The gourd is a fleshy, typically large fruit with a hard skin, some varieties of which are edible.

There are many different gourds worldwide because of how they have evolved.

The main plants referred to as gourds include;

• Several species from the Cucurbita genus,
• Crescentia cujete (the tree gourd or calabash tree, native to the American tropics)
• Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd).

Other plants with gourd in their name include the;

• luffa gourd (likely domesticated in Asia), which includes several species from the Luffa genus,
• wax gourd,
• snake gourd,
• teasel gourd,
• hedgehog gourd,
• buffalo gourd/coyote gourd. (source)

The bitter melon/balsam apple/balsam pear is also sometimes referred to as a gourd.

This is because of its similar characteristics to other gourds.

There are many different types of gourd, some are edible and some are to be avoided.

As a result, each different gourd is to be taken on its own merits.

So can hamsters eat gourds?

It really depends on the type of gourd, but it is recommended to stick to familiar gourds and squashes such as butternut squash, pumpkin and summer and winter squashes.

As a result, this will stop any unwelcome sickness to your hamster.

Goji, goji berry or wolfberry is the fruit of Lycium barbarum.

As a food, dried wolfberries are traditionally cooked before consumption.

Dried goji berries are often added to rice congee and almond jelly, as well as used in Chinese tonic soups.

This is in combination with chicken or pork, vegetables, and other herbs such as wild yam, and licorice root.

The berries are also boiled as a herbal tea, often along with chrysanthemum flowers and/or red jujubes, or with tea, and packaged teas are also available. (source)

So can hamsters eat goji berries at all?

They are not the best berries for them to eat.

One or two would be fine but nothing more than that.

Avoid wild goji berries.

Gooseberries are a round edible yellowish-green or reddish berry with a thin translucent hairy skin.

So can hamsters eat gooseberries?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, their acidic, water, sugar, fat, salt, calcium and phosphorus content is of most interest as far as hamsters are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 184 kJ (44 kcal)
Carbohydrates
10.18 g
Dietary fiber 4.3 g
Fat
0.58 g
Protein
0.88 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv. (2%) 15 μg
Thiamine (B1) (3%) 0.04 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (3%) 0.03 mg
Niacin (B3) (2%) 0.3 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (6%) 0.286 mg
Vitamin B6 (6%) 0.08 mg
Folate (B9) (2%) 6 μg
Vitamin C (33%) 27.7 mg
Vitamin E (2%) 0.37 mg
Minerals
Calcium (3%) 25 mg
Iron (2%) 0.31 mg
Magnesium (3%) 10 mg
Manganese (7%) 0.144 mg
Phosphorus (4%) 27 mg
Potassium (4%) 198 mg
Sodium (0%) 1 mg
Zinc (1%) 0.12 mg
Other constituents
Water 87.87 g

source wikipedia

As you can see, gooseberries contain a lot of water, a little phosphorus, are quite acidic and a hint of fat.

This means that they are not the best fruit for them to eat due to the amount of water that they contain. A fruit to avoid as far as hamsters are concerned as they may get diarrhea if they eat gooseberries.

Golden syrup or light treacle is a thick, amber-colored form of inverted sugar syrup made in the process of refining sugar cane or sugar beet juice into sugar, or by treatment of a sugar solution with acid.

It is used in a variety of baking recipes and desserts.

It has an appearance similar to honey and is often used as a substitute where honey is unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

Molasses, or dark treacle, has a richer color than golden syrup, and a strong, distinctive flavor. (source)

So can hamsters eat golden syrup?

No they can’t at all. It is far too sweet for them to eat.

Grapes are a well known fruit that are eaten across the world.

They are well loved in many different countries, cultures, and civilizations and are enjoyed in many different variations whether they are seeded or unseeded.

So can hamsters eat grapes at all?

In order to make an informed assessment, let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

As far as nutritional content is concerned, we are interested in the water, acidic, phosphorus, calcium, fat, salt or sugar content of grapes, as far as hamsters are concerned.

We can then make an assessment as to whether each species of pet hamster can eat them or not.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 288 kJ (69 kcal)
Carbohydrates
18.1 g
Sugars 15.48 g
Dietary fiber 0.9 g
Fat 0.16 g
Protein 0.72 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (6%) 0.069 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (6%) 0.07 mg
Niacin (B3) (1%) 0.188 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (1%) 0.05 mg
Vitamin B6 (7%) 0.086 mg
Folate (B9) (1%) 2 μg
Choline (1%) 5.6 mg
Vitamin C (4%) 3.2 mg
Vit E (1%) 0.19 mg
Vitamin K (14%) 14.6 μg
Minerals
Calcium (1%) 10 mg
Iron (3%) 0.36 mg
Magnesium (2%) 7 mg
Manganese (3%) 0.071 mg
Phosphorus (3%) 20 mg
Potassium (4%) 191 mg
Sodium (0%) 2 mg
Zinc (1%) 0.07 mg
Other constituents
Fluoride 7.8 µg

Source wikipedia

As you can see grapes contain a little phosphorus, a hint of calcium and fat, quite a lot of acidic content, and a lot of sugar.

This means that some hamsters can eat them, but unfortunately others can’t.

Chinese hamsters

Chinese hamsters: Grapes contain too much sugar for Chinese hamsters unfortunately. As they are prone to diabetes they are too much of a risk for them to eat.

Roborovski hamsters

Roborovski hamsters: They are fine for Robo’s to eat in small amounts as a treat on an occasional basis.

Again, their sugar content is the big risk for them as they are fattening for them. But as they are not prone to diabetes, they can eat one or two grapes on an occasional basis. Make sure they are seedless grapes.

Syrian hamsters

Syrian hamsters: Grapes are fine for Syrian’s to eat, but like Robo’s try to feed them one or two only on an occasional basis, this is due the sugar content that they have. Make sure they are seedless grapes.

Russian Campbell dwarf hamsters

Dwarf Campbell Russian Hamsters: Unfortunately, they contain too much sugar for Campbell’s.

Winter white dwarf hamsters

Winter White dwarf Hamsters: Just like Campbell’s, they contain too much sugar for them to eat.

Green beans are also known as string beans or snap beans and are the unripe fruit and protective pods of various cultivars of the common bean.

They are distinguished from other differing varieties of beans mainly grown for their dried seeds in that green beans are harvested and consumed with their enclosing pods.

They are eaten all around the world in many different culinary dishes.

So can hamsters eat green beans?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and take a look further.

In particular, their acidic, water, sugar, fat, calcium, salt, and phosphorus content is of most interest as far as hamsters are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 131 kJ (31 kcal)
Carbohydrates
6.97 g
Dietary fiber 2.7 g
Fat
0.22 g
Protein
1.83 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv. (4%) 35 μg
Thiamine (B1) (7%) 0.082 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (9%) 0.104 mg
Niacin (B3) (5%) 0.734 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
(5%) 0.225 mg
Vitamin B6 (11%) 0.141 mg
Folate (B9) (8%) 33 μg
Vitamin C (15%) 12.2 mg
Vitamin K (14%) 14.4 μg
Minerals
Calcium (4%) 37 mg
Iron (8%) 1.03 mg
Magnesium (7%) 25 mg
Manganese (10%) 0.216 mg
Phosphorus (5%) 38 mg
Potassium (4%) 211 mg
Zinc (3%) 0.24 mg
Other constituents
Fluoride 19 µg

source wikipedia

As you can see, green beans contains quite a bit of phosphorus and acidic content, a little calcium, and a hint of fat.

This means that they can eat green beans but only in small amounts on an occasional basis. This is because of their acidic and phosphorus content. If you chop up a bean into small pieces for them that they can comfortably hold in their paws, they will appreciate that.

It is better to feed them a raw green bean than cooked though, although they can eat a cooked green bean.

Grass is a well known plant that is found in various forms around the world.

In its simplest form it includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and cultivated lawns (turf) and pasture.

Grasses have stems that are hollow except at the nodes and narrow alternate leaves borne in two ranks.

So can hamsters eat grass?

Yes they can eat a little grass. However, don’t give them to much as it may upset their stomach. Just be sure it doesn’t contain any pesticides which may harm them.

It is better to give them dry green hay which you can be sure won’t contain any bugs from outside.

 

Green apples are a big favorite for many as a fruit.

So can hamsters eat green apples?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, their acidic, water, sugar, fat, salt, calcium and phosphorus content is of most interest as far as hamsters are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 218 kJ (52 kcal)
Carbohydrates
13.81 g
Sugars 10.39 g
Dietary fiber 2.4 g
Fat
0.17 g
Protein
0.26 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (1%) 0.017 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (2%) 0.026 mg
Niacin (B3) (1%) 0.091 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (1%) 0.061 mg
Vitamin B6 (3%) 0.041 mg
Folate (B9) (1%) 3 μg
Vitamin C (6%) 4.6 mg
Minerals
Calcium (1%) 6 mg
Iron (1%) 0.12 mg
Magnesium (1%) 5 mg
Phosphorus (2%) 11 mg
Potassium (2%) 107 mg
Zinc (0%) 0.04 mg

source wikipedia

As you can see, green apples contain a hint of phosphorus, fat and calcium, a little acidic content, and a lot of sugar.

This means that Syrian and Roborovski hamsters can eat green apples in small amounts on an occasional basis. Don’t feed them too much though.

The skin is fine for them to eat, but avoid feeding them the core and the seeds or pips though.

However, Winter white dwarf, Chinese and Russian Campbell Dwarf hamsters cannot eat them due to the high sugar content in green apples. As they are prone to diabetes,

Last update April 5th, 2016. Granola is a breakfast cereal food and snack that consists of honey, nuts, rolled oats, and occasionally puffed rice.

It is baked until it is crisp and during the process of baking the mixture is stirred so as to keep a loose, breakfast cereal-type consistency.

Then such foods as dried fruits, and confectionery such as chocolate can be added as well.

(source: wikipedia)

So can hamsters eat granola?

It really depends on the hamster.

Syrians and Roborovski’s

A pinch of granola put in their bowl would not hurt them as a treat and they would really enjoy it. But it isn’t a food that should be fed on a regular basis. Just take care that it doesn’t contain chocolate though.

Chinese, Russian dwarf’s and Campbell’s

However, for these types of hamsters the sugar content of granola is just too much for them so it is best avoided. They are prone to diabetes and so foods with a lot of sugar in them will make them sick.

Guinea pig pellets refers to guinea pig nuggets or guinea pig food that has been specifically prepared for guinea pigs.

It is food that has been designed to meet the nutritional requirements of guinea pigs and as a result, help them become healthier.

It often contains such ingredients as;

• Grass,
• Maize,
• Wheat,
• Lucerne,
• Soya Bean Hulls,
• Peas,
• Soya,
• Oat Bran, (source)

So can hamsters eat guinea pig pellets?

No they can’t because they are made specifically for the dietary requirements of a guinea pig and not good for hamsters.

If they have a nibble of one they should be fine, but it isn’t a food that should be fed specifically to them.