78 / 128
Pellet or nugget food
These are hard blocks of food with all the ingredi-
ents needed packed into one chunk. This means
the hamster cannot choose to feed selectively. This
type of food is less common nowadays and has been
replaced by the mixes.
Fresh food
Hamsters need to have fresh food once or twice a
week at least. Remember you do not need to give
much, the equivalent of an inch or so (2-3 cm) of
dandelion leaf or a thin slice of carrot is plenty. Fresh
herbs, such as parsley, clover, and dandelion, grass,
bits of apple, carrot, broccoli, or grape will be much
appreciated.
Avoid giving your hamster citrus fruits as these can
cause sores on its mouth. Lettuce, spinach, butter-
cups, ragwort, bluebells, and pineapple should not
be given to your hamster, nor any ornamental plants
or flowers.
Do not feed grass cuttings from the lawn mower.
Give picked grass only.
When giving any fresh food to your pet it is important
to make sure it is rinsed well under cold water to
clean away any dirt.
78
Hamsters