Pasta - Cooked or Not?

kelza · 05-07-2016, 10:14 AM

It seems to me that of the people who feed pasta to their hamsters about half feed cooked and the other half feed dry.

I would like to introduce whole wheat pasta to our hams, but not sure the best way to go. I really like the idea of dry pasta added to a food mix to help wear down teeth, but am concerned they could get injured if they pouch a broken piece since is can be sharp.

If you feed pasta could you please share how you feed it and why?

hammy2 · 05-07-2016, 10:24 AM

I don't tend to feed too much dry pasta as worry that it swells up when in their belly

kelza · 05-07-2016, 10:54 AM

That's not something I thought about. Thank you!

Pebbles82 · 05-07-2016, 01:07 PM

I don't think I would give wholemeal pasta either - it might be too much roughage for hammy bowels. Apart from hamster mix I just give a tiny piece of fresh veg each day, and one of either a piece of cheese, half a brazil nut, a piece of banana or apple, or pecan nut - weekly (a different one each day usually so each one once a week approx). Probably best to stick to things that are more natural. I think I'd worry about it swelling up as well and nutritionally it's not really necessary I guess. Wouldn't give fruit to a dwarf hamster though - that's for a Syrian

cypher · 05-07-2016, 09:41 PM

I think there are a couple of misconceptions here!
Hamsters are used to eating dry food, if you put their mix in water it will swell up just like pasta does, they should only have tiny amounts anyway but they just grind it up & it mixes in with the other food as they digest it, it's not like they are going to swallow one big piece which will just sit there & swell!
The other is fibre, wholewheat pasta contains about 9% fibre which isn't high for a ham, it also contains more nutrients than white pasta so is definitely the better option.
The problem with feeding human extras is likely to be too little fibre rather than too much compared to a hams natural diet.

Pebbles82 · 05-08-2016, 12:54 AM

Thanks for sorting that out Cypher! So should they have dry pasta then, rather than cooked?

cypher · 05-08-2016, 01:15 AM

I would think dry is more natural for them but really as an occasional treat I doubt it matters too much.

hammy2 · 05-08-2016, 03:45 AM

Thanks cypher I wasn't sure

Vectis Hamstery · 05-08-2016, 03:59 AM

I feed it either way, but just as a treat. I've never had a problem with feeding it cooked or dry, wholemeal or not

They get it cooked if I've made too much for me - much better than wasting food!

kelza · 05-08-2016, 08:31 AM

Thank you Cypher and Vectis! This is very helpful, and I will keep pasta to small amounts as an occasional treat.