Green Beans are one of the most popular and commonplace vegetables you’re likely to find in your local supermarket, and certainly provide various health benefits to all who consume them.
But can hamsters have green beans?
If you’re a hamster owner, you may consider giving them a vegetable snack every now and again.
In this blog, we’ll take a close look at the question of whether hamsters can eat green beans.
What is the diet of a hamster?
Before we consider the question of ‘can hamsters eat green beans?’, it’s important to understand the kind of diet your furry friend should have.
Wild hamsters can be found across much of Europe and Asia, and are nocturnal creatures that come out to eat at night.
When living in the wild, a hamster will eat seeds, insects and larvae as part of its healthy diet.
Pet hamsters, on the other hand, will have a slightly different diet to account for their domestic setting. However, many of its core nutrients and minerals will remain the same.
What should be included in a hamster’s diet?
The diet of your pet hamster should include:
- A compound of pellet ration or a mixture of different seeds – These mixes are created to specifically ensure hamsters receive all of the necessary ingredients that are required for a healthy diet. This hamster food is easy to find in all pet shops.
- Vegetables and fruit– Hamsters also enjoy all manner of fruit and vegetables, but only in small quantities. Greens, root vegetables and apples are appropriate, but there are some you should avoid such as grapes and rhubarb. This is because these contain ingredients that can be toxic to hamsters if consumed.
- Water- As well as food, easy access to fresh drinking water is also essential when it comes to keeping your hamster happy and healthy. Water bottles can get dirty, so regularly check it’s clean and the nozzle is not blocked. You should change your hamster’s water at least once a day. Plus, be aware that hamsters do not have as strong a suction as other pets. They require the water to drip into their mouths so it’s always better to select a water bottle that comes without a ball valve.
Monitoring your hamsters’ diet
Make sure to always monitor your hamster’s diet and what it is eating and drinking. It doesn’t take much for your little guy to get overweight so always adapt your pet’s diet accordingly.
Conversely, if you spot that your hamster is neglecting its food, or its droppings have become moist or hard, you might want to take it to the vet to check it’s ok. This is because these are potential signs of stomach upset and other health issues.
Can hamsters eat green beans?
As mentioned above, hamsters can eat all kinds of vegetables including green beans.
However, it’s important to note that this should be in moderation and it should never be a complete substitute for the pellet food that provides a hamster with the majority of nutrients it needs to be healthy.
While green beans provide both humans and hamsters with a whole host of health benefits, they do not include the nutritional requirements that they’ll get from pellet formulas.
Plus, too many green beans can actually have an adverse impact on your hamster’s health.
What are the health benefits of green beans?
Let’s take a look at the various health benefits that the vegetable offers to humans and hamsters.
- Silicon- helps with skin and bones
- Fibre- helps with digestion
- Vitamin A- helps with eyesight, lungs, heart and immune systems
- Vitamin C- helps to heal wounds
- Vitamin K- helps with bone metabolism and creating healthy DNA
- Iron- helps with red blood cells and prevents anaemia
- Calcium- helps with bone strength and prevents joint based health problems
All of the above are great reasons why you should consider giving green beans to your hamster, while remaining mindful of only feeding it to your pet in moderation.
Will my hamster like green beans?
Just like humans, every hamster is different and will have different preferences when it comes to food.
While some hamsters will relish the crunchy texture and unique flavour of green beans, others won’t be so keen.
With this in mind, it’s best to introduce green beans slowly into your hamster’s diet. It will become clear quite quickly whether or not your hamster is enjoying the vegetable or not.
Signs that your hamster may dislike green beans
If the hamster completely ignores the food after a bite or two, it’s probably fair to say it’s not something it is going to enjoy. As well as this, if you spot any signs of discomfort while the hamster is eating green beans, stop feeding it immediately.
While green beans are extremely easy to digest and there should be no issues in this sense, you should also keep an eye on the hamster in the immediate aftermath of eating green beans- especially the first time.
If you notice any side effects like diarrhoea or an upset stomach, it’s probably best to avoid the food in future.
What are the risks of hamsters eating green beans?
As we’ve already touched on, you should only feed your hamster green beans in moderation.
While one green bean may not seem significant to you, to hamsters it’s pretty large!
With this in mind, it’s important to consider portion sizes when giving your hamster green beans as a treat. A good rule of thumb is to cut a green bean so it’s roughly the length of your hamster’s head. This is usually a big enough portion for your pet to enjoy without causing it any harm.
Balancing nutrients
Green beans are low in sugar, which is why they’re considered a healthy option, but this is offset by the large amount of calcium they contain.
Whilst calcium is good for developing strong bones, too much of it can be harmful and could cause kidney stones and bladder issues. These can both be detrimental to the health of your hamster.
As well as this, baby hamsters should never be fed green beans. This is because they need a much more specialised diet than adult hamsters.
