Can Hamsters Eat Tangerines?

Can hamsters eat tangerines? Keeping a hamster at home is challenging. You might be worried about what to feed them and what not. But have you ever asked yourself a question, can hamsters eat tangerines?

Unfortunately, hamsters can’t eat tangerines as they are citrus fruits and have high acid. Tangerines are bad for your hammy’s stomach and can cause diarrhea. Highly acidic foods are unhealthy for your hamster and can make him sick.

You might want to explore more about “can hamsters eat tangerines?” This article will answer all your questions. So, let’s start.

What Are Tangerines?

What are tangerines? Can hamsters eat tangerines? Let’s know more about it.

Tangerines are a kind of mandarin oranges. They are the most cultivated citrus fruit after oranges. Tangerines are orange in color, just like oranges.

However, some varieties can have a shade of red or green. They have a sweet taste and are less round in shape.

Tangerines are rich in nutrition and are good for you. But are these tangerines good for your hammy? No, and here’s why.  

Can Hamsters Eat Tangerines?

First thing first, tangerines are highly acidic for your hammy. Like other citrus fruits, eating tangerines can upset your hammy’s stomach.

So, keeping citrus fruits out of your pet’s reach is better. Rather, you can give him some other fruits and vegetables that are low in acid. Make sure to remove all acidic elements from your hammy’s diet to keep him healthy.

Tangerines Are Good for You But Not for Hamsters

Tangerine, being a nutritional fruit, is quite beneficial for humans. They are high in nutrients containing potassium, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B1, calcium, and copper. But that’s not the case for hamsters.

Not every human food is suitable for hamsters. Even a tiny piece of tangerine can affect a hamster’s health. So, it’s better to avoid them for your furry friend completely.

Why Are Tangerines Bad for Hamsters?

You might wonder why tangerines are not good for your hammy’s health.

Hamsters have a quite sensitive digestive system. Therefore, they can’t deal with citrus fruits like tangerines. The citric acid in these fruits can damage your pet’s teeth and cause dental problems.

Also, tangerines are high in sugar because of their sweet taste. That’s why they increase the risk of diabetes in hamsters. Besides, the high sugar content can also cause obesity in your little furry friend.

You might be worried about the nutritional content your pet will miss out on if he won’t consume tangerines. But you can try other alternatives to fulfill your pet’s nutritional needs.

Do Hamsters Like Tangerines?

Can hamsters eat tangerines? Do they love these citrus fruits?

As mentioned above, hamsters shouldn’t be fed tangerines as they cause more harm than good. That’s why asking whether you hammy like tangerines or not is irrelevant.

Giving your hammy a small amount of this citrus fruit can be dangerous and cause diarrhea. Therefore, give your hammy a well-balanced hamster’s diet to fulfill his nutritional requirements.

What Items Should You Include In Your Hamster’s Diet?

The best part of the hamster’s diet is food pellets that are easily available in pet stores. Food pellets contain balanced nutrition and provide all the energy that your pet needs.

Alongside, you can give fresh fruits and veggies to your pet, like apples, strawberries, carrots, peas, lettuce, mango, and cauliflower, in moderate amounts.

Always begin with a small amount while introducing your hammy to a human food first time. If a hamster is interested in food, you can gradually increase the amount.

What Item Should You Avoid In Your Hamster’s Diet?

Not all human foods are safe for hamsters. So, it’s a better idea to ask your vet before doing any new addition to your pet’s diet. The foods which are unhealthy for hamsters are:

• Chocolate
• Onions
• Raw Potatoes
• Pickles
• Almonds
• Garlic
• Eggplant
• Cabbage
• Red Beans

Keep these foods away from your furry friend, as they can harm him.

How Often Can Hamsters Eat Fruits?

As you know, fruits have high amounts of sugar that can cause many problems. Therefore, avoid feeding them fruits regularly and give your hammy only two to three times a week mostly. Besides, remove any uneaten fruit from your hammy’s cage before it spoils.

Final Thoughts – Can hamsters eat tangerines?

To sum up, can hamsters eat tangerines? Tangerines are unhealthy for hamsters as they are citrus fruits. They can cause diarrhea and other health problems in your pet. Opting for other nutritional and safe alternatives for hamsters would be better.