Last updated on February 11th, 2023 at 08:39 pm
Can hamsters eat green beans? Yes, hamsters can eat green beans, but in moderation so that they can make the most of the benefits without eating too many green beans.
Hamsters, in addition to pellets and food designed specifically for them, should also eat vegetables and fruits to get all the nutrients needed for their development, growth, and health.
Vegetables such as green beans certainly belong in healthy foods, which should be included in their diet, which will provide vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
It is best to eat raw green beans, and avoid boiled or canned. In today’s article, you will learn how many green beans hamsters should eat, as well as its benefits and side effects for hamster health.
Can hamsters eat green beans?
Yes, hamsters can eat green beans, it is completely safe for their health, of course as long as it is eaten in moderation, after all any food should be eaten in moderation to have the best health benefits.
Green beans provide vitamins, minerals, folate, antioxidants, and fiber that are great for the health of your furry pet.
It is best to eat raw green beans, it has the most nutrients, while boiled, canned, and frozen green beans are not good to give to hamsters.
How to start giving green beans to hamsters?
Any vegetables when given to hamsters should be thoroughly washed beforehand so that there are no pesticide residues used to grow green beans.
The next thing is always at the beginning when the hamsters are introduced to a new food, it is given to them in small quantities so that they can get used to the taste.
It also does not mean that every hamster will want to eat green beans, although most of them will want to eat green beans, there can always be an exception, but do not despair there are other vegetables that hamsters can eat.
So if hamsters do not want to eat green beans, do not force them to eat something they do not want.
Then give a small piece of green beans the best of your hand, because that way the hamsters will be more confident to try the new food because they are quite scary by nature.
Giving with your hand will strengthen the friendship and trust between you as the owner and your furry pet.
If all goes well and the hamster agrees to eat green beans, gradually increase the dose until you reach the recommended dose, of course initially wait 24 hours to see if there will be any adverse reaction.
If side effects such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, or the like occur, stop giving green beans to your pet, and consult your veterinarian about further steps to take.
How many green beans should hamsters eat?
Because hamsters can eat green beans, we still need to know how much green beans are allowed for them.
For example, larger breeds such as the Syrian hamster can eat the most, while dwarf hamsters can eat the least green beans.
So let’s see which breed of hamsters can eat as many green beans for maximum utilization of nutritional values.
How many green beans can a Syrian hamster eat?
Because, as we have said, Syrian hamsters are the largest, they can normally eat the greenest beans.
It is best for his health to eat a teaspoon of green beans twice a week, and not two days in a row.
Of course, green beans should be a supplement to the already existing food for Syrian hamsters, they should never be the main dish.
read more: Can Hamsters Eat Corn? All You Need To Know
How many green beans should Robo hamsters eat?
Robo hamsters are smaller than Syrian hamsters, but larger than dwarf hamsters, and should eat less than Syrian hamsters.
The ideal amount for a Robo hamster is half a teaspoon twice a week.
This great vegetable will help the Robo hamster to be healthier and more resistant to diseases.
How many green beans can dwarf hamsters eat?
Dwarfs, along with Chinese and Campbell hamsters, are the smallest of all hamster breeds, so they should eat the least green beans.
It is best for dwarf hamsters to eat only one teaspoon once every two weeks.
You may think it is too little, but believe me, that amount is enough for this hamster breed.
Their digestive system can not process more green beans, anything you give them more than this amount can only create side effects and health problems.
Should baby hamsters eat green beans?
No, baby hamsters should not eat green beans or any other vegetables and fruits for the first few weeks of their lives.
Baby hamsters should only use breast milk, water, and food specifically designed for their age.
Only after a few months should they start gradually introducing other types of food, including green beans, as their digestive system while they are babies can not process such food.
What are the nutritional values of green beans for hamsters?
To know exactly what kind of vegetable it is, here is the composition of green beans and their values in 50 grams of green beans:
- calories 15
- fiber 1.3 grams
- protein 0.9 grams
- fat 0.28 grams
- carbohydrates 2.83 grams
- sugar 0.97 grams
- potassium115 mg
- Vitamin C 5 mg
- magnesium 2.5 mg
- calcium 3.5 mg
- phosphorus 4 mg
What are the benefits of green beans for hamsters?
Green beans are a delicious vegetable that offers a number of health benefits to hamsters, here are some of them:
- folate – they help improve hamster blood, create healthy red and white blood cells, and convert carbohydrates into energy for hamsters.
- fiber – they are great for better digestion, and in general for your furry pet’s digestive system, and prevent constipation.
- Vitamin C – the most important vitamin for hamsters is enough in green beans, provides protection against scurvy, dandruff, and dry skin, and generally improves the defense system of hamsters to fight disease and infection.
- Vitamin B- helps your hamster have energy during the day, to be able to run and play more.
- Vitamins A and K- are great vitamins that help hamsters have better eyesight because naturally, they have poor eyesight, other benefits of these vitamins are a healthier heart, kidneys, and liver.
- Calcium and iron – are minerals in the composition of green beans that will make the bones and teeth of hamsters even stronger, and iron also helps in the formation of hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen through the blood and the whole organism of your pet.
- Antioxidants – they help fight free radicals, thus slowing down aging as well as cancer.
- for weight loss – green beans will help your hamster to always be in top shape, due to the low number of calories and low-fat content (only 0.5 grams of fat per 100 grams) in this vegetable.
- magnesium and potassium and also phosphorus– helping our hamsters to have healthy heart, and lower the chance of heart disease.
Can hamsters eat raw green beans?
Yes, hamsters can eat raw green beans, in fact, our recommendation is to always give them raw green beans.
Raw green beans are the best solution because that way they will make the best use of the nutrients of this vegetable.
Can hamsters eat boiled green beans?
No, hamsters should not eat boiled green beans.
The first reason is the fact that when cooking green beans, many of the nutrients needed for your furry pet are lost.
The second reason is that cooked food is much harder to digest for hamsters, it can create problems with the work of their digestive system, so avoid cooked green beans.
Can hamsters eat frozen green beans?
Yes, hamsters can eat frozen green beans, but you should not give them to hamsters to eat immediately after you take them out of the fridge.
It needs to be thawed at room temperature first, and only then served to your pet.
Make sure that frozen green beans do not contain any additives such as salt or anything similar, as they may be harmful to their health.
Can hamsters eat green bean seeds?
Yes, hamsters can also eat green bean seeds.
But try to give them young green bean seeds, they are softer and easier to digest in their body.
Avoid seeds of old green beans, which are more mature and firm, they can harm them, make them harder to digest, and cause problems with your pet’s digestive system.
Can hamsters eat green bean leaves?
Yes, hamsters can eat green leaves, but we recommend that you avoid them anyway.
Or give them green bean leaves but in very small quantities much less often than raw green beans.
Because more frequent giving of leaves of this vegetable can create problems with their digestive system.
Can hamsters eat dried green beans?
Hamsters can eat dried green beans, but this also depends on every hamster can be different, some of them will like it, and others maybe don’t like it.
When you give them dried green beans first see the reaction from your hamster, if they like it give them one inch of dried green beans 1-2 a week.
When hamsters finish eating you must remove uneaten parts from the cage, and not let them stay a long time in their cage.
Can hamsters eat canned green beans?
No, hamsters can not eat canned green beans, because they do not have enough nutrients.
Canned green beans contain additional preservatives, which are not good for hamster health at all.
A second reason why canned green beans are not good for hamsters is that it does not contain enough nutrients, making them virtually useless for your sweet pet to eat.
What are the side effects of eating green beans in hamsters?
Every food has its pros and cons, so it is with green beans.
The side effects of green beans, when eaten by hamsters, occur if you give them more than is allowed for them.
Some of the possible side effects are:
- Kidney and bladder stones – it happens if you give too many green beans to guinea pigs, due to the large amount of calcium contained in this vegetable.
- pneumonia – is a lung disease that occurs if hamsters eat too many green beans or some other legumes.
- suffocation – occurs if you give them too many green beans, and especially if the green beans are not cut into small pieces.
- Dehydration – occurs because green beans contain large amounts of water, which if overdone, creates a domino effect, instead of hydration, which will cause dehydration in hamsters and diarrhea.
- lack of nutrients – because if hamsters eat too many green beans, then they will not want to eat other foods that have ingredients that are not enough in green beans.
All this will not happen if you pay attention to the amount you give to your hamsters.
How long can green beans be stored in a hamster cage?
Whenever you give green beans to hamsters, make sure that no part remains in their cage.
If it is 30 minutes it is not dangerous, but if you leave the green beans for 2-3 hours it can cause bacterial contamination, which can lead to diseases for your pet.
Our recommendation is that after the hamster finishes eating, immediately remove the rest of the green beans from the hamster cage.
read more: Can Hamsters Eat Mango? All You Need To Know
What are the healthy alternatives to green beans in the hamster diet?
Besides green beans, there are other healthy vegetables that are good for their health, or if your pet does not want to eat green beans, do not despair, we have made a list of healthy alternative vegetables:
- artichoke
- asparagus
- basil
- mint
- carrot
- beets
- spinach
- cucumber
- pumpkin
- celery
- sweet potato
- broccoli
- cauliflower
Conclusion
Green beans are a great vegetable, which is safe and healthy for hamsters and should be included in their diet.
This healthy vegetable contains a number of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients that are important for the development and maintenance of hamster health.
By eating green beans your pet will have healthier blood, bones, heart, more energy, better eyesight, better immunity, and disease protection.
If you give them too many green beans, then side effects such as diarrhea, suffocation, kidney and bladder stones, and other health problems can occur.
It is best for hamsters to eat raw green beans, and to avoid cooked and canned varieties of this vegetable.
Finally, green beans are a vegetable that your pet will love to eat, and you as the owner just need to be careful about the amount you give them so that the hamster can be healthy and happy, and of course you along with him.
read more: Can Hamsters eat Bell Peppers? Benefits and Risks