Can Hamsters Eat Lentils? (9 Interesting Food Facts)

Owners of pet hamsters often show interest in knowing whether the hamsters can eat lentils. This article explores that subject – of whether hamsters can eat lentils.

Can hamsters eat lentils? Yes, hamsters can eat lentils. The lentils have carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, moisture and fiber: all these being nutrients that hamsters need. Just ensure that you cook or at least soak the lentils before feeding your hamster on them.

If you feed your hamster on lentils regularly, the hamster would certainly derive lots of benefits from them.

Are Lentils Safe For Hamsters?

Yes, lentils are, for the most part, safe for hamsters. Granted, the tough fibers in lentils can be a little hard for hamsters to digest. But if the lentils are soaked or cooked first, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Further, any pesticide residues on the lentils can harm a hamster. But if the lentils are properly washed first, this should be a non-issue.

Are Lentils Beneficial To Hamsters?

Yes, lentils are beneficial to hamsters. From the lentils, hamsters can get carbohydrates (hence energy), as well as proteins, vitamins, minerals, moisture and fiber.

We can therefore say that the lentils are truly beneficial to hamsters.

Can Hamsters Eat Lentils?

Hamsters are capable of eating lentils. They usually seem to enjoy eating the lentils considerably. Moreover, as we have seen, lentils are safe and beneficial to hamsters.

We can therefore say that lentils are alright for hamsters to eat.

Which Hamsters Can Eat Lentils?

There are many types of hamsters – including Syrian hamsters, dwarf hamsters and Robo hamsters. What we seek to find out is which of the respective types of hamsters can eat lentils.

So the question is on whether lentils are suitable for all types of hamsters. Or if only certain types of hamsters can eat lentils. Let’s find out.

Can Dwarf Hamster Eat Lentils?

Dwarf hamsters tend to be rather small in size. Thus in a discussion like this one on hamsters eating lentils, someone is bound to ask, can dwarf hamsters eat lentils?

And the answer is ‘yes’, dwarf hamsters can eat lentils. They just need to be given fewer lentils than the bigger types of hamsters.

Can Syrian Hamsters Eat Lentils?

Syrian hamsters are capable of eating lentils. The lentils are safe and beneficial to them. And most Syrian hamsters tend to show a liking for lentils, whenever they are fed on them.

So the bottom-line is that Syrian hamsters can indeed eat lentils.

Can Robo Hamsters Eat Lentils?

Lentils are suitable food for Robo hamsters.

Therefore if you keep a Robo hamster, it should be alright for you to feed it on lentils. You just need to prepare the lentils properly, so that the Robo hamster’s body is able to digest them with ease.

What Type Of Lentils Can Hamsters Eat?

There are many types of lentils, ranging from green lentils to red lentils, brown lentils, yellow lentils and so on.

Lentils can also be in many forms, ranging from raw lentils, cooked lentils, soaked lentils and so on.

What we now need to find out is which of those various types of lentils are suitable for hamsters.

Can Hamsters Eat Raw Lentils?

Most of the lentils in the market are sold in raw form. Therefore it becomes pertinent to ask, can hamsters eat uncooked lentils?

The answer is that uncooked lentils may not be very good for hamsters. When you look at raw lentils, you discover that they have tough fibers. These can be hard for hamsters to digest.

Thus if you have to give your hamsters raw lentils, at least soak them up – to soften the fibers.

Can Hamsters Eat Cooked Lentils?

Sometimes, one is tempted to share their cooked lentils with their hamsters. Then the question becomes, can hamsters eat lentils that are cooked?

Yes, hamsters can eat cooked lentils. Just ensure that those are plain cooked lentils. Not lentils that have been cooked in oil, with salt, fat or any other additives.

Cooking softens the lentils, making them reasonably easy to process for hamsters’ bodies.

Thus plain cooked lentils are alright for hamsters.

Can Hamsters Eat Dry Lentils?

Sometimes, the lentils that are available in a certain market are only the dried ones. One may then seek to know, can hamsters eat dried lentils?

As it turns out, dry lentils may not be alright to hamsters. This is due to the tough fibers they tend to have.

Thus if you get dry lentils, you may need to soak them up for at least 30 minutes. Only then can you feed hamsters on them.

Can Hamsters Eat Red Lentils?

Hamsters can eat red lentils.

Red lentils are safe and also nutritionally useful to hamsters. The key thing is to ensure that they are properly prepared, to be easily digestible by the hamsters.

Here, one may be more specific and ask, can hamsters eat dried red lentils? The answer is that dried red lentils may require soaking (to soften them up), before feeding hamsters on them.

The same applies with regard to red split lentils. Can hamsters eat red split lentils? The answer is ‘yes’ – but only if they are cooked or at least soaked.

Otherwise a hamster that eats unsoaked/uncooked red lentils may suffer digestive problems.

Can Hamsters Eat Yellow Lentils?

Yellow lentils are usually good for hamsters.

To be sure, raw/unsoaked yellow lentils can be hard for a hamster to digest. But if the yellow lentils are cooked or at least soaked, they become suitable food for hamsters.

Can Hamsters Eat Green Lentils?

Yes, green lentils are usually very good for hamsters.

To be sure, the fibers in green lentils can be a bit challenging for hamsters to digest. But cooking or soaking the green lentils tends to soften them enough for hamsters to be able to eat them without difficulty.

Can Hamsters Eat Brown Lentils?

Brown lentils are usually alright for hamsters.

The only situation in which there can be a problem is if a hamster eats uncooked and unsoaked brown lentils. Then such a hamster can suffer from quite serious digestive problems.

The brown lentils – just like all other types of lentils – tend to have tough fibers, which hamster digestive systems really struggle with.

So preparing the brown lentils properly, by cooking them or at least soaking them is essential. Thereafter, the hamsters should be able to eat the well-prepared brown lentils with no problem.

How Much Lentil Can Hamsters Eat?

Hamsters vary considerably in size. Therefore it becomes a bit tricky to give a one-size-fits-all recommendation with regard to how much lentils they can eat.

A big hamster like the Syrian hamster may, for instance, need to eat as many as 5 lentils to fill up.

On the other hand, a small hamster like the dwarf hamster may only need to eat 2 lentils to fill up.

The key thing is to ensure that you don’t give the hamster too little or too much lentil. If the hamster gets too little lentil, with no other supplementary food, it will be left still hungry.

On the other hand, if a hamster gets too much lentil, it may start becoming overweight. Remember, the lentils are rich in protein, which can over time lead to unhealthy weight gain (if the hamsters are continually overfed on them).

Final Verdict – Can Hamsters Eat Lentils

Hamsters can eat lentils. The lentils are largely safe for hamsters. And the lentils have nutrients – including protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, moisture and fiber – which are good for hamsters.

It is best to wash lentils very thoroughly, before presenting them to hamsters. This is to remove any pesticide residues in the lentils, which have potential to harm hamsters.

It is also best to cook the lentils well, before presenting them to hamsters. If cooking is not viable, at least soak the lentils for like 30 minutes before presenting them to the hamsters.

Cooking or soaking the lentils softens the tough fibers in them, making them easier to digest for the hamsters.

Ultimately, well cleaned, cooked (or at least soaked) lentils are alright for hamsters.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet hamsters a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️