While keeping a cute, furry little hamster might seem easy and doable, it can be quite confusing and difficult at the same time.
A lot of the confusion is mostly around their diet. Many ask questions about pellets and fruits etc., but the question we’re going to answer today is “can hamsters eat arugula?”
Hamsters are delicate little pets, with very fragile digestive systems. Just like humans, they have a dietary requirement which needs to be an all-round type of diet, which include their main diet, and a side of healthy treats.
It is important to note, that foods that are too watery, or sweet and even too acidic, should not be fed to hamsters, as it could harm them.
Let’s dive in and find out the answer to the infamous question “Can hamsters eat arugula?”
What is Arugula? Can hamsters eat arugula?
This ancient food has been used as medicine ever since Roman times, and is one of the favorites of Italian chefs, as it is a green, leafy vegetable. Its appearance is dark-greenish in color, and is used worldwide for different cuisines.
Popularly found in salads, this veggie has many different names such as rucola, rocket, roquette, rugula, and colewort.
This veggie can be found all around the year and is mostly harvested in spring, with the shape of the leaves being round or pointy.
The nutrition contained within this vegetable is as follows, with small amounts of fat and sodium, and a high amount of calcium, this leafy vegetable is packed with Vitamins ranging from A, B, C, and D and it also has minerals as well, namely potassium and iron.
Arugula Nutrition Statistics
We roughly mentioned the nutrition contained within Arugula, but let’s take a deeper dive into this vegetable’s nutritional value. 100 grams of this green packs a nutritious punch, and raw arugula is the best option, as it contains:
As this green packs a punch and is an all-round type of green, it also includes various minerals and vitamins which are essential for growth, development and maintenance, and they are as follows:
Minerals:
Vitamins:
Can hamsters eat arugula?
After a, thorough and detailed dive into the nutritional value of this vegetable, it is indeed safe for hamsters to have it. But, they should only be given this occasionally.
As it contains high levels of calcium, which can be dangerous for hamsters.
The good thing about this is, the low sugar content, which will not lead to any health-related issues such as diabetes or obesity, so it is safe to feed this to your hamster occasionally.
As a rule of thumb, just like we wash our veggies before cooking or eating, do the same before feeding the hamster, to prevent chemical or pesticide poisoning.
Is arugula good for hamsters?
The short answer to this question is yes, hamsters can eat arugula. But, in controlled quantities and feed. Like the saying “abuse of anything is dangerous” as is the case with arugula. Do not overfeed your hamster with this vegetable thinking it only is a vegetable.
Feeding your hamster, a lot of leafy greens can be dangerous in high quantities, try mixing it up so your hamster loves feeding time and does not get bored.
Just like we love a mixed salad of fruits and veggies, do the same for your furry pet and mix it up with fresh veggies and hamster foods.
Remember, like we mentioned above, avoid giving them sugary, acidic or watery foods, they cause hindrances in the digestion of the hamster.
Do hamsters like arugula?
This question has a two-fold answer, while most hamsters can eat arugula, it is important to mention that it varies from species of hamsters.
All hamsters cannot eat arugula. They can eat arugula in a dried form, or even the stems, but not the seeds. It is very important to keep this in mind.
Moreover, if you keep on feeding them this repeatedly, there is a chance they might get bored of this and stop eating it as a whole.
So, it is important to remember, that mixing it up is important. Toss up salads for your hamster.
Can hamster eat Arugula? How to prepare arugula for your hamster
Let’s walk through how to prepare the arugula for your pet hammy.
First and foremost, you should wash the veggie thoroughly, to remove dirt and surface bacteria. Next, you should let it dry.
When it has dried, take about half a spoon and feed it to your hamster. Remember, not to feed them more than twice a week, with this veggie.
How much Arugula to feed your hamster?
A fully grown adult hamster can eat pieces of arugula that are equal or less to the size of its head. While feeding your hamster arugula for the first time, start off by giving little chunks and bits to let your hamster develop a taste for them.
Do not start giving them whole, big pieces as they may not eat them at all. Keeping in mind factors such as age and diet, feeding your hamster about a teaspoon or a half of that should be fine.
Now let’s talk about baby hamsters, the answer is direct and straightforward here, no. Do not feed this to baby hamsters. Their source of food should be the breast milk of their mothers and feeding.
Hamsters that are dwarfish in nature can have 1/9th portions of arugula weekly. Whereas Syrian hamsters can have half of arugula leaf. The thing with wild hamsters is that they can eat anything that a pet hamster can.
Whereas robo hamsters can eat a half spoon of arugula weekly, despite being smaller than Syrian hamsters.
How often can a hamster eat arugula?
Hamsters are of different breeds, and this can vary the feeding of arugula to them as well. Some hamsters are bigger in size and build and can eat more, naturally, as compared to smaller ones who can’t eat as much. So, let’s break it down size-wise.
Can arugula make my hamster sick?
While this veggie might be tossed up in a salad, or even be offered as a treat, there are several risks involved with this. Arugula can cause your hamster to have diarrhea, bloating and an aching and paining stomach as well.
If your pet is not comfortable eating or wasn’t introduced to this vegetable with new diets, there is a chance it can’t stand it. So, try opening them up to this veggie with little amounts, and keep an eye out for anything unusual.
Can hamsters eat raw arugula?
Hamsters normally eat fruits and veggies raw. Just remember to wash them first. To prevent any sort of poisoning.
Can hamsters eat dry arugula?
Surely, hamsters can eat dry arugula. But, like we discussed above, try feeding them little doses to examine whether they can adjust to it, or even if they like it or not in the first place.
If by chance your hamster does not like Arugula, you should take it away, and not to experiment with this again. But, on the other hand if they do like it, it’s a green signal, you should go on ahead and feed them this.
Can we feed arugula seeds and stems to our hamsters?
As we mentioned above, stems are safe if they are fed in controlled quantities. This is not a problem, but the problem arises when it comes to seeds. They are sour in taste, and should not be fed to the hamsters at all.
Substitutes for arugula for your hamster
The canned food that you find at pet stores comes with a lot of nutritional value for your hamsters. But that should never be the only source of it, as they should be allowed to have a variety of things in their diet to have a healthy digestive system.
The following are varieties of fruits and veggies you can use to spice up your furry friend’s diet:
What is harmful to hamsters?
The following are substances that are harmful for your hamster, and should not be fed to them in any circumstances, as they can be poisonous to them. The following contain toxins and should be avoided at all costs:
Conclusion – Can hamsters eat Arugula?
Arugula is a spicy green that is added to salads to take them from a boring old leafy salad to something exotic. It has many benefits and is loaded with a lot of nutrients and minerals.
Arugula is spicy in nature, and should not be overfed to the hamsters, as we have discussed above, it is essential to protect and nurture our pets, so moderate to little quantities of this green should be used.