Can hamsters eat jackfruit? I love having some jackfruit on hot afternoons, and it got me wondering whether my hamster would equally enjoy it.
Well, I did my research and found out that, Yes, hamsters can eat jackfruit. This tasty treat is packed with lots of beneficial nutrients. However, one should be careful when feeding it to their pets.
Read on to understand the benefits and risks of jackfruit.
CHECK: 3 Best Hamster Foods Review
Table of Contents
Is It Safe For Hamsters To Eat Jackfruit?
Jackfruit is safe for hamsters to eat since it doesn’t contain any toxins. However, caution should be taken when feeding the fruit as there are some adverse reactions to excessive consumption.
The high amounts of sugar in jackfruit can cause short-term effects like diarrhea and digestive problems.
However, smaller species like Chinese hamsters eating jackfruit can lead to life-threatening conditions like diabetes, bladder stones, and kidney problems.
The high amounts of dietary fiber can also lead to problems like indigestion and constipation when consumed excessively.
Another thing to watch out for is the sugar content of the fruit. When jackfruit becomes riped, it will become lovely and sugary.
This can be dangerous if the hamsters eat a lot of it. To ensure that it doesn’t cause them any health issues, offer jackfruit to hamsters occasionally and in small amounts.
It’s essential to serve jackfruit as an occasional treat and part of a balanced diet. [1] It should not be fed as a meal.
Do not fret; jackfruit has tons of benefits for your furry friend.
4 Health Benefits of Jackfruit for Hamsters
Jackfruit is high in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C. [2] This tropical fruit also contains folate, niacin, riboflavin, potassium, and magnesium. All of these are what the hamsters can benefit from. [2]
Below are some of the health benefits the hamsters can gain from eating jackfruit:
1. Strengthens Bones
Manganese and calcium are essential for bone health. These minerals help increase the density of the bones and lower the risk of fractures.
Hamsters are active creatures, and they move swiftly around. For that reason, they need strong bones to keep them moving quickly.
By having a diet of these minerals daily, the bones will become stronger and allow them to perform tasks such as foraging for foods without any issues.
2. Enhances Immunity
Jackfruit is rich in antioxidants. They support the immune system of the hamsters. It repairs damaged cell, helps the body absorb nutrients, and prevent hamsters from getting sick.
If hamsters do become sick, vitamin C will help them recover quickly from the illness.
3. Scurvy Prevention.
Vitamin C in jackfruit is essential in scurvy prevention. Since hamsters are highly susceptible to scurvy, this is a plus.
4. Vitamin K
Iron in jackfruit aids in improving the immune system by ensuring proper oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood.
How To Feed Jackfruit To Hamsters?
Feeding jackfruit to your hammy is quite quick and simple. But there are some crucial things you need to keep in mind first.
To feed the hamsters, follow the simple instructions below:
- Cut the jackfruit open with a sharp knife. You may wear gloves to prevent the white sticky substances from sticking to your hands.
- Using your fingers, scoop out the yellow flesh from the jackfruit.
- Open the flesh and remove the seed inside and discard it.
- Cut a slice of the jackfruit and give them to your hamsters.
Here are some more tips on how to feed hamsters jackfruit.
Can Baby Hamsters Eat Jackfruit?
Yes, baby hamsters can eat jackfruit. However, it’s recommended to wait to start feeding them jackfruit until they are at least ten days old. Before that age, they are still nursing.
After ten days, you can feed them jackfruit, but only a small bit. Avoid giving them a large piece, as it could cause them to choke on it.
Can Hamsters Eat Jackfruit Rinds and Seeds?
The rinds and seeds of the jackfruit should not be fed to hamsters. The rinds are too thick and tough and have sticky white substances. This could cause the hamsters to choke on it.
As for the seeds, it’s too hard and big for the hamsters to eat. This could make the hamsters choke on them.
Now that you know how to serve, another crucial element is how much.
How Much Jackfruit To Feed Hamsters?
Jackfruit should be fed to hamsters in moderation. For Syrian and Roborovski hamsters, give them a half slice of jackfruit. For smaller hamsters like the dwarf hamsters, give them just a tiny piece of jackfruit.
This fruit should only be fed to them as treats. Jackfruit should only make up 10% of their overall diet. The rest should come from quality commercial hamster foods.
The hamster foods are formulated with the right amount of nutrition to meet the hamster’s dietary needs.
While jackfruit is a good treat to feed hamsters, ensure you provide a balanced diet throughout the week.
This will prevent the hamsters from getting bored with the same food daily. Also, it will provide additional nutrition for hamsters that jackfruit doesn’t have.
3 Other Fruits That Hamsters Can Eat
1. Bananas
Hamsters eat bananas as it’s an excellent treat for hamsters. These fruits contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that the hamsters need.
However, due to their high sugar content, bananas should only be given to them occasionally. This means that once or twice weekly is enough for them to enjoy it.
2. Blueberries
Hamsters eat blueberries too, as it’s another treat that’s great for feeding hamsters. This fruit is high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Due to their high sugar content, only give blueberries to them in moderation.
3. Pears
Pear is a fruit that’s found during the warmer months. During the summer, pears are plentiful, and you can give pears to them as treats. This fruit is loaded with vitamins and minerals and is a good fiber source.
While pears are healthy for hamsters, the fruit contains high sugar and water. Too much of it can cause health issues such as obesity and upset stomach.
For that reason, feed pears to them in moderation to avoid any problems.
Conclusion
Can Hamsters eat jackfruit? Yes, they can.
Hamsters enjoy eating all types of fruits. When it comes to jackfruit, they will eat as much as you give them due to its sweetness.
However, too much sugar in the fruit could lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and obesity. To prevent any health problems, feed jackfruit to them in moderation.
So, do you feed jackfruit to your hamster? Let us know in the comments section!
Resources
- 1. Cooperman JM, Waisman HA, Elvehjem CA. Nutrition of the Golden Hamster. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 1943;52(3):250-254. doi:10.3181/00379727-52-14107
- 2. Goswami C, Chacrabati R. Chapter 14 – Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophylus). ScienceDirect. Published January 1, 2016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124081178000143
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