Does anyone feed their hamsters crickets?

Question

If so how many and how often?

Answer 1

Well, I have read that hamsters eat insects in the wild. I personally have never fed my hamsters crickets, but it doesn't sound like it would hurt them. Especially if it's something hamsters eat in the wild.

The thing with crickets is you can buy them in all sizes,  (I know one of the concerns mentioned was the size of the cricket compared to the hamster). If you have a Syrian Hamster, you probably wouldn't have to get too small of crickets, but for the smaller breed I would definitely get small to medium crickets. Most pet food stores sell them in bulk.

Maybe give it a try with just a couple little ones and see how your hamster does and if he enjoys them, if he really seems to like him probably a couple times a week as a treat would be good. I posted a link that I got the information regarding Hamsters eating insects in the wild.

It also gives you some other food ideas, that may provide even better nutritional value then crickets.

Good luck with your little friend! =)

Answer 2

its ok to feed them a couple once a week, but i jut dont have the somache to do it...

Answer 3

I don't have hamsters, but I know when I did research on gerbils- not too disimilar- you can give them one or two crickets once a week. No need to give them more or at all- they're a fun treat but offer no real nutritonal value.

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Of course hamsters eat crickets in the wild. They're underground, burrowing desert animals in the wild- they live on crickets and patches of vegatation. What with give them to live on is quite unusual in comparison.

Answer 4

Hamsters are actually omnivorous in the same way that rats are. In the wild they eat insect larvae, crickets etc as part of their diet. Crickets and mealworms are a good source of protein for your hamster and can be fed in small quantities.

You can feed a syrian hamster 2 small crickets (the smallets size you get at pet shops) once every two days as treats. For dwarfs, it should be 1 small cricket once every two days as treat.

Do not feed your hamster crickets / mealworms caught in the wild since they might have diseases that can make your hamster sick (tamed hamsters do not have the same immunity power like hamsters in the wild)

Remember, 80% of diet of hamster should consist of well balanced good brand commercial hamster feed, and if you are feeding crickets, reduce the other treats accordingly to fit these in the diet chart of your hamster.

Answer 5

Yes and mealworms too. You should gutload them first though.

For the person thinking these are crickets as big as hamsters. I'm guessing you have crickets where you live as big as what we call locus here - a couple of inches long or more. Thats NOT what we feed the hamsters. These crickets are little things no bigger than a half inch or so.

Answer 6

Hamsters eat crickets? I only feed mine sunflower seeds, wheat and vitamin treats. I wonder if the crickets are good for them or something...

Answer 7

No way! I don't even think hamsters eat crickets in the wild. Imagine a tiny hamster eating a cricket the size of the the hamster! Although i have never tried, i don't think it's okay. And the first answerer, gerbils are different from hamsters. SO i'm not quite so sure. But i think you should best not to feed your hamster crickets! What would happen if your hamster gets sick?

HOpe this helps.