and organs.
Fats are essential for several metabolic processes, and they are a big source of energy too. Fibers help maintain the gastrointestinal functions at optimal. Fibers are essential for the normal motility of the digestive tract. Additionally, they help smoothen the digestive tract for better digestion of food.
Iron is essential for the normal activity of red blood cells to carry oxygen through the blood. Without iron, red blood cells are not capable of carrying oxygen. Potassium is necessary for the strength of bones. If your hamster is deficient in potassium, his bones become weak and porous.
Are mealworms bad for hamsters?
Up to this far, we know that hamsters generally like eating mealworms, and mealworms are very beneficial for your hamster. But are mealworms bad for hamsters in any case? Well, the answer is yes. Mealworms can be bad or harmful for hamsters. Let us discuss the situations in which mealworms can be bad for your hamster.
Mealworms can be harmful to your hamster if you over-feed them. Mealworms are rich in proteins and fats, and therefore they can result in obesity. In addition, mealworms are not completely balanced in all the essential nutrients. Therefore, if you feed your hamster on mealworms, he can face malnutrition.
Thirdly, there is the possibility that live mealworms may get stuck in the cheek pouch of your hamster and cause damage. You can solve the first two problems by offering mealworm in moderation. You should always prefer a balanced diet for your hamster. The third possibility can be reduced by offering dried mealworm to your hamster.
Can Hamsters Eat Mealworms?
Yes, they can. We have learned the benefits of feeding mealworms to your beloved hamster. Feeding mealworms to your hamster can improve heart health, strengthen the bones, reduce diseases, and improve mood. Therefore, the answer is yes, your hamster can eat mealworms, and they also enjoy it.
