Is It Safe to Give Your Hamster Kiwi? [Benefits & Risks]

Hamsters are omnivores and thus derive their nutrition from different food groups. Domesticated hamsters are often fed pellet food.

But they can also be fed almost anything, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Hamster owners often wonder if can hamsters eat Kiwi. The answer is yes; hamsters can Kiwi is very healthy and full of nutrition; however, feeding in moderation is required.

Most Kiwi production us the US is focused in California. This is because this fruit is not very cold-hardy. If you live in California, you can purchase fresh Kiwi very easily.

Hamsters also find these refreshing, fleshy fruits very tasty. It’s also recommended to feed hamsters Kiwi without its seeds and skin. Kiwi also contains many natural sugars that can harm hamsters’ health if fed too much.

Hamsters are tiny creatures, and feeding large quantities of sugary foods can cause health problems such as obesity and diabetes.

Kiwi is also known as a ‘wet food.’ This means that if you feed your hamster too much, it can get an upset stomach.

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Benefits of Feeding Hamsters Kiwi

Feeding your hamster kiwi fruit in moderation can be very beneficial. This fruit is rich in fiber, carbohydrates, and antioxidants. It also contains large amounts of vitamins C, E, and A.

As Kiwi is rich in vitamin C, it is excellent for enhancing immunity. Kiwi’s vitamins C and A also help improve hamsters’ eyesight. Consuming enough vitamin C also prevents hamsters from falling ill frequently.

Kiwi is also rich in magnesium, potassium, and iron, which are also essential for hamsters.

Kiwi also contains sufficient amounts of calcium. This is important for the development of hamsters’ teeth and bones.

The fiber present in Kiwi also aids the hamster’s digestive system and prevents issues like constipation. Kiwi also helps avoid gut discomfort in hamsters.

The antioxidants in Kiwi also protect hamsters’ bodies from free radicals and keep diseases at bay. These diseases include certain types of cancers.

Kiwi also contains Vitamin E, which helps strengthen hamsters’ bones. It ensures hamsters remain healthy and strong.

Risks of Feeding Hamsters Kiwi

As hamsters are tiny creatures, they should consume a small amount of food daily. Eating anything more than the required quantity is detrimental to their health.

This includes a limited quantity of Kiwi. Overfeeding your hamster Kiwi can lead to health complications.

These include as follows:

Large quantities of Kiwi can cause diabetes that can affect their overall health severely.

It can also cause obesity in these little critters. Conditions like obesity and diabetes are bound to trigger other health problems.

Fruits like Kiwi are also rich in water. Consuming too much water can cause exhaustion and diarrhea in hamsters.

Too much Kiwi can also severely affect your hamster’s digestive tract. This is because Kiwi is a citrus fruit and contains Citrus acid.

As Kiwi contains calcium, excess calcium consumption can lead to bladder stones in hamsters.

It’s vital to remember that anything fed in excess is bad. This includes large amounts of Kiwi. To avoid the above-listed conditions, feed your little critter limited quantities of this fruit.

How Much Kiwi to Feed Your Hamster?

Generally, it’s okay for hamsters to eat one or two little slices of Kiwi. However, quantity also differs according to the hamster’s size. This can be fed once a week.

This sweet treat should be fed in addition to other foods as well. Make sure not to exceed the listed quantity.

Your hamster’s diet should be balanced between pellets, vegetables, and treats. This will keep your hamster healthy and happy. Many fruits containing high levels of sugar should be fed in moderation.

Feeding small quantities of fruits will help your hamster benefit from them without suffering ill effects.

Hamster Breeds and Kiwi

Suitable kiwi quantity also depends on the hamster’s breed. Some hamsters breeds and smaller in size and more vulnerable than others. This may require more precise nutrition to avoid health complications.

Syrian hamsters are larger and thus more robust. It’s safe for them to consume Kiwi once or twice a week.

The Roborovski hamster can also ingest Kiwi in small amounts once or twice a week.

Other hamster breeds, such as the Chinese Hamster, Campbell’s Dwarf, and Winter White, should avoid having Kiwi altogether. These hamster breeds are too small to be able to digest this fruit sufficiently.

Campbell’s Dwarf hamsters are also more prone to diabetes hence should avoid this fruit altogether.

The Winter White is also the smallest and most fragile hamster breed. This breed should also avoid ingesting Kiwi. But if you want to alter their taste, you may give them a small, paw-sized helping of Kiwi. Give this after an interval of 3 to 4 weeks.

How to Feed Your Hamster Kiwi

Hamsters’ digestive systems are known to be sensitive. Therefore, feeding them the Kiwi’s soft, fleshy green portion is advised.

There is no need to mash or mix the fruit with anything else. Peel the Kiwi and carefully remove all the seeds. Chop it into small pieces and feed it to your hamster.

Also, make sure you feed your hamster a small quantity as indicated for the breed. You may feed your hamster less than that but not more.

Hamsters also tend to hoard food to eat later. If you feed your hamster more than the recommended quantity, it is likely to hoard some of it. This can lead to the fruit rotting and forming mold.

Feeding Kiwi Skin

Experts do not recommend feeding your hamster kiwi skin. This is so even though the skin has equal amounts of nutrition as the flesh.

Kiwi skin is not recommended because it is tasteless and very dry. While the fleshy part of the fruit is loved is juicy and delicious, the skin tastes rather drab.

The surface that connects the skin to the fruit also contains high sugar levels.

Kiwi skin is usually the most unpleasant portion of the fruit.

Kiwi skin has a sweet yet sticky texture to it. Therefore, it can get stuck in the hamster’s cheek pouch and become hazardous. It can lead to choking and dental problems like rotting teeth.

Fruits are also usually sprayed with chemicals that can be toxic for hamsters. So, it’s best to avoid kiwi skins.

Feeding Kiwi Seeds

Feeding your hamster kiwi seeds is not recommended either. These seeds present a risk of choking your little critter. They should be carefully removed before you chop the green flesh into little pieces. Since hamsters cannot vomit, choking on these seeds can be hazardous.

These seeds are usually tiny and can congest the hamster’s throat, leading to complications. These seeds are also tough to completely remove due to their small size; try to take them out as much as possible.

Feeding Kiwi Juice

It would help if you did not feed your hamster kiwi juice. Juicing eliminates all essential nutrients and vitamins present in the fruit.

Also, avoid feeding your hamster packaged kiwi juice from the store. Hamsters should not ingest products with artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. These little critters’ bodies are not designed to digest such substances.

Feeding Golden Kiwi

Feeding your golden hamster kiwi is possible. Golden kiwis tend to contain more vitamin C than green kiwis. Your hamster can benefit from these. However, be mindful of portion size and do not overfeed your little critter.

Feeding Dried Kiwi

Feeding your hamster dried Kiwi is not the best idea. Dried Kiwi is usually coated with sugar, thus increasing the hamster’s sugar intake.

As discussed above, hamsters should not be fed with high sugar levels as it can lead to diabetes and obesity.

It’s also possible for dried Kiwi to stick to your hamster’s cheek pouch and hurt it. Also, dried fruit is not known to retain many nutrients, so it’s not very beneficial for the critter.

Concluding Thoughts

As a hamster owner, you may wonder if can hamsters eat Kiwi. The answer is yes, they can but in moderation.

Kiwi is a great choice of fruit. It has a high nutritional content and many benefits. Hamsters also love the taste of this sweet, juicy fruit.

However, limited quantities should be fed as they contain high sugar levels. Feeding your hamster too much sugar can lead to health problems such as obesity and diabetes.

Feeding your little critter kiwi skin or kiwi seeds is not advised. You should also not give dried Kiwi or kiwi juice.

Kiwi skin is usually tasteless and dry. It is also sticky and can harm your hamster cheek pouch. Kiwi seeds are usually very tiny and can cause a choking hazard.

Dried Kiwi can also stick to your hamster’s cheek pouch and damage it. The dried version of the fruit also does not retain many nutrients. Kiwi juice also does not retain much nutrition hence should be avoided.

The hamster’s size and breed also determine if hamsters can eat Kiwi? Large hamster breeds, such as Syrian hamsters, can eat Kiwi in moderation. Roborovski hamsters can also eat Kiwi in fewer quantities.

Other Dwarf hamster breeds, such as the Winter white, the Chinese hamster, and Campbell’s Dwarf hamsters, should not be fed Kiwi at all. These hamsters are too small and cannot digest the fruit effectively.

However, if you want your hamster to have a change of taste, feed a very small quantity of the fruit at an interval of three to four weeks.

Avoid feeding your Chinese hamster kiwi, as the breed is prone to diabetes.