Hamsters are undoubtedly one of the cutest animal species. They are tiny yet so cute-looking. Since they are small animals, they have fragile bodies and very weak digestive systems too. This literally means we need to be careful when feeding them food. So, when it comes to feeding sweet potatoes to hamsters, you may be wondering if it is safe to do so. So to answer that question, yes, you can feed hamsters with sweet potatoes, but only in moderate quantities.
In this article we have addressed how much sweet potato you should serve for hamsters, and on how to feed the hamsters with sweet potatoes. In addition to that, we have described the health-related benefits and the risks the hamsters may have from consuming sweet potatoes too.
Table of Contents
What is sweet potato?
One might think that sweet potatoes are a type of potato since it sounds like that. In fact, sweet potatoes are more like root vegetables, which are growing in South Africa. Having said that, you could spot them growing all over the world too. Sweet potatoes contain so many nutrients, such as fiber and other vitamins. People tend to make different cuisines using sweet potatoes.
Can they eat sweet potatoes ?
Yes, hamsters can eat sweet potatoes. Hamsters would consider this a fine treat for them; it could be beneficial for the hamsters in terms of health in particular. Having said that, you need to ensure that you prepare it properly and then feed the hamsters. It goes without saying that you should feed them in the right quantities too.
However, hamsters can eat sweet potatoes only if you cook them properly. In fact, in that way, it would be safe for the hamsters to eat those. I don’t recommend adding salt to sweet potatoes as it would turn out to be risky for the hamsters even if you feed them in small quantities. Besides, you should avoid adding sweeteners to sweet potatoes too. It could also turn out to be quite harmful to the hamsters.
Nutrient Value of sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious food items in the world. If we consider 200g of sweet potato, it may contain 180 kcal of energy. Besides, it could also contain 4 g of protein, 6.6 g of fiber, and 41,4 g of carbohydrates as well. In addition to that, 200g of sweet potato contains 0.3g of fat too. Furthermore, it also contains vitamin C, pantothenic acid, and vitamin A as well.
Health benefits of nutrients which are found in sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are delicious and nutritious for both humans as well as for hamsters. However, hamsters can gain access to potatoes containing these benefits only if they consume them in the right quantities. If I further elaborate on the health benefits the hamsters gain from eating sweet potatoes, it gives them so much energy. As aforesaid, sweet potatoes contain vitamin B, and it would give the hamsters so much energy to survive during the day. Sweet potatoes have vitamin C included in them too. In fact, it would be quite crucial in boosting the overall health of the hamsters. In addition to that, sweet vitamin D as well. Vitamin D is very crucial in terms of maintaining bone health and dental health.
Apart from the above, iron and calcium are two more nutrients that are contained in sweet potatoes. When it comes to the benefits of those nutrients, respectively, iron would help the hamster’s blood to stay healthy and strong. On the other hand, calcium would play a major role in maintaining the hamsters’ bone health.
Health risks (disadvantages) of sweet potatoes
In addition to the health benefits sweet potatoes have, they have some risks as well. In fact, too much of any food would not be healthy, and sweet potatoes are no exception to that. Obesity is a major concern when it comes to the health risks of sweet potatoes. In fact , once you overeat any food, it will undoubtably make you obese. So keep in mind that you should let the hamsters eat sweet potatoes only in tiny portions.
Additionally, hamsters who overeat sweet potatoes may experience digestive problems. If the hamsters happen to eat raw sweet potatoes, they may end up creating discomfort in the hamsters. So, always ensure that you cook them and let them eat them. Aside from these issues, excessive sweet potato consumption would cause nutritional problems in the hamsters.
If they overeat sweet potatoes, they will not have adequate room to eat their regular food. So, it would result in an imbalance in the diet at the end. Lastly, if the hamsters end up eating too many big sweet potatoes , it could result in choking. Therefore, ensure that you chop them into small pieces so that it will be easy for the hamster to swallow.
Can hamsters eat sweet potatoes leaves?
Hamsters can eat sweet potato leaves without a doubt. However, when you feed them , you always go for small leaves so that the hamsters can eat them comfortably. It would be more like a good and healthy snack for them. You should not give them their proper diet. Except for baby hamsters, sweet potato leaves can be fed once or twice a week to all hamsters.
Can hamsters eat sweet potatoes stalks?
I do not think you should feed your hamster with sweet potato stalks. Most importantly, they will not eat that part of the sweet potato.
Can hamsters eat sweet potatoes Plant?
No, they only eat sweet potato fruit. They are not interested in the plant part of the sweet potato.
Can hamsters eat sweet potatoes skins?
Sweet potato skin may contain chemicals that are harmful to hamsters, so they shouldn’t consume it. It is recommended to boil and cool sweet potatoes before feeding them to your hamster.
Can hamsters eat dried sweet potatoes?
Yes, but it is very risky to give dried sweet potatoes to hamsters. These dried sweet potatoes are hard and can block the hamster’s digestive system if they eat larger sized bites.
Can hamsters eat raw sweet potatoes?
I don’t recommend feeding raw sweet potatoes to the hamsters. In fact, raw sweet potatoes would be harmful to the hamsters.
Can hamsters eat cooked sweet potatoes?
Hamsters can certainly eat cooked sweet potatoes. Cooked sweet potatoes would still contain high levels of fiber. However, when you cook them, I suggest you cook them without adding oil. If you end up adding oil, it will choke. Even though you can feed cooked sweet potatoes to the hamsters, you may have to expect different reactions from your hamsters. For example, there would be some hamsters who would love to eat those and there would be some hamsters who would dislike eating those.
So, when you feed these food for hamsters you should always hold them in your hand and then allow them to eat. If the hamsters still don’t seem to be eating those, you can leave them in their food canal and let them eat there. You can check the food canal after about 24 hours and if you can’t locate the sweet potato, that means the hamsters would have consumed them. Having said that, if you spot the food still remaining there, you will have to remove them as hamsters don’t opt to eat those.
Can hamsters eat canned sweet potatoes?
Hamsters can eat canned sweet potatoes, and they would love to eat those. Having said that, you need to make sure that it doesn’t contain any salt or any other addictive substance. Additionally, you need to always provide those in the right quantities.
Few things to consider when you feed sweet potatoes
When you give sweet potatoes to hamsters , I suggest you hold the hamsters and then feed them. If not, always make sure that they are close to you. When you give treats, it will strengthen the bond between the hamsters and you. It would eventually cause them to socialize with you.
Moreover, when you feed sweet potatoes to hamsters, ensure that you give them in small portions and then observe them and see how they react to the food. However, chances are that they may probably keep food in the cheek pouches for some time without eating them too. Furthermore, you always need to ensure that you wash the potatoes and then cook them.
Once you wash them, it will ensure that those sweet potatoes are chemical and pesticide free. It goes without saying that you need to wash them without salt or with any other additives too.
I suggest you feed these treats to hamsters along with veggies such as pumpkin seeds, cabbage, and carrots.
How you should prepare and serve sweet potatoes to your Hamster
First you need to wash the sweet potatoes as mentioned above. When you cook the sweet potatoes, you can cook them for about 10 minutes. If you happen to boil the sweet potatoes for a longer period, it is very likely that all these nutrients will disappear. Furthermore, when you let the hamsters eat sweet potatoes, ensure that you feed them in small quantities. Thereafter , observe them well and see how they respond to it. If they don’t like it, you can stop giving it to them.
How many sweet potatoes at a time?
Too many sweet potatoes could be harmful for the hamsters. So, it is important that you know how much sweet potatoes would be the right quantity to feed the hamsters. So to answer the question on how many sweet potatoes for your beloved hamsters, it would depend on the hamster breed. For example Syrian hamsters can handle a little more sweet potatoes when compared with the dwarf hamsters. So, if you have dwarf hamsters it is best to feed them with a tiny piece of sweet potatoes once every week.
Are sweet potatoes toxic to hamsters?
Sweet potatoes are not toxic to hamsters. So, you don’t have to be worried when feeding sweet potatoes to hamsters. To sum up, it is safe for you to feed some sweet potatoes to the hamsters, but only in the right quantities. Besides, you need to make sure that you wash them properly and then feed them.
Conclusion
Hamsters can eat sweet potatoes without a doubt, but only at moderate levels. So, in this article we have covered what sweet potato is, how to prepare it, and how much you should feed the hamsters as well. In addition to that, we have covered the benefits and the health risks that sweet potatoes may pose to hamsters as well. So, enjoy feeding sweet potatoes to the hamsters.
You may have an idea that a hamster can eat sweet potatoes as a treat. Let’s look at the feasibility of feeding them potatoes.
Hello, my name is James and I’ve been caring for tiny pets for over 14 years with a passion. I enjoy passing on my expertise to other individuals in order for them to have the same amount of enjoyment as I do.
