Disclaimer: Earlier than altering your hamster’s weight loss program or introducing new elements or dietary supplements that they haven’t eaten earlier than, particularly on the subject of human meals, be sure to seek the advice of your veterinarian first. Each animal is completely different and requires a person method to diet, relying on their age, well being, degree of exercise, and medical historical past. The rules provided in our article have been fact-checked and authorized by a veterinarian however must be used as a mere information on meals security, reasonably than a person diet plan.
For those who’re used to purchasing your hamster a premade bag of business meals, you won’t perceive the thrilling number of gadgets you could possibly placed on their menu. Along with vegetables and fruit, how about bugs comparable to crickets?
Hamsters are omnivorous little creatures that enjoyment of animal and plant merchandise. Crickets are not any exception. Hamsters can completely bask in crickets. In reality, when you haven’t added crickets to your checklist of hammy snacks, it’s an ideal time to start out!
Hamsters Are Omnivores
One factor you won’t find out about a hamster is that they’re omnivores. In any case, you’re merely meting out a few premade pellets of their dish day by day and never dwell animals or bugs—so, it’s straightforward to neglect!
Being omnivorous signifies that hamsters depend on a weight loss program supplemented with protein sources. You possibly can add some bugs, together with crickets, to your rotation of hamster treats however consider, as at all times, an excessive amount of could be a downside. Retailer purchased bugs are most popular over wild ones to keep away from contaminants.
Do Hamsters Like Crickets?
Hamsters will typically like crickets very a lot, however this could fluctuate primarily based on the person. Some will come working as much as their cage for a cricket whereas others could not just like the style.
Advantages of Crickets for Hamsters
Crickets are stuffed with nutritious goodness in your hammy. Listed below are the perks of including these little hopping bugs to the menu.
Protein
Crickets have fairly a plentiful bounty of protein, which might add to your hamster’s well being. On common, 15-25% of your hamster’s weight loss program ought to include protein. It really works to advertise muscle mass and wholesome physique features.
Power
Your hamster will get a lift of vitality from consuming high-protein snacks like crickets. Crickets comprise amino, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids for an genuine meal!
Fiber
Crickets comprise a considerable amount of fiber which helps your hamster’s system run easily. It aids in digestion, guaranteeing the intestine flora stays balanced, and your little hammy is passing sufficient waste.
Nutritional vitamins and Minerals
Crickets comprise beneficial nutritional vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, copper, folic acid, riboflavin, and biotin.
Downfalls of Crickets for Hamsters
Though hamsters are nutritious and fascinating in your hamster, there are some issues to think about. Listed below are a number of dangers or negatives, however fortunately, they’re preventable.
Dwell Crickets Can Chew
Dwell crickets can injury your hamster in the event that they actually need to. Whereas your hammy actually has the higher hand within the state of affairs, that doesn’t imply the cricket received’t attempt to defend themselves.
Since hamsters can shove a lot meals inside their cheeks, a dwell cricket wouldn’t actually be one thing you’d need them to stow there.
Potential Choking Hazard
Crickets could be fairly massive generally. Relying on the scale of your hamster, a cricket may simply be a giant choking hazard. For those who really feel the cricket is massive in your hammy, attempt to piece it aside earlier than serving.
How one can Serve Crickets to Your Hamster
You possibly can serve a hamster crickets in a number of alternative ways. Your hamster may need a choice, or you could possibly have some issues about feeding them dwell bugs. Right here’s a bit of bit about every methodology of serving crickets to your hamster.
Dried Crickets
Dried crickets are already useless, so not solely can the cricket not chew your hammy or battle, however you received’t must do any of the work to arrange them.
Your hamster could love munching down on them, however they might simply get lodged within the cheek pouches due to the dryness. This might result in cheek pouch impaction and infections.
Rehydrated Crickets
As an alternative of feeding your hamster dried crickets, you possibly can at all times add a bit of water to allow them to take in some additional moisture. This enables the cricket to melt, which makes it simpler to swallow.
Dwell Crickets
Dwell crickets are one of many healthiest methods to serve crickets to your hamster. That’s as a result of all the vitamins are nonetheless intact.
Nevertheless, crickets can chew hamsters, which might result in harm. It’s at all times finest to finish the cricket’s life earlier than you place it within the cage along with your hamster. This manner, no hurt can come to your hamster, and the cricket received’t die gruesomely. It’s a win for everyone.
How Many Crickets Can Hamsters Eat?
The variety of crickets you feed your hamster must be rigorously decided primarily based on their measurement and dietary wants. It’s most acceptable to ask a veterinarian or different skilled for steerage primarily based in your private circumstances.
Nevertheless, a dwarf hamster, for instance, will eat fewer crickets than a teddy bear hamster.
Too many crickets can result in weight acquire and weight problems because of their excessive protein and fats content material.
It could be finest to do not forget that crickets are a supplemental meals so as to add to their common weight loss program. Hamster pellets are explicitly designed with all of the vitamins your hamster wants to remain wholesome.
For those who give a hamster a buffet of choices, they’ll doubtless select the meals that enchantment most to them, leaving the remainder to sit down or spoil. In case your hamster is overeating one factor, it might upset their digestive system or trigger dietary imbalances.
Retaining/Breeding Crickets
Shopping for crickets on the pet retailer can get costly after some time. As an alternative of frequently shopping for time and again, you possibly can breed crickets your self. Many assets are on-line to information you thru the steps to make your individual cricket breeding farm.
When you have the time, house, and vitality to take action, it is likely to be a extra financially useful choice when you plan to maintain up common feedings. Additionally, if in case you have different animals within the house, comparable to a reptile or an amphibian that eat bugs, it may be a double reward!
Conclusion
You possibly can add some yummy, juicy crickets to your hamster’s weight loss program when you haven’t already. Bear in mind, hamsters can get pleasure from extra than simply crickets! Check out different fashionable bugs like mealworms, dubia roaches, and different pet retailer favorites.
If you wish to hold or breed crickets, you possibly can arrange a mini cricket farm to economize. If not, the pet retailer at all times has a few of these bugs out there. Keep away from wild caught bugs simply in case they’ve come into contact with one thing dangerous in your hamster.
Featured Picture Credit score: Sophie Sparks Images, Shutterstock
