Yes, your hamster can eat apple. The question whether a hamster may eat apples is certainly justified. However, we can reassure you that your hamster is allowed to eat the fruit, which is available fresh in Germany almost all year round. Apples are healthy and have many minerals and vitamins. Nevertheless, when feeding apples to your hamster, there are a few things to keep in mind. What this is, you will learn from us.

Are hamsters allowed to eat apples completely?

No, this should be avoided. It is important that you remove the core from the apple and never give the apple cores to your animal. This is because apple cores contain cyanide and amygdalin. These two substances release hydrocyanic acid when the cores are crushed or chewed. This is highly physically stressful and toxic to the small animal. A regular intake would lead to death.

Therefore, do not offer seeds and the core house to the animal. The peel, on the other hand, is not a problem, but should be washed well before eating. Due to the use of pesticides, most of the apples that we buy in the supermarket are contaminated and should therefore be washed beforehand. It is better if you have the possibility to offer apples from organic cultivation.

Hamster is a herbivore and most animals gladly accept the apples. However, there are some other things to keep in mind. Apples contain acids, which not every hamster can tolerate in high quantities. Therefore, observe how your hamster reacts to the apple in his enclosure. At the beginning you should offer him only a maximum of one eighth of a small apple.

Afterwards you observe whether possibly diarrhea or gastrointestinal problems occur. Especially with younger hamsters this happens more often. From the third month of life, the probability is lower, but you should still pay attention. The reason why diarrhea can occur is the acidity and the high water content of some apple varieties.

How to feed your hamster apple

If your hamster has never eaten an apple before, watch your pet. Does it accept the apple immediately and eat it right away, or does it carry it to one of its hiding places to deposit it there. Make sure that the apple does not rot in an unknown place in the enclosure. There is always a danger with hamsters that they will ingest inedible food that they have previously collected.

As described above, the cores and the stems can release prussic acid, so always cut out the apple generously around the core. Also, you should only offer ripe apples, as unripe apples can cause them to develop flatulence and diarrhea. The size, as we have already described above should be no more than one-eighth of a small apple at the beginning.

Apple as an attractant for your hamster

Many hamsters, when they are young, are very shy of us humans. However, they are also food driven and curious, which is exactly what we should take advantage of. Once you have determined that your hamster likes apples, you can use them to lure him in. Take a small piece of apple and place it on your fingertips and offer it to him with the flat of your outstretched hand.

Most hamsters will be extremely curious about this type of food presentation the first time. This does not mean that this attraction will work the first time. Try it again and again and in the meantime give your hamster only tiny pieces of apples so that he knows what to expect. Little by little, they will continue to come closer and closer to your hand.

With most hamsters you will have the success within one to two weeks that he gets the apple piece from your fingers and then goes at a distance again. If you have a very trusting hamster, then put the apple piece a little further on your hand, so that he has to sit on your hand with his front feet. When he will sit on your hand and eat the apple there.

Every day apple for the hamster?

No, you should avoid that. However, besides the fact that the acid may be well tolerated by the hamster, the apple also has good sugar content. Fruit with high sugar content should always be considered only as a treat. So you can safely give your hamster a piece of apple two to three times a week, but no more.

Again, always keep an eye on the total amount over the week. Your hamster should not get more than two well heaped teaspoons of fruit within a week. This is the amount for a large hamster, if you have a dwarf hamster you should halve the amount. Hamsters don't really need sugar, so fruit is only useful as a food supplement and treat.

Again, we would like to point out that too much sugar can be life threatening for your hamster. This is because dwarf hamsters in particular are very susceptible to developing diabetes. Therefore, rather give a little less of the treat than we recommend. This way you are on the safe side and don't have to worry about your hamster's health.

Are apples healthy for the hamster?

Eaten in moderation, the apples are a great way to provide him with vitamins and minerals. On the apples contain nutrients that are vital for the hamster. Here is a small list of what vitamins and minerals are contained in the apple.

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B1, B2, B3, and B6
• Biotin
• Folic acid
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Phosphorus
• Zinc
• Copper

An exceptional mix of minerals and vitamins that are vital for your little rodent. Apples are 85 % water, but also have some nutrients that should not be ignored. These include:

• Carbohydrates: 15 %
• Protein: 0.3 %
• Fat: 0.3 %
• Dietary fiber: 2 %

What varieties of apples can I feed my hamster?

Here, fortunately, you do not have to make any distinctions as to which apple varieties you can feed your hamster. For all of them the same thing has to be considered, never feed with core or style and always make sure that the apples are ripe. A little tip from us, we would recommend switching to varieties that contain as little sugar as possible.

Are all hamster breeds allowed to eat apples?

Yes, no distinctions or exceptions need to be made here. All hamster breeds are allowed to eat apples. However, he again points out that apples are only a nutritional supplement and they should be given sparingly accordingly. Therefore once again, per week a maximum of two well heaped teaspoons of fruit for a large hamster. Dwarf hamsters should get only half, so one teaspoon of fruit per week.