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Old 04-16-2015, 05:19 AM   #1
maebh06
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Question Kiwi or cucumber?

Hi
I recently got a male Roborovski dwarf hamster from Pets at Home here in the UK, and was advised by the employee who was there to help us out (a youngish guy, who did seem very knowledgeable and told us he had owned many hamsters, most of them Roborovskis) , to feed my hamster a kiwi slice every couple of days, to help keep it hydrated. Having watched many YouTube videos (Erin's Animals mainly) that have detailed that hamsters can be fed cucumber to keep them hydrated, we asked the man if cucumber could be fed as well, and he told us no. He said that when he bought his hamsters, he was advised not to use cucumber by the person selling them to him, and told us to stick to the kiwi slices instead.
I'm just a bit confused by these two contradicting points and any help would be appreciated!!
-Maebh
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Old 04-16-2015, 02:56 PM   #2
velma
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Default Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

I'm not sure about kiwi but cucumber is fine. If you need to transport your robo anywhere a slice of cucumber can keep them hydrated for the journey (whereas a bottle would just clang about). But at home you'd have your bottle so he shouldn't need it for hydration but for other reasons. Hamsters don't need as much water as other animals & can easily get diarrhoea if they have too much fruit or veg, so little pieces are fine but introduce them gradually to get him used to it.
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Old 04-16-2015, 03:21 PM   #3
Shannonmcn
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Default Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

I don't know if it's just me but I find kiwis very acidic? I know high levels of citric acid is why it's not recommended to give hams oranges so I'd be a bit wary but that's just a personal feeling tbh, I have no evidence whatsoever to support it! cucumbers are definitely fine.
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Old 04-16-2015, 04:17 PM   #4
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

Is Kiwi on the safe list? I can't remember. It would be good if it is because it has masses of Vitamin C - more than Oranges.

To answer your question though, you don't need to feed either of them every couple of days. To keep hydrated they just need fresh water every day. A small piece of veg every day is healthy for their diet, but I keep cucumber as an occasional treat. Charlie gets a different veg most days out of broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, green beans, celery, baby corn. Just two tiny 1cm squares of it. He gets fruit once a week as well as the veg - usually apple or banana, but sometimes plum or a raisin. Again just a 1cm square of it and he only gets one square of fruit.
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Old 04-16-2015, 04:26 PM   #5
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Default Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

I had a quick Google and found this old thread is kiwi ok?
Possibly too much potassium? Possibly too much citric acid?

Erin's Animals has it on her safe list and if you google "kiwi safe for hamsters" and "kiwi unsafe for hamsters" you get the same results with no indication kiwi is unsafe.
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Old 04-16-2015, 04:36 PM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

Thanks Shannon - sounds like an 'occasional thing if they like it' thing then.
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Old 04-16-2015, 07:53 PM   #7
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

Whenever I'm in P@H, the dwarf hamsters always have kiwi in their bowls.
Mine only get fruit once a week, I usually give them 3 fruits - little bit of each.
Mine love their veggies like me, so I always have a variety to choose from.
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Old 04-16-2015, 11:28 PM   #8
cypher
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Default Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

I've been hearing this a lot lately P&H recommending kiwi but it does seem to be a new thing so I can't help wondering where they got the idea from!
I'm sure a small piece now & then won't hurt but it's not something I'd like to give too often, mine don't even like it so I don't have to worry about it!
Mine do all love their cucumber though & have a small piece almost every day.
There's a list of safe & unsafe foods in the wiki section if you're unsure what to give Safe and Unsafe Food and Plants - Hamster Central WIKI
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Old 04-16-2015, 11:45 PM   #9
candice clews
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Talking Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

I have always wondered if they were allowed to eat kiwi and cucumber until we went to buy our latest hamster cookie! They were putting food in cages at the time and refilling water bottles and we asked whether they could have kiwi and cucumber. There reply was yes too both as treats , once a day for a slice of cucumber and every 2-3 days for a slice of kiwi! They were in fact putting it into the bowls at the time i asked, and the hamsters seemed to be really fascinated by it and all woke up to eat it!We also got told that both can be used to hydrate hamsters when there ill or when your going on long journeys, instead of having to use a water bottle. I have tried both with all three of my hamsters and these are the results:

Fudge - likes the kiwi
- doesn't like cucumber

Snowy - likes kiwi
- likes cucumber

Cookie - likes kiwi
- doesn't like cucumber

All three like kiwi, fudge and cookie don't like cucumber, snowy does though!
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Old 04-17-2015, 12:48 AM   #10
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Default Re: Kiwi or cucumber?

The last time I went to pets at home they had kiwi in with the hamsters to which me and my mum were like 'they can have kiwi? !'

I have written down the safe/unsafe foods from the hamster central wiki so when I got home I checked and it states it is safe.
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