Hamsters are very popular pets now. Because they are omnivores, they can eat nuts and stuff. But we know as a responsible hamster owner you will not satisfy only with that. You want more information before feeding them. So can hamsters eat pecans? Are those safe for them. Let us help you.
Short answer to ‘Can hamsters eat pecans’
Yes. Hamsters can eat pecans. Not only pecans but we also know they can eat any kind of nut. But few things to consider.
Can hamsters eat pecans in their diet every day
Even though they can eat pecans as mentioned above. It is a treat. Not for everyday diet. Several facts make pecans not suitable for hamsters’ everyday diet.
20 species of hamsters live in the world among warm, dry areas, like steppes, dunes, and the edges of deserts. Also, they are becoming popular pets. Pecans affect differently by different spices due to their body differences. You know pecans are high in sugar, fat, and water. One of these ingredients can be harmful to one spice. So, many spices can’t eat pecans as their every diet. Mostly because of this reason.
Overeating pecans can get hamsters various diseases. Obese and diabetic are the common ones. These decreases can get an adult hamster to die. However, it also works differently works on different spices. Usually, the giant hamster can eat more pecans compared to others in the hamster’s family.
Don’t overfeed
My main answer for can hamsters eat pecans is don’t overfeed. Because as I said these omnivores animals can eat hamsters as a treat, but overeating drags them to a lot of health problems.
Overfeed mean there is a limit. How much is too much? Well, it is depending on what spice are we talking about.
While giant hamsters like Syrian and Robowski hamsters only can have between one to two pecans once a week, hamsters like Campbell’s dwarf hamsters, winter white dwarf hamsters, and Chinese hamsters on the other hand can’t eat pecans occasionally. They adapted to live in a quiet and dry environment. Their digestive system can’t handle high sugar, fat, and water levels.
Neutritions of pecan
Pecans aren’t that bad after all. They got some serious health benefits. But before we get to that point, I want to show you the nutrition of pecans. Calories 690 % (Daily Value) and below nutrition’s are included in 100g of pecans.
- Total Fat 72 g 110%
- Saturated fat 6 g 30%
- Polyunsaturated fat 22 g
- Monounsaturated fat 41 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
- Sodium 0 mg 0%
- Potassium 410 mg 11%
- Total Carbohydrate 14 g 4%
- Dietary fibre 10 g 40%
- Sugar 4 g Protein 9 g 18%
- Vitamin A 1%
- Vitamin C 1%
- Calcium 7%
- Iron 13%
- Vitamin D 0%
- Vitamin B-6 10%
- Cobalamin 0%
- Magnesium 30%
You can see it. Pecan contains a lot of nutrition like Vitamin A, Fibre, Potassium. Especially, these vitamins are very valuable for hamsters.
Health benefits
for post-synthesis modification of certain proteins that are required for blood coagulation or for controlling binding of calcium in bones and other tissues, we need Vitamin K. It refers to structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamers found in foods and marketed as dietary supplements. Vitamin K helps hamsters to keep proper bone metabolism and prevent blood coating.
We can find Vitamin C in various foods and sell it as a dietary supplement. Vitamin C is used to prevent and treat scurvy. In the repair of tissue and the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters, it is an essential nutrient involved. Vitamin C helps hamsters for 3 things. Encouraging growth, repairing tissue, and maintain healthy bone.
Vitamin B₆ is one of the B vitamins. It is an essential nutrient. They can be interconverted in biological systems. Vitamin B6 helps hamsters to maintain healthy skin, nerves, and red blood cells.
Vitamin A is another important nutrition include in pecan. It is a group of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds. They include retinol, retinal, and several provitamins A carotenoids. Vitamin A can give multiple benefits. It is helpful for growth and development, for the maintenance of the immune system, and better vision.
Potassium is a mineral and an electrolyte that help hamsters to keep their activities. It helps your muscles work. Muscles control your heartbeat and breathing. So, potassium helps to save the heart. Potassium is a major ingredient in the skeleton. Potassium comes pecan to keep your hamsters’ skeletons healthy.
Dietary fiber or roughage helps hamsters by making the digestive system and gut health. They are also great for regulating bowel movements. Fibers are the portion of plant-derived food that cannot be completely broken down by hamsters’ digestive enzymes.
How to feed
Before you feed remove the shells of pecans and wash them properly. You can also toast them as below.
How to toast pecans in the oven
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 135 0C. Insert pecans with melted butter.
STEP 2: Take a baking sheet and spread pecans on it. Bake for around 40 minutes and stir every 12 minutes to make sure even baking. When the nuts are ready (lightly browned and fragrant) remove the pan from the oven.
STEP 3: Take nuts out of the oven and place them on a paper towel-lined plate. You can also use a cool baking sheet to remove any excess butter. Don’t sprinkle with salt. When completely cooled, store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Alternatives for Pecan
Hazel nut
The hazelnut is the fruit of the hazel. The nuts of the species Corylus Avellana are hazelnuts. They are also known as cobnuts or filberts according to species.
Kale
Kale also known as leaf cabbage, belongs to a group of cabbage cultivars grown for their edible leaves. But some are used as ornamentals. Kale plants have green or purple leaves, but the central leaves do not form ahead.
I hope this article helps you to get an idea about ‘can hamsters eat pecans’. There is more pet-related article to read in our blog. Stay with us. Read more
