Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:33 pm
Popcorn is delicious, and we all love to eat it, especially when watching a movie.
You must be wondering if you should give your hamster some popcorn too.
Can hamsters eat popcorn? Yes, hamsters will love to eat popcorn, but we should always give it in moderation to get the best benefits. At the same time, the popcorn should be without salt, without sugar, without butter, or rather without any additives. Popcorn should be given to hamsters as an occasional dessert and should never be their main meal.
In today’s article, we will find out how much popcorn hamsters can eat and all the benefits and risks that hamsters can get.
What is popcorn?
Popcorn is a delicious food made from corn. Popcorn is consumed worldwide and is especially popular in the United States.
They are easily made with oil heated on the stove or just fired in hot air. Popcorn has nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are good for the health of hamsters.
They are easy and quick to prepare, and you can also buy machines for making popcorn.
We humans enjoy eating popcorn; of course, hamsters can eat and enjoy it with us.
Can hamsters eat popcorn?
Yes, hamsters can eat popcorn; we have to be careful about the amount we give them; it should be moderate.
For hamsters to eat popcorn safely, the most important thing is to give it to them without additives such as salt.
Popcorn should be nicely popped because unpopped popcorn is risky for hamsters; they can choke on it. For hamsters to eat popcorn, they should be prepared without oil because oil harms their health.
Will hamsters like to eat popcorn?
Yes, hamsters will love to eat popcorn, they will actually enjoy eating it, and they will eat as much as they can.
The taste of popcorn will attract hamsters and most of them will eat it, although it can always happen that a hamster does not want to eat it.
But that shouldn’t disappoint you; if your hamster doesn’t want to eat popcorn, there is a large selection of other foods that he will definitely want to consume.
Is popcorn safe for hamsters?
Yes, popcorn is safe for hamsters, but only if it is plain and fully popped.
To be safe, popcorn should be popped with air, no oil or anything else.
If you give a moderate amount of popcorn to your hamsters, it will be safe for them, and it will not cause any danger to their health.
How to give hamsters popcorn?
When you first give popcorn to the hamsters, it is best that you personally, as the owner give them popcorn.
Hamsters are timid by nature, so they will be hesitant to try popcorn or not, but when you give it to them, they will trust you and be encouraged to try it.
Give them a small amount of popcorn to see if they like it or not, if they like it great, and if they don’t like it, then don’t force them to eat something they don’t want.
If there is uneaten popcorn left in the cage, you should remove it because it will rot and start to smell and attract insects.
With this approach to your pet, in addition to helping them try popcorn, you will also improve trust; that is, your hamster will trust you much more, which is very important in the future when they have to try new food or something else again.
How to make popcorn for hamsters?
When making popcorn for hamsters, it should always be popped with air only.
Never add oil, salt, or anything else when making popcorn for your pets.
If the hamster shows any side effects such as diarrhea, decreased appetite or stomach problems, immediately stop giving them popcorn and take your pet to the vet.
How much popcorn can hamsters eat?
Hamsters differ in breed and size, which is why they don’t eat the same amount of food, which is completely understandable.
For example, as the largest, Syrian hamsters always eat the most, while dwarf hamsters always eat the least amount of food.
So let’s see, depending on the breed, how much popcorn we should give our furry friends.
How much popcorn can Syrian hamsters eat?
Syrian hamsters are the largest breed of hamsters; they have a stronger digestive system and can always eat the most popcorn.
Syrian hamsters can eat 1-2 pieces of popcorn once a week.
Indeed, it seems small, but it is enough for them to make the most of the benefits of popcorn without having side effects on their health.
How much popcorn can Robo Hamsters eat?
Robo hamsters are smaller than Syrian hamsters but larger than dwarf hamsters, so they need to eat popcorn for their size.
It is ideal for Robo hamsters to eat 1-2 pieces of popcorn once every two weeks, or one piece once a week.
With this amount, Robo-hamsters will use all the benefits of popcorn in the best possible way, without having unwanted and harmful consequences for their health.
How much popcorn can dwarf hamsters eat?
Dwarf hamsters are the smallest of all other breeds of hamsters; in this breed, there are Campbell’s, Russian and Chinese hamsters.
Dwarf hamsters can eat one piece of popcorn once a month; that’s quite enough for them because they have a very weak digestive system.
However, this amount will help them improve their health with the nutrients found in popcorn.
Can baby hamsters eat popcorn?
No, baby hamsters cannot eat popcorn.
In the first few weeks of their life, they should eat only food specially designed for them, mother’s milk and water.
Only after a few weeks should they start eating popcorn and other types of food, but after prior consultation with a veterinarian, to see where your pet’s development is and whether it is ready for new challenges in terms of nutrition.
What does the composition of the popcorn look like?
One serving of popcorn that has only been air-popped contains the following nutritional values:
- calories 31
- proteins 1 g
- fat 4 g
- fibers 2 d
- magnesium 5 mg
- potassium 3 mg
- zinc 2 mg
- phosphorus 6 mg
Although popcorn is not very healthy food, it still has certain nutrients that can be used to improve the health of hamsters.
Benefits of popcorn for hamsters
As long as hamsters eat moderate amounts of popcorn, as much as their breed and size allow, they will benefit their health.
Here are some of the benefits:
- Proteins – they provide better musculature for hamsters, as well as healthier skin and fur.
- Vitamin A – is an important vitamin that helps to improve vision in hamsters, who already have very poor vision.
- Vitamin A deficiency also causes stomach ulcers in hamsters.
- Calcium – is a mineral that is important for strengthening bones, and also helps hamsters have healthy teeth.
- Fiber – these are important for the health of hamsters as they make it easier to digest their food and improve their digestive system.
- Antioxidants – help hamsters to fight more easily against the action of free radicals; they protect against the occurrence of cancer. Antioxidants slow down the aging of hamsters, thus extending their lifespan.
- Magnesium – is an excellent mineral that helps stabilize blood pressure in hamsters.
- Polyphenols – are antioxidants that help with better blood circulation, better digestion and general improvement of health in hamsters.
- Fats – provide enough energy for hamsters to have the strength to play and run throughout the day.
- Vitamin B – is a mineral found in popcorn, and it allows hamsters to have more energy and improve their mood.
Side effects of popcorn for hamsters
If hamsters eat popcorn more than recommended, they will have negative effects instead of benefits, so moderation is very important when it comes to nutrition in hamsters.
Here are some side effects of eating too much popcorn in hamsters:
- Diabetes: if they eat too much popcorn, hamsters risk getting diabetes and other related diseases.
- Weight gain: popcorn has a lot of carbohydrates, making our pets fat.
- Diarrhea occurs because the hamster’s digestive system cannot process the large amount of popcorn properly.
- Stomach aches: An excessive amount of popcorn can only cause stomach aches to our pets, accompanied by diarrhea and flatulence.
What to do if hamsters eat too much popcorn?
If, by some chance the hamsters eat more popcorn than the intended amount, you should not be afraid, probably nothing terrible will happen to them.
Of course, this does not mean that the same thing should not be repeated in the future.
In this situation, giving your hamster more water is best, so it can more easily process a large amount of popcorn in its stomach.
Diarrhea and abdominal pain may occur, but this should normalize within 24 hours. Otherwise, you should take your hamster to a veterinarian to examine it and give appropriate therapy.
Can Hamsters Eat Salted Popcorn?
No, hamsters cannot eat salty popcorn or any other salty food.
Salt is too harmful to hamsters’ health; therefore, we should not allow them to ingest salty food.
Salty food causes diabetes, heart disease and other health problems. That’s why they should not be salty when you make them popcorn.
Can hamsters eat popcorn kernels?
No, hamsters should not eat popcorn kernels, which harm them.
Popcorn kernels are dangerous for hamsters because they can choke on them. Popcorn kernels are slippery and can block the airways of hamsters, which can then cause suffocation.
Also, popcorn kernels are difficult to process in the digestive system of hamsters, and therefore constipation can occur, which can even cause death in hamsters.
Popcorn kernels are also dangerous for hamsters’ teeth; if they try to eat the kernels, the hamsters’ teeth can easily break, and we know how important teeth are in your pet’s diet.
Can hamsters eat buttered popcorn?
No, hamsters can’t eat buttered popcorn; popcorn made that way harms their health.
Butter is not recommended at all for your furry friend’s diet. If they try eating popcorn with butter, the hamsters risk weight gain and diabetes.
Butter, being high in fat, can lead to fatty liver and heart problems in hamsters.
Can Hamsters Eat Toffee Popcorn?
No, hamsters cannot eat toffee popcorn; they are too harmful.
This popcorn contains too much sugar and should not be given to your pets under any circumstances.
The stickiness of these popcorns is another problem as they can easily stick in the hamster’s mouth and cause infections and serious problems, so stay away from this type of popcorn.
Can hamsters eat sweet popcorn?
No, hamsters cannot eat sweet popcorn or popcorn with any sweeteners; they are all harmful to their health.
Hamsters should only eat popcorn without any additives, whether sugar or salt, which are very harmful to them.
Sweet popcorn and sweet food, in general, can lead to tooth decay, and they are too important for hamsters; without healthy teeth, hamsters will not be able to eat.
If you already want to make a popcorn dessert for your hamsters, the only thing you can do is add a grated apple along with the popcorn.
Can hamsters eat popcorn with cheese?
No, hamsters cannot eat popcorn with cheese; they harm them. However, we could be wrong because actually, hamsters can eat cheese.
But popcorn with cheese is not the same as eating just cheese, so you should not give it to hamsters.
Popcorn with cheese has additives such as sugar, salt, and other harmful additives to hamsters.
Can hamsters choke on popcorn?
Yes, hamsters can choke on popcorn, more precisely, unpopped popcorn.
The kernels from the unpopped popcorn are a danger to the hamsters and therefore, we should be careful when giving them popcorn to remove the unpopped kernels.
Otherwise, the kernels can get stuck and cause your furry friends to suffocate.
Conclusion
Hamsters can eat popcorn in moderate amounts to make the most of the benefits without side effects for their health.
If hamsters eat moderate amounts of popcorn, they will have a healthier heart, a better digestive system, and be protected from cancer and many other benefits.
If they eat too much popcorn, diabetes, obesity, stomach problems, etc., may occur.
The popcorn you give to the hamsters should be without any additions like salt, sugar or other additives, and you can only give your furry friends regular air-popped popcorn.
Popcorn can only be given to hamsters occasionally, never as a main meal.
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