It’s a question that has plagued pet owners for years – can hamsters and dwarf hamsters eat mango? The answer is yes, but there are a few things you need to know before feeding your furry friend this delicious fruit.
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What is Mango?
Mango is a tropical fruit produced mainly in India, China, Thailand and Mexico. It is typically orange or yellow in color, sweet and flavorful, and is a popular ingredient in many dishes. Mango is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
It seems that hamsters don't naturally come across many mangoes in the wild so careful owners have been wondering if that fruit was safe for their pets to eat.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Mango?
Because Dwarf hamsters are more prone to diabetes, owners are especially worried about feeding their hamsters sugary fruits like mango.
In fact, fruits are a great occasional snack. They do contains natural sugar which means they do not cause diabete.
Mangoes are a safe treat to give to any breed of hamster, as long as you respect the safe quantities guidelines.
Can Syrian Hamsters eat Mangos?
Syrian hamsters are unfortunately prone to diabetes too, so you will want to take the same care when feeding them mango as you would a Dwarf hamster.
Again, small quantities of mango are perfectly safe for your Syrian hamster to enjoy as an occasional treat. Just make sure not to overdo it!
How to Give your Hamster Mango?
When you give your hamster mango, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Make sure the fruit is cleaned first to remove any dirt or pesticide.
Only give fruits in small quantity so they don't pouch the excess, then store that in a place where it will go bad.
Ideally, you can give it during free roam, to ensure they don't run away with it and hide the fruit in one of their burrow.
How much Mango should you Feed your Hamster?
A good rule of thumb is to give your hamster pieces the size of an hamster ear, once a week at most. This is a small amount, but it's enough to let them enjoy the flavor without overfeeding them.
Of course, you can always consult with your veterinarian before giving your hamster any new food, just to be safe. If you stick to very small quantities the first time you introduce a new food, then observe your hamster for a few days before considering giving them more, you should be able to tell if they're having any adverse reactions.
Can Dwarf or Syrian Hamster have Mango Juice?
Fruit juice are really not recommended for any hamster due to the high sugar content, and the lack of nutritional value. There's no fibre for example. It is much better and healthier to stick to water. Hamsters are desert animals , and don't drink a lot of fluid anyway.
If you need to bribe your hamster to take some medicine, you can try some drops of mango juice, but make sure it is 100% pure with no added sugar or additive. It's not impossible your hamster will prefer another kind of fruit juice.
Can you give Mango Seeds to your Hamster?
People rarely think of mango seed, but they are edible and can be very safely consumed by humans. You will find they are full of flavour and are often added to various Indian recipes.
You have to remember that seeds from ripe mangoes have hardened and become fibrous and bitter, while seeds from unripe mangoes are soft and still sweet.
Knowing this, is it safe to give mango seeds from an unripe mango to your hamster?Their natural diet contains a lot of seeds, and the likes of Pumpkin, sunflower, flax, sesame, wheat seeds and corn kernels are usually in their seed mix.
The important factor is the size of your hamster. The seeds from stone fruits contain cyanide. This is released in the body when the seed is chewed.
It's such a low level that it's pretty harmless to human, you would need to eat a ridiculous amount to make yourself sick. However for a tiny hamster, it could be fatal.
So the safest answer is no, don't give your hamster mango seeds, the risk of adverse reaction is far too high.
Can you give Mango Peel to your Hamster?
Mango peel contains urushiol, which is also found in poison ivy and poison oak. This substance can cause an allergic reaction in some people, so it's best for everybody to avoid contact with it.
It is therefore considered dangerous for hamsters, An adverse reaction on such small animals can have very serious consequences, and it's simply not worth the risk.
The best thing to do is to avoid giving your hamster mango peel altogether.
Mango Based Hamster Treats that are Safe
Hamster enjoy treats from baby food squeeze pouches. As always, only a small portion once a week is enough. To avoid waste, you can fill ice cube trays and freeze the content, only defrosting a cube at a time to treat your furry little friend.
You do have to check the content list to ensure it's safe.
From the baby food selection by Ella baby kitchen:
quite a few products are mango based, safe for hamsters and will make a welcome treat:
single fruit pouch: Mangoes, Mangoes, Mangoes
smooth Mangoes
Organic Pears + Papayas Apples puree
Mango + Banana Rice Cakes
Raspberry + Mango Puff Pops
Mango Baby Brekkie
Are Dried Mangos okay for your Hamster to Eat?
You should not really give a treat taken from a pack of dried mango you purchased from a shop or online. They are likely to contain preservatives and might even have added sugar. Mangoes are already very sweets, no hamster needs this excess sugar that won't be good for them.
Mangos you dried at home are a safer choice, because you know exactly that nothing has been added to the fruit. It's an easy process that can be done in a dehydrator or oven.
1. Start by washing and peeling the mango.
2. Cut off the cubes of mango in cubes of uniform size and place them on a tray leaving enough space between each slice.
4. Leave in the oven for 2 or 3 hours, turning them every half and hour or so to make sure they dry evenly.
They need to be in the oven long enough so they can dry, but not too long so they don't become crips.
Shall I Buy Mangos for my Hamster
It is ok to give a small portion of mango to your hamster, but buying a mango specifically for your little pet would be too wasteful. The average weight of a mango is 150g, the average weight of a Syrian hamster between 85 and 150! So unless you have several hamsters, it is better not to buy a mango only for your furry friend. Most of the fruit will be discarded.
Your little pet will be happier with a bit of carrots or apple.
Is Mango a good Name for a Hamster
Mango is a lovely name for a little hamster and is rather popular . You could also go for related names such as 'Pineapple' or 'Coconut'. Other popular fruit-based hamster names include 'Raspberry', 'Blueberry' and 'Strawberry'. So, if you're looking for a cute and unique name for your furry friend, then mango could be the perfect choice!
Conclusion
Mangoes are a healthy snack for humans, but they should be given in strict moderation to dwarf hamster and any hamster. The sugar content in mangoes can cause health problems for your hamster. It is best to avoid giving your hamster mango seeds, the risk of adverse reaction is far too high. You also should not give your hamster dried mangoes as they likely contain preservatives and added sugar. If you insist on giving your hamster a treat, an idea is to purchase baby food that is mango based. When in doubt, seek professional advice from a veterinarian.