Hamster care for kids · 3 min read
What do hamsters eat?
Potato eats seeds, pellets, and tiny bits of vegetables. Here is his menu.
Every day food
Hamsters eat hamster food from a shop. It is a mix of seeds and little pellets.
Ask a grown-up to measure his daily food. Follow the packet and your vet's advice.
Hamsters hide food in their cheeks and carry it to a secret store. That is normal. Do not take it away!
Little treats
A treat is a tiny piece. As small as your fingernail.
Good treats
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Broccoli
- Apple (no seeds)
- Cooked plain egg (a tiny bit)
- Dried flowers made for hamsters
- A sunflower seed or a nut (just one)
Never give
- Chocolate or sweets
- Onion or garlic
- Oranges or lemons
- Grapes and raisins
- Raw potato or beans
- Sticky things like toffee
- Human snacks, crisps, biscuits
Water
Fresh water every day. A bottle or a heavy bowl is fine.
Check the bottle works. Tap the little ball. A drop should come out.
If the water looks dirty, change it.
Why are his cheeks so big?
Hamsters have pockets inside their cheeks. They are called cheek pouches.
Potato can fit a whole day of food in there! Then he unpacks it in his house.
This is why hamsters look like they have a mouth full of marbles.
Potato's quick quiz
True or false? Tap to see the answer.
Chocolate is a good hamster treat.
Nope. Chocolate is dangerous for hamsters. Never give it.
Hamsters carry food in their cheeks.
True! Cheek pouches are like little shopping bags.
A treat should be as big as a strawberry.
Nope. Treats must be tiny, like your fingernail.
Questions kids ask
How much should I feed my hamster?
Ask a grown-up to follow the food packet. Your vet can help with the right amount.
Can hamsters eat cheese?
A tiny bit is not poison, but it is not good for them either. Veg is better.
Why does my hamster hide food?
Hamsters keep a food store. It makes them feel safe. Leave it alone unless it goes mouldy.