Can Hamsters Eat Watermelon?

Watermelon is lovely fruit and we always love to eat it. But sometimes we want to give a little bit to our furry friends as well!

This results in people asking “Can hamsters eat watermelon?” The answer is yes! Syrian, Dwarf, and Robo hamsters can have watermelon, although the amount of watermelon that is safe depends on the species.

This is because watermelon has a high amount of fat which can be dangerous for your hamster’s health.

Watermelon has a lot of health benefits though and, given in the right amounts, it can provide a great boost to your hamster’s health!

In this article, we will be looking at if hamsters can eat watermelon, how much you should feed them, and the various benefits and risks of giving your hamster this great fruit.

Nutritional Value of Watermelon

Watermelon has a lot of minerals in it, like calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus, that can make up for all the nutrients your pet is missing.

Hamsters need a lot of vitamin C, which watermelons are full of. The fruit has a lot of minerals, phytonutrients, lycopene, and beta-carotene.

Watermelon is in the family Cucurbitaceae and is best in the summer. Watermelons don’t give mammals much because they are mostly water and have few calories per 100 grams.

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The carbohydrate content of watermelons is 7.55 percent, the protein content is 0.61 percent, and the fat content is 0.15 percent.

Can Hamsters Eat Watermelon?

Yes! Hamsters can definitely eat watermelon. In fact, giving your hamster a watermelon is a good idea.

However, you should never make watermelon your hamster’s main food. So, once a week, giving them 1 teaspoon of watermelon is a good way to feed them.

One must remember the hamster’s diet index. All hamsters can eat watermelon because it has a lot of vitamins and minerals that they need to stay healthy.

Is Watermelon Safe For Hamster To Eat?

As we’ve already said, hamsters can eat watermelons in small amounts without any problems, so don’t worry if yours ate some. Like any other fruit or vegetable, you should slowly add watermelon to your pet’s diet.

If your hamster eats too much, it could have digestive problems or stomach problems like diarrhea or vomiting.

At first, the watermelon should be given in small amounts once or twice a week. Then you can watch to see if your hamster enjoys the treat and doesn’t show any bad signs.

If no side effects happen, slowly increase the dose.

Experts say, though, that some hamsters should only eat watermelon on rare occasions. This is because this isn’t what they normally eat in the wild, and their bodies aren’t made to digest it properly.

Is Watermelon Harmful to Hamsters?

Yes, it can be.

Remember that too much melon fed to these little buddies can give them side effects like an upset stomach, gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

This can lead to a multitude of problems including things like dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that could impart a trip to the veterinary clinic for your pocket pet vet to fix.

How to give your hamster Watermelon

When you give your hamster treats, like watermelon, always make sure you are holding them or that you are close to them.

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This is because giving your hamster treats can help you bond with it and get it used to other people. At first, only give your hamster a small amount.

This is to see if they like it. It doesn’t matter how much you give your hamster if they don’t eat it. Your hamster might put the food in their cheek pouches, though.

Make sure the watermelon is clean before you give it to your hamster. This takes away the worry that pesticides or other bad things might hurt your pet.

You could give your hamster watermelon as a treat, along with things like pumpkin seeds, cabbage, and carrots. These are good for your pet as long as you give them the right amount.

How many watermelons should you feed your hamster?

Your hamster can have watermelon without any problems. But you still have to make sure they get the right amount to eat.

Too much of a good thing is never a good thing. When it comes to the number, it really depends on the breed. Syrians can eat more than both Robo and Dwarf.

How many watermelons should a Syrian Hamster eat?

Too much tomato is not a good treat for your Syrian hamster. After all, you need to make sure they are healthy!

Every week, give them about a teaspoon of watermelon. This is enough for them to feel the benefits. If you give them more than this, it might be more trouble than it’s worth.

How many watermelons should a Roborovski hamster eat?

Robo hamsters can eat tomatoes, but not as much as real ones. This is because they are not as big. So, every two weeks, you should give them a teaspoon of watermelon.

How many watermelons should a dwarf hamster eat?

Dwarf hamsters, like Chinese, Campbell, and Russian hamsters, are much smaller than the average hamster.

This is easy to see at a pet store. People start to wonder if hamsters can eat regular foods like watermelon. They can eat watermelon, but it should only be a small piece once a week.

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Can Hamster Eat Watermelon Seeds and Rind?

While there is nothing toxic in the watermelon rind and seeds, our hamsters are not as thrilled to nibble on watermelon rind as they are to dig into watermelon flesh since it includes citrulline—a bitter-tasting amino acid.

So the rind of the watermelon, while delicious, is not as popular as the aromatic flesh. That said, the white, inside part—of the watermelon flesh is easier for hamsters to digest as compared to the outer part.

If you want to feed the rind to your hamster, make sure to wash it thoroughly to get rid of any chemicals and pesticides on the outer shell.

As far as watermelon seeds are concerned, you have to make a judgment call, depending on the size of your hamster.

While seeds are a big no-no for small hamster breeds like dwarf and Robbo hamsters since they are at a higher risk of choking on seeds, comparatively bigger hamsters like Syrian hamsters can safely eat seeds.

What parts of the watermelon can my hamster eat?

There are lots of types of watermelon and different parts of it are out there. So let’s look at the different parts of watermelon and if your furry friend can eat it!

Can Hamsters Drink Watermelon Juice?

You shouldn’t feed your hamster any form of juice! This is because it doesn’t have a lot of nutrients and can dehydrate your pet.

Can Hamsters eat Watermelon Seeds?

It depends on the breed. Syrian hamsters should be able to swallow them, but the seeds could be too big for your Robo and Dwarf hamsters.

Can Hamsters eat Watermelon Rind?

Sure! Just make sure that it is washed and you shouldn’t have any issues.

What Other Fruits and Vegetables Can Hamsters Eat?

CeleryStrawberries
LettuceBananas
SpinachGrapes
CucumberApples
CarrotsPears
BroccoliBlackberries

Conclusion 

Yes! Watermelon can be a delicious and nutritious treat for your hamster if given in the right amounts!

Syrian and Robo hamsters can have a lot more watermelon than Dwarf hamsters due to their size.

Watermelon contains many vital nutrients such as dietary fibers, zinc, and iron but, be cautious of the risks.

The saturated fats and high water content can be dangerous for your hamster if you overfeed them.