Owning a hamster is a rewarding and fun experience because those little fur balls make great pets. However, theres also a lot of responsibility to be had with owning any animal, including the regular costs, such as vet care, food, and more.
In the following article, we’re going to talk about how much hamster food costs, as well as a few related topics, such as an ideal hamster diet and other related costs of owning a hamster.
Let’s answer the pivotal question to this article before we get into the rest of the content.
Hamster food costs approximately $10 for a 2 pound bag, which should last about 1.5 to 2.5 months if you are feeding them the recommended 1 – 2 tablespoons per day.
But that’s not all to know! Check out our key takeaways and the table of contents below and keep reading to learn all about hamster food costs.
Key Takeaways
- Hamster food costs about $10 for a 2 pound bag or approximately $0.11 per meal (tablespoon)
- A hamster’s diet should be 85% specially designed food and 15% fruits and vegetables
- You should be no more than 2 pounds of hamster food at a time to prevent it from spoiling
And here’s what will be covered in this article:
Now let’s talk about what your hamster’s diet should look like to allow them to live a long and happy life.
What is an Ideal Hamster Diet?
Hamster’s tiny bodies have delicate digestive systems and need a well-balanced and strict diet to keep them active and functioning normally.
Just like the rest of us, if we eat junk food or unhealthy foods all day, it can affect our energy levels and overall health. Hamsters are no different and even more susceptible to these health concerns, which is why an ideal diet is so important.
A hamster’s diet should be about 1 – 2 tablespoons per day of specially designed pellets, fruits, and vegetables. Let’s cover the specially designed pellets first.
Specially Designed Pellets or Hamster Food – 85% of Diet
The ideal hamster diet should be 85% specially designed pellets or hamster food. This is the type or food you’ll buy in bulk at a pet store or online. Inside you’ll find a wide variety of dry foods that contain tons of vitamins and nutrients to sustain a balanced diet.
This type of dry food generally consists of grains, fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, and more. Just about anything that is nutritionally beneficial for your hamster will make it into this special mix.
The reason these specially designed pellets should be 85% of your hamster’s diet is because it contains everything they need for a well-balanced diet. While you can provide all these food separately, it’s generally easier to buy a 2 pound bag and scoop out the necessary amount each day.
Fruits – 7.5% of Diet
The second component of a healthy and well-balanced diet are fruits, which should be reserved as occasional treats because they are so high in sugar.
However, fruits contain a lot of beneficial vitamins and nutrients, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and dietary fibers. All of which contribute to a healthy digestive system.
And the 7.5% is just a ballpark. You don’t need to make sure exactly 7.5% of their diet is fruit, just make sure to give it to them as a treat once or twice a week. And ensure you’re giving them the right fruit because not all fruit is healthy for hamsters to consume.
You can read more on this article that covers what fruits are safe for hamsters to eat:
Vegetables – 7.5% of Diet
Vegetables are another important part of a well-balanced diet and should be given to your hamster alongside the specially designed pellets and fruit.
While vegetables are a healthy snack, they don’t provide all the necessary nutrients, which is why the specially designed pellets are so important.
There are lots of great vegetables you can give to your hamster, such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and cabbage. However, you should avoid corn because it poses a choking hazard and can be hard for your hamster to easily digest.
If you’re interested in reading more about vegetables, you can check out this article that covers all types of vegetables that are safe for your hamster to eat and which ones aren’t.
Where to Buy Hamster Food
Now that you know how much food costs and what makes up a great diet, you may be wondering where is the best place to buy hamster food.
And that really depends on a few different factors, but you have two options: online or in-store.
Online
If you want convenience and a variety of choices, then online is your best choice to buy hamster food. Just about any big box store, such as PetCo or PetSmart or Amazon offer tons of choices at great prices.
The benefits here are mostly the convenience of not having to drive to the store to pickup the food. However, unless you have Amazon Prime or meet minimum spends, you’ll likely have to pay for shipping, which can increase the costs.
The added shipping costs may make an in-store purchase a better deal, especially if you need to get the food as soon as possible.
In-Store
If you don’t want to or can’t wait a few days for the hamster food to arrive at your door step, you’ll want to purchase the food in-store and there are no shortage of stores to purchase food from.
Nearly every big box store will have hamster food to purchase, including the pet stores like PetCo or PetSmart, but other stores as well, such as Wal-Mart or Target.
The benefits of purchasing in-store is that you can pickup the food immediately, which is great if you accidentally ran out and need it ASAP.
And because of added shipping costs by purchasing online, you can likely get a better deal if you buy in-store after doing some quick research online for the best deals. You’ll likely find better prices at a dedicated per store instead of a general store like Target.
Related Hamster Costs
While this article mostly focuses on hamster food and the associated cost, there are lots of other costs associated with owning a hamster and we’ve covered quite a few of them in-depth.
Take a look at the table below to get an idea of everything you may need to purchase for your hamster and the associated cost.
| Item | Average Cost | Related Article |
|---|---|---|
| Average vet bill | $25 – $300 | Read More Here |
| Abscess treatment | $25 – $100 | Read More Here |
| Tumor removal | $50 – $200 | Read More Here |
| Euthanasia | $50 – $150 | Read More Here |
| Wet tail treatment | $50 – $150 | Read More Here |
| Cage | $15 – $200 | Read More Here |
| Wart treatment | $15 – $50 | Read More Here |
| Teeth trimming | $15 – $30 | Read More Here |
| Average cost per month | $30 – $50 | Read More Here |
Frequently Asked Questions
Now let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to hamster food.
You should feed your hamster 0.5 – 1 tablespoon of a well-balanced diet twice per day. Generally mornings and evenings are the best time to feed your hamster, but depending on their sleeping habits you should find the most ideal time to feed them.
You should feed your hamster 1 – 2 tablespoons of a well-balanced diet per day. You should feed them twice per day, so approximately 0.5 – 1 tablespoon at each meal.
There are lots of foods hamsters can’t eat, most notably chocolate, salami, and anything small that poses a choking hazard. If you’re wondering about a specific food, do a Google search for “can my hamster eat” and the food to see if it’s safe for them to consume.
The best food for hamsters is a mix of specially designed foods and pellets that contain all the necessary vitamins and nutrients to keep them healthy. Hamster’s have delicate digestive systems, so giving them the right foods is important to maintain normalcy in their little bodies.
Conclusion
And there you have it! There’s so much to know about owning a hamster, one of the most important topics is their diet. If you’ve made it this far, you should know so much more about the food costs of owning a hamster, what makes up an ideal diet, and other associated costs.
The hamster food mix that is commonly found at pet stores generally costs about $0.11 per meal, which is about one tablespoon. Hamsters should be eating 1 – 2 tablespoons of a well-balanced diet each day, which includes specially designed pellets or mix, as well as occasional fruits and vegetables.
Always be sure to know and understand the costs of owning a hamster before taking one home as a pet because they live for 2 – 3 years and the overall cost can add up.