Safe Food List for Hamsters

[StarlightSerenity]

Originally Posted by Demecat

Bananas are high in sugar and potassium and shouldn't really be fed to any hamster

How come most hamster mixes have dried banana chips in them then?

Also - very ripe bananas have lots of sugar in them (when they skins start going black) but unripe/just ripe bananas dont.

[Demecat]

"Some of the vitamins and minerals found in natural bananas are reduced in the process of creating banana chips. Although a natural banana contains 20 percent of the daily value for vitamin C and 14 percent of the daily value for potassium, banana chips contain virtually none, with both at less than 5 percent of the daily value. Given that potassium is important in terms of cell functioning and vitamin C is an antioxidant, banana chips are lacking compared with their natural source."

That was from a website talking about banana chip values... note the percentage is talking about an adult human's GDA.

The website is....
http://www.livestrong.com/article/36...chips-healthy/

[StarlightSerenity]

I dont get it - are you saying that they are high or low? Or were you talking about fresh bananas not chips before? You made a blanket statement and now I'm confused...

(I havent had any coffee yet, bare with me)

[Demecat]

Fresh bananas are to be avoided as they are full of potassium and sugars... banana chips loose a lot of the potassium in the process but keep the sugars so are fine for syrian hamsters in small quantities.

For hamsters prone to diabetes - such as some dwarf breeds - both fresh and chips should be avoided because of high sugar content.

[StarlightSerenity]

Why is the potassium bad?

I knew about not feeding bananas to dwarf hammies - or any fruit, anything high in sugars.

[Demecat]

Too much potassium can cause hyperkalemia in a hamster.

Hyperkalemia in animals: Signs and treatment - by Dr Pandula Siribaddana - Helium

[Sungirl]

I know this is an older thread but from the list provided, are these items only to be fed on a weekly basis or perhaps a couple of times a week?

[StarlightSerenity]

Originally Posted by Sungirl

I know this is an older thread but from the list provided, are these items only to be fed on a weekly basis or perhaps a couple of times a week?

I feed my Syrian fresh food every day but only a tiny amount, like last night she got two peas and two bits of sweetcorn.

[Sungirl]

Originally Posted by StarlightSerenity

I feed my Syrian fresh food every day but only a tiny amount, like last night she got two peas and two bits of sweetcorn.

ok thanks, that's helpful

[pinkneon]

It says you can't give them raw potato but can you give them cooked potato?