Can Hamsters Eat Potatoes?

Are potatoes safe for hamsters to eat? Yes and no! Hamsters can eat a small amount of potato but it must be cooked and you should also remove the skin. There are better vegetables to feed your hamster, such as leafy greens. Read on to learn more about safely feeding potatoes to your hamster.

What Are Potatoes?

The potato is a tuber that grows in the ground under the soil. Potatoes are an edible root vegetable and they come in many different varieties, shapes, and colors. The three most common types of potatoes are white or russet potatoes, red potatoes, and yellow potatoes.

Besides being eaten as a meal / side in their normal form, potatoes can also be used for baking, cooking other dishes like mashed potatoes or potato salad, or even made into chips.

The nutritional benefits of potatoes include being a good source of potassium, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. They also contain some important antioxidants that can protect against disease. However, the same antioxidants are also what give potatoes their color, so they will tint your hamster’s urine bright or dark yellow.

Can Hamsters Eat Potatoes?

So, can hamsters eat potatoes? Yes hamsters can eat potatoes, but only a small amount. They must also be cooked (and left to cool) as uncooked potatoes may cause a range of digestive issues.

Hamsters are omnivorous creatures, which means they eat both plant and animal matter. Because potatoes are mostly carbohydrate with some protein and fats, they can be a part of your hamster’s diet in moderation. Consuming too many potatoes can lead to obesity or malnutrition for your pet hamster.

Benefits Of Potatoes For Hamsters

Vitamin C, phosphorus, and niacin are all present in potatoes. Although potatoes have a high proportion of starchy carbohydrates, they are also less calorie-dense than we think. This type of carbohydrate is quickly utilized by the body for energy but will be stored if not used.

Boiled, baked, or roasted potatoes can be a nice treat for your hamster on special occasions as part of a balanced diet, as long as the potatoes are cooked, don’t contain any skin, and your hamster’s diet otherwise is adequately balanced, then the occasional serving of potatoes (either boiled or baked) is no problem.

A small amount of potato will likely not cause digestive issues for most hamsters. However, eating too many potatoes at once can lead to obesity if they replace other protein-rich foods in their diet. If there are any signs of digestive upset after feeding your hamster potatoes, take note and change their food accordingly.

Risks Of Potatoes For Hamsters

Potatoes with seasonings, fried potatoes, and uncooked potatoes are not good for hamsters because they may lead to obesity, indigestion, and even death.

Raw potatoes include a toxic chemical known as solanine. Solanine is deadly to most species of animals including hamsters and people.

Potato peels should not be eaten by hamsters because they contain saponins which are toxic to them. If your hamster gets into the habit of eating potato peels then there may be a problem with its diet or environment that should be addressed as soon as possible.

While potatoes are generally considered safe for hamsters in small quantities, you should introduce them slowly into their diet to prevent digestive upset.

Symptoms of digestive upset include constipation or diarrhea, gas, bloating or abdominal discomfort, flatulence (farting), nausea, vomiting, loss of and lethargy.

The negative effects of eating too many potatoes are obesity and malnutrition. Potatoes are high in starch which turns to sugar. This can lead to diabetes in hamsters that have a predisposition for this disease.

Hamsters are known for storing their food, and this can cause problems for a couple of reasons.

If any potatoes are left uneaten in your hamsters cage, they could rot, start to smell and attract insects.

Your hamster may also store uneaten potatoes in their cheek pouches, and it’s not uncommon for hamsters to develop abscesses, which can be sore for your pet.

That’s why it’s advisable to monitor your hamster when giving them potatoes and immediately remove and discard any uneaten potato from their cage.

How To Feed Potatoes To Your Hamster

Before feeding to your hamster, potatoes must be cooked and cooled to room temperature. Potatoes that are still hot may burn your hamster’s mouth and cause gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.

As long as the potatoes are cooked, fed in small portions and your hamster has a well-balanced diet, regular consumption is not likely to cause any serious problems, although high quantities might lead to obesity or malnutrition. However, some non-food items like peelings can be dangerous for hamsters and must never be fed to them.

As with the introduction of any new food to your hamsters diet, if you are going to try feeding your hamster potatoes, you need to monitor your hamster closely whilst eating them.

How Much Potato Can A Hamster Eat?

The amount of potatoes that you can give your hamster is determined by their breed, age, weight and overall health.

A Syrian hamster can eat about one tablespoon of cooked potato while a dwarf or Chinese hamster would need only half of that amount.

It is not recommended to feed your hamster more than one tablespoon of cooked potatoes at a time because too much starch may cause digestive issues.

Potatoes are high in starch which turns to sugar in the body, so if your hamster has diabetes this could be harmful for them.

Hamsters have small stomachs, so you should never give them large quantities of food at once since it can lead to weight gain and malnutrition. It’s important to know how much you should be feeding your hamster before deciding whether they can eat potatoes or not.

If you do choose to feed your hamster potatoes regularly then it’s important that they’re prepared properly and don’t replace any other more nutritious foods in their diet that provide essential vitamins and nutrients.

When feeding your hamster new foods, you should always start with a tiny amount to ensure that they like it, and that they don’t encounter an allergic reaction. So if you want to try feeding your hamster potatoes then we would recommend giving a very small portion size, about the size of a teaspoon.

Another good way to work out what is the right amount of potato to feed your hamster is to give them a portion they can comfortably hold within their hands.

Other Than Potatoes What Else Can Your Hamster Eat?

We have looked at if your hamster can eat potatoes.

Other than good quality hamster food, what else could you be feeding your hamster?

Grains

Grains are a staple food for hamsters. You should give about a tablespoonful each day. Grains can be found in commercially prepared hamster mixes, providing protein and carbohydrates. Avoid overfeeding fatty nuts (peanuts and sunflower seeds), as they can cause obesity.

Vegetables

Fresh, organic vegetables are the best choice for your hamster.

If you’re not using organic produce, be sure to clean it properly to get rid of any pesticides.

Whilst most vegetables are generally safe for hamsters, dark green vegetables are the best choice, so things like;

• Artichokes
• Broccoli spears
• Carrot tops
• Dandelion greens
• Romaine lettuce
• Spinach

Avoid iceberg lettuce and other high-water veggies or fruits (such as watermelon) to avoid stomach problems.

Fruits

Like vegetables, most fruit is OK for hamsters in small portions, as a supplement to the usual diet.

Some good choices are;

• Apples (with pips removed)
• Bananas
• Pears
• Strawberries

Remember always remove any uneaten veggies or fruits from your hamster’s cage within 24 hours to avoid them going off.

Timothy hay

Often overlooked for hamsters, hay is a wonderful gnawing food that can keep your hamster’s teeth clean.

Fresh water

Your hamster should always have access to fresh water, changed daily.

What’s The Best Diet For Hamsters?

If you have a hamster, you need to make sure that you are feeding them the best food possible.

We’ve discussed if hamsters can eat potatoes, and whilst hamsters can eat a wide variety of things, their primary diet should consist of good quality hamster food.

There are a lot of options available for your hamster, but not all of them are good! If you want to learn more about the best hamster food, you can read our full review of the best hamster foods here.

If you just want to know what we recommend, it’s Kaytee Pro Health Hamster food.

The Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Food was created by animal nutritionists to ensure that your hamster gets the correct nutrition within their diet.

To support digestive health, Forti-Diet Pro Health includes probiotics and prebiotics. This food is high in natural antioxidants for general health and immunity protection, as well as some bigger, crunchier pieces to promote dental health through natural chewing action.

Summary

So, hamsters can eat potatoes, however they should only be fed in small amounts and there are much better foods you can give to your hamster.

When considering your hamster’s diet, try to include fresh, organic vegetables and fruits. Offer small amounts of grains as well. Make sure to feed them some hay for chewing and gnawing purposes. Try to avoid overfeeding fatty nuts (peanuts and sunflower seeds), as they can cause obesity.

Fresh water should always be available for your hamster.

Now you know if it is safe to feed your hamster potatoes. Just remember, always start by introducing a very small portion of potatoes to your hamster, and look out for any signs of discomfort or unusual behaviour.

If your hamster has an adverse reaction after eating potatoes, contact your local veterinarian immediately.