There has been alot of question lately about which plants are and are not safe for hamsters, especially as the masses of hamster fanciers are finding themselves embracing the trend of natural hamster habitats. I myself have been curious about this subject for well over a year, so back in February I finally started reading into it and I couldn't find a decent list of hamster safe plants anywhere! So I decided to compile one myself. Its taken alot of time and energy but I hope it was worth it.
[Keep in mind that no list will include information on every single plant in the world, so this is just a start. I hope to continue to add to this list as new knowledge comes to light, in time.]
Also, there is already many lists on the web about safe vs unsafe hamster food, so I will not be including most fruits and veggies on this list as it seems redundant to do so.
A good source of knowledge seemed obvious: my trusty copy of Hamsterlopedia!
Unfortunately, while Hamsterlopedia has a wealth of information about care, health concerns, hamster personality, etc.. it does not have much information on live plants for hamsters. I did however find the following section in the chaper on feeding your hamster,
"WILD GREENS
Hamsters love wild greens. However great care must be taken when collecting them to avoid that any have been contaminated by vehicle fumes or pesticides, or fouled by other animals. Thoroughly wash and dry any wild greens you collect to give to your hamster.
SUITABLE PLANTS
Dandelion (both leaf and flower), groundsel, clover, and watercress are normally enjoyed by hamsters and eaten with relish. Raspberry shoots are also enjoyed in early spring, and a small strawberry leaf can be beneficial if the hamster has loose droppings." (Logsdail 35)
When pre-written text left me wanting, I then turned to forums, blogs, ingredients in hamster products, and of course emailing the expert companies which use the dried versions of these plants in our hamster products. What I came up with was the following list of safe plants (and/or plant parts) that can be fed to our hamsters:
- grass
All grasses seemed safe enough, though I found that two popular choices were to use meadow grass seeds or to use the seeds advertised and sold as "pet grass" (which again is a variety of grass types depending on the company you bought the seeds from). The only concerns I found about grass was that if you do buy grass that is commercially sold for seeding lawns then you run the risk of using seeds that have been treated with pesticides or fertilizers and are therefore not safe for hamster consumption.
- alfalfa
Full grown alfalfa is most likely too tall to keep live in most hamster cages (it grows to be about 3 feet/ 1 meter tall), however in its infancy alfalfa sprouts are a popular choice as a small animal treat. Another option would be to keep adult alfalfa outside in a pot and just cut a bit to put in the cage each day.
- wheat
Similar rules apply as to alfalfa: Too large to be in the cage whenn full grown but the sprouts are considered yummy and safe- thank you Christmas Ham for supplying this information
- marigold
Marigolds require quite a bit of sunlight, however if the cage is kept near a window and part of the cage can be shaded during the day to protect the hamster's sensitivities, then the size and general easy of care make marigolds a wonderful cage plant. Also they are quite colorful and fun.
- dandelion
As mentioned in the above section quoted from Hamsterlopedia, dandelions are safe for hamsters to eat. Going through the hamster products available on the market, I was surprised at the number of products which included dandelion in their ingredients.
- chamomile
Appear similar to daisies, often used in teas, and known for aiding in relaxation. They do grow to be about 9 inches/23cm tall, plus the space needed for the plant pot, so a better option for taller cages.
- cornflower
Another delicious and beautiful flower that grows to be just too tall for most hamster cages. Cornflowers commonly reach the height of 16-to-35 inches/41-to-90cm plus the height of the plant pot.
- groundsel (senecio vulgaris)
A wide range of possible adult heights from 4-to-16 inches/10-to-41cm tall, plus the height of the plant pot. Smaller groundsel would probably fit in a hamster's cage while some of the taller groundsel would not.
-daisy (bellis perennis)
Simple, small flowers. Just the right height for a hamster cage coming in at 1-to-4 inches/2-to-10cm tall, plus the height of the plant pot.
- spider plant (chlorophytum comosum)
Another plant that grows far too large for most hamster cages, its many leafs can reach the length of 15 inches/38cm, however a young (smaller) spider plant can be a lovely cage addition, before it outgrows the cage. In fact, adult spider plants spawn young spider plants and hang them in mid air, it is quite easy to snip off a young spider plant and so if you buy one plant its various off spring could continue to take its place in the hamster's cage for years to come. The only safety concern with spider plants is that their seeds are not hamster safe so if you keep a young spider plant in your hamster's cage, you would have to do regular checks to remove any seeds that it may produce.
- beetroot (red beet, garden beet, or just plain beet)
I know I said I wouldn't include most vegetables and fruits, I have made an exception for beetroot as its not just the vegetable that is safe but the entire plant. It might not be practical for many hamster cages as they have to be planted quite deep so the pot would need to be deep, however the green sprouts that appear above ground (while the beetroot grows below ground level) would be safe to eat.
- parsley
Grows to be 4-to-10 inches/10-to-25cm tall, plus the height of the plant pot. Requires minimal care and is a very common ingredient in commercial hamster products.
- mint
I found many herbs in the mint family to be hamster safe. Among those was lemon balm, peppermint, watermint, and spearmint. All of which grow to varying heights, some varieties of mint growing only a few inches high (such as peppermint) while some tower several feet in the air (such as lemon balm).
- ribwort plantain
Another plant with a wide range of growth possibilities, adult ribwort plantain grows to be anywhere from 4-to-16 inches/10-to-41cm, plus plant pot height. Usually considered an invasive weed so uncontaminated seeds might be difficult to find/buy.
- clover (both common clover and red clover, trefoil)
A wonderful cage option as it is usually short and stout with a few flowers that grow alittle taller than the rest. Sorry I was unable to find exact heights.
- chickweed (paronychia)
Can grow up to 12 inches/30 cm, plus plant pot, but is usually much shorter.
- wormwood plant
There are many creative ways of helping to fit a slightly taller plant into a hamster's cage, such as (for those with DIY skills) cutting a hole in the floor of the cage and fitting the plant pot tightly in that hole, and raising the cage to match the plant pot's height. Or, with some more hearty plants, growing the plant on its side to grow horizontally rather than vertically (there are a few tricks to doing this).
For some of the larger plants I suggest just growing it outside and trimming a bit to offer the hamster on a regular basis.
If you have a wire cage, perhaps you could grow the plant next to the cage stand and simply slip some of the leaves/stems through the cage bars for the hamster to chew on.
Plants that are absolutely too large for even the most accomidating hamster cage, but are safe to feed your hamster if you happen to have some around:
- birch tree leaves
- hazel tree leaves
- black currant leaves
- rose petals (not the stems because they have thorns)
and an honorable mention for watercress, which although supposedly yummy, is an aquatic plant and therefore can not be grown in a hamster habitat
Obviously use your common sense when feeding your hamster any fresh foods. Do not feed things that may have been exposed to pesticides and/or fertizilers. Don't feed anything with sharp thorns or sticky pollen. And as always when trying new foods, watch your hamster's stool to see if its loose/hard after the change in diet.
Something I'm still looking into is nettle. Common pest plant that is known for its sting however is a shockingly common ingredient in hamster products. I've written the companies about it, still waiting to hear back but I'll keep you posted if they ever explain how that is. I'm assuming that part of the nettle plant is hamster safe while another part isn't but I have no evidence to prove that as of yet.
Also should probably meantion the small list of plants I found in my readings to be unsafe:
- buttercup
- bluebell
- ragwort
- elder
- lily
- tulip
- castor oil (or castor bean) plant
- aloe vera plant
while listed as a toxic plant by pet organizations such as the ASPCA and the RSPCA, produces a gel which many online communities (and as far as I can tell some veterinary communities as well) to be safe for use and beneficial for small animals with certain skin conditions and/or burns. It would appear that while the plant its self is toxic, the gel inside the plant is not. - Thank you to MissPixy for supplying this information.
- amaryllis
- chrysanthemum
- english ivy
- dracaena sanderiana (also known as lucky bamboo or ribbon bamboo)
A note on bamboo:
True bamboo is not toxic to hamsters, however the majority of bamboo on the market is not true bamboo. Many bamboos are mislabelled by their seller so it is very difficult to know for sure what kind you are getting.
Besides the risk of using the wrong kind of bamboo, even true bamboo variety is not nutritionally beneficial to the hamster. Many of the other flowers and herbs I have listed above are just as beautiful AND benefit the hamster. Chewing on true bamboo would do little aid to a hamster.
All things considered I advise staying away from bamboo in hamster cages.
I spent weeks compling this list, and I know it doesn't cover all the hamster safe vs unsafe options but, like I said, it is a work in progress and I hope some of you find it at least alittle helpful. And if you made it all the way to the bottom of this long post, thanks for reading.
first draft editted information will occur in this color, thank you to Christmas Ham and Miss Pixy for contributing further information on wheat and aloe vera
I'm still looking for information on violets and jasmine (as was requested to do so).
If anyone has any information they'd like to offer on any of the plants listed or on plants and hamsters in general, please feel free to join in on the conversation. As always, I'm willing to discuss sources further if you'd like to like to see for yourself where this information comes from.
second draft editted information will occur in this color
Edited by SuzyHomemaker, 28 April 2011 - 11:17 PM.
