Grapes are refreshing snacks for us, we humans love to munch on grapes. It to known to be toxic for some pets like dogs and cats but can our Hamsters eat grapes? Is it safe for them? I did some research on the same and here is what I have learned.
Hamsters can eat grapes along with their skin but in small quantities. Overfeeding can cause digestive complications and obesity in Hamsters. Also, make sure you remove the seeds before serving them to your Hamsters. It is best to serve them seedless grapes.
Each Hamsters has a unique personality and own preference for food. If your Hamster seems disinterested in grapes, do not feed them forcefully.
You can always go for other fruits such as banana or watermelon. However, you must keep in mind that fruits should be served as treats only.
Nutrition In Grapes
Let us look in detail what are the nutritional values of 100 grams of grapes holds.
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water | 80.54 g |
| Energy | 69 kcal |
| Protein | 0.72 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.16 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 18.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.9 g |
| Sugars, total including NLEA | 15.48 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 10 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.36 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 7 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 20 mg |
| Potassium, K | 191 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 2 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.07 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.127 mg |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 3.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.086 mg |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 3 µg |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.19 mg |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 14.6 µg |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.054 g |
Grapes contain a decent amount of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B-6 in them. These are essential for our Hamsters, it helps in the proper functioning of their body.
These vitamins also helps in strengthening their immune system.
Also, grapes contain a good amount of calcium in it. Calcium is important for the proper development of their bones and teeth.
Also, grapes contain potassium and phosphorus in adequate amounts. Potassium helps in preventing kidney stones and phosphorous is essential in the formation of bones and teeth in their body.
Grapes are also rich in antioxidants. These are really helpful in flushing out toxins from our Hamster’s body. It also helps in preventing various health complications.
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Are Grapes Good For Hamsters?
Yes, grapes are good for Hamsters but we must always keep the serving quantity into consideration. A variety in the diet is very necessary for our Hamsters to live a long and healthy life.
Vitamin A and Vitamin C are the most important parts of a Hamster’s diet. Even though grapes do not have these in abundance but it still contributes to their nutritional needs.
Grapes are also very rich in calcium which is necessary for young and pregnant Hamsters. Calcium is also a very important part of the diet as it helps in the formation of the bones and the teeth.
Grapes are also very rich in potassium and magnesium which helps in preventing various diseases in Hamsters.
Also, grapes are a great source of antioxidants, which help in maintaining good health.
Are Grapes Bad For Hamsters?
Grapes are full of antioxidants and nutrients like Vitamin A and Vitamin C but they are also packed with sugar (approximately 20%) which is very harmful for our Hamsters.
Sugar can cause a lot of diseases in Hamsters like diabetes and stomach upsets. So, you must try to serve as little sugar as possible to your Hamsters.
Grapes are also rich in calcium which is very important for our Hamsters but you need to strictly limit it in it’s diet as a little too much of calcium can cause diseases like bladder stones.
Grapes also contains a large amount of phosphorus which can lead to metastatic calcification and weak growth which might be a big problem in the long term.
So, for a matured Hamster, grapes should be fed occasionally as a treat and not as a staple food.
How Many Grapes Can Hamsters Eat?
Our Hamsters should not be fed more than 1 or 2 medium-sized grapes once a week. It is a sweet treat and should not be served too much.
The number of grapes fed to our Hamsters should be strictly monitored. Even though grapes do not contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, it is essential for bringing a change of taste in our Hasmer’s diet.
Try to feed your Hamsters other nutritional fruits like apple and strawberry instead of grapes as they are much better for your Hamster’s diet.
We might be induced to feed our Hamster’s grapes because of their charming personality but we have to learn to keep our emotions in control and do what is best for our little ones.
The line of overfeeding when it comes to grapes is very thin, we must not forget that grapes are not an integral part of their diet and are just sweet treats.
What Kind Of Grapes Can Hamsters Eat?
Not all types of grapes are suitable for Hamsters. Read further to learn about the best kind of grapes for your little ones.
Can Hamsters Have Purple Grapes?
Yes, Hamsters can eat purple grapes. Surprisingly, purple grapes are better than green grapes for our Hamsters as they contain less sugar and contain more antioxidants which is beneficial for our Hamsters.
Can Hamsters Have Green Grapes?
Yes, Hamsters can eat green grapes. Both green and red grapes are perfect for our Hamsters. However, always prefer the seedless varieties. Also, remember to keep the quantity in check.
Can Hamsters Have Red Grapes?
Yes, Hamsters can eat red grapes. Red grapes are considered the best grapes for our Hamsters as they have the highest number of resveratrol and antioxidants compared to all the other different types of grapes.
Nevertheless, do not let the fact that it is better than the other grapes change the quantity that you serve to your Hamsters. One or two red grapes of medium size should be served not more than once a week.
Can Hamsters Eat Raisins (Dried Grapes)?
Although Hamsters can eat raisins it is best to avoid it.. Raisins(Dried Grapes) contain a lot of sugar(60%), which might be very harmful for your Hamsters.
It can cause several diseases like diabetes and stomach upsets. So try to avoid serving raisins to your Hamsters as much as possible.
Can Hamsters Eat Grapefruit?
Although grapefruit is a rich source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C we must never feed it to our Hamsters. It contains over 52% of Vitamin C and 23% of Vitamin A.
But just like the other fruits, it does not contain the right amount of sugar for our Hamsters. It also belongs to the citrus family which means that it is naturally acidic. Therefore, avoid feeding grapefruit to your Hamsters.
Can Hamsters Eat Grapes With Its Seeds?
We must not serve grapes with seeds to our Hamsters. It may seem like nothing to us but a small seed can be a disaster for our Hamsters.
Since Hamsters have a very delicate body and digestive system, seeds might lead to choking hazards in them, so it is better to clean out all the seeds before serving grapes to our Hamsters.
A better alternative would be to serve seedless grapes to your Hamsters.
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Can Hamsters Have Grapes Leaves?
No, it is not recommended to feed our grape leaves to our Hamsters even though no research has been done on the topic, I advise you to not risk your Hamster’s life. All plants, leaves, and grass are not safe for our Hamsters.
Grapes can be served to our Hamsters in a very small quantity but leaves should be avoided as they are considered poisonous.
How Do I Prepare Grape For My Hamsters?
There are a few steps that you need to follow in order to prepare grapes for your Hamsters. The steps are as follows:
- Choose the right grape: The first step is to choose the right grape for your Hamsters. Make sure to serve only ripe and fresh grapes as rotten and unripe grapes might lead to several digestive problems.
- Wash the grapes: The second step is to wash the grapes so that there are no chemicals or germs on the grape when you serve it to your Hamster.
- Remove the seed: The third step is to cut the grape in half and remove the seed. This is very important because it might be a choking hazard in our Hamsters.
- Feed them by hands or in a small bowl: This is the final step, make sure to remove the uneaten grape to avoid any bacteria build-up.
Quick Tips: Hamsters And Grapes
So, let us understand what we have learned. Can Hamsters eat grapes? yes, but it is important to strictly monitor the quantity being served to them.
We should be very careful while introducing a new fruit in our Hamster’s diet as they are susceptible to diet changes. We must observe the closely and look if there is changes in their stool.
Lastly, you must make sure that grapes can be serves as treats only and in no condition, it should replace the staple diet of your Hamsters.
