This article answers the question “can hamsters eat dead crickets?” by listing the circumstances under which your little guy can enjoy the popular bug.

We also look out for potential hazards from feeding crickets to hamsters and whether there are any benefits the pocket rodents can gain from consuming the insects.

Additionally, We discuss the best type of crickets for hamsters and how to serve them for maximum benefits. Let’s get started.

Can Hamsters Eat Dead Crickets?

Hamsters can eat parasite-free raw or dried crickets because they’re a rich source of calcium and proteins. Only feed domestically-bred dead crickets at the right amounts for hamsters to guarantee maximum benefits. Avoid overfeeding to prevent liver and kidney problems from excessive proteins and calcium respectively.

If your hamster has been catching and eating dead crickets when allowed to roam outside their cages, you already know that it’s a delicacy for them. But, we recommend ordering domestically bred crickets from retailers’ shelves instead to minimize their potential exposure to parasites that may be prevalent in wild crickets.

What Are Crickets?

Crickets are popular high-flying round-haired bugs with long antennae and cylindrical bodies. There are several species available with Bull Crickets being the largest at 2 inches long.

Crickets have long been enjoyed by rodents like mice, rats, and hamsters in the wild and in domesticated settings. Hamsters are omnivores that require a good supply of animal protein to achieve balance in their dietary supply.

If you’ve been feeding crickets to hamsters alongside packaged pellets, fruits, and vegetables, they’re probably having the time of their lives because the popular bug is a delicacy.

Do Hamsters Like Crickets?

Raw and dried crickets are a popular treat for hamsters of all ages. But, since they’re all not the same, it is always a good idea to find out whether your furballs have an affinity for them. You can test by cutting up a single cricket into several chunks and feeding it to the pocket rodents one at a time.

You should get the necessary feedback based on the rate at which your little guy nibbles on the bug and whether they clamor for more.

Is it Better to Feed Raw or Dried Crickets?

Raw crickets will always be more nutritious than the freeze-dried ones on supermarket shelves and we recommend feeding them the raw bugs as much as possible. However, finding raw dead crickets may not always be possible and this is where the freeze-dried options available for sale come in handy.

While the freeze-drying process depletes some of the cricket’s nutritional value, they’ll always remain a rich source of nutrients for pet rodents.

How Many Crickets Can Hamsters Eat?

Each hamster breed has separate dietary requirements with respect to protein sources such as crickets. It is no secret that the bugs are rich in proteins and calcium which can cause health problems when higher-than-recommended portions are consumed.

Syrian hamsters: They are the largest breeds available and typically enjoy one cricket every week without problems. This schedule is vital to stick to if you want your little guy to avoid exposure to excessive proteins and calcium in their body.

Roborovskis: They’re able to handle half a cricket weekly and although they may yearn for more, their body size often struggles to digest and absorb nutrients from a full cricket. If you’re currently raising a Robo, one cricket should be split up and fed over a 2-week period.

Dwarf Hamsters: These physically tiny breeds can make do with a quarter of cricket weekly. Cut the cricket into 4 pieces and serve a piece per week for maximum benefit for these little guys. Unfortunately, their small sizes prevent them from eating more.

How to Feed Crickets to Hamsters

Crickets are tasty treats hamsters enjoy when given the chance. It is always a good idea to cut the insect’s body into several pieces and feed them one at a time yourself while in the company of your hamsters.

This should enhance the bond with your furry friend and build up trust over the long haul. Hamsters easily take to owners that feed them treats while spending time together.

If there are multiple pet rodents sharing the cage, give one piece to each one directly because you want all of them to become comfortable around you.

Always crush the heads of crickets before feeding them to your pet rodents, especially when they’re raw. You wouldn’t want your hamster suffering bites from a yet-to-die cricket after putting it in the mouth, would you?

Where to Buy Crickets for Hamsters

Crickets are available for sale in most pet stores either in raw or dried forms. Since they’re a popular meal for birds as well, you might find them in the Bird’s section of your local pet store. You can always ask a store attendant or manager if they have crickets in stock for feeding pets.

Can Crickets Hurt Hamsters?

Crickets can hurt hamsters when swallowed fully while alive. They may bite and transfer parasites or other potentially harmful organisms that can cause diseases to the little rodents.

Cutting off the head before serving crickets to pets eliminates the risk of such bites.

7 Health Benefits of Hamsters Eating Crickets

A diet of crickets can be beneficial for hamsters in a variety of ways. Shall we look at the potential positives of feeding the insects to hammies?

1. Protein

Bugs like crickets and mealworms may offer as many proteins as beef and other popular meats, if not more. Since hamsters require animal protein to get the necessary dietary balance, feeding them these insects can be a smart move.

Some cricket species provide complete proteins when consumed thanks to the presence of 9 amino acids required for the pet rodent’s well-being. Besides, the bugs also offer additional nutrients such as Vitamin B2 which breaks down proteins and maintains essential energy supply to keep hamsters physically active. (source)

2. Iron

Have you noticed that a once happy-go-lucky hamster is suddenly spending insane amounts of time in one spot and refusing to move? It could be due to anemia, a serious condition emanating from an animal’s inability to maintain healthy blood production levels.

Hamsters that rely on more plant-based diets may suffer anemia due to the lack of adequate animal protein quantities. For instance, the same serving of crickets offers more than double the amount of iron compared to spinach, a leafy vegetable famous for its Iron-producing properties.

Additionally, Iron from insects is also easily absorbed into the hamsters’ bloodstream at the same rate as popular proteins such as beef, according to studies. (source)

3. Calcium

Hamsters are lactose intolerant so supplying a few ounces of milk to meet their calcium needs is out of the question. Crickets may be just what your furry friends need since it contains as much 307 mg of calcium per cup, the same as a cup of milk.

In essence, the insects can meet the little guy’s calcium needs without the baggage of lactose intolerance symptoms such as diarrhea. Although different cricket species offer varying amounts of calcium, they generally serve as a good alternative to dairy products.

The calcium offered by consuming crickets can be critical for growing and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and teeth.

4. Healthy Fats

Excessive amounts of unhealthy saturated fats may affect hamsters’ health in a variety of ways including exposure to diseases and infections. Such bad fats could potentially cause unhealthy weight gain in pet rodents.

But good fats are abundant in crickets and according to studies, 58 percent of fats in the insect’s bodies are good polyunsaturated fats. These fats provide the right amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 which help maintain good heart health.

Healthy polyunsaturated fats also provide relief from anxiety and stress which can have numerous detrimental effects on hamsters.

5. Fiber

Veterinarians and nutritionists recommend fruits and green leafy vegetables for hamsters due to their generous fiber content. But, did you know that Crickets offer as much dietary fiber as fruits and vegetables per the same serving?

This is thanks to the popular insects’ hard skin cover that contains good quantities of Chitin, a hard-to-digest insoluble fiber. Chitin promotes good digestive health by enhancing the growth of useful bacteria known as probiotics.

The rich fiber derived from crickets offers vital benefits such as free bowel movements for hamsters. It also maintains and reduces blood sugar levels resulting in healthier and happier hamsters.

6. Potassium

High blood pressure can be prevalent in hamsters, especially during old age. Foods rich in potassium help them maintain healthy blood pressure to prevent heart attacks and cardiovascular failures.

Crickets are a rich source of Potassium and offer quantities that dwarf what bananas have to offer.

7. Zinc

Crickets offer significant quantities of Zinc which promotes healthy growth and maintenance of the immune system. This protects the lovely pet rodents from a wide range of potential diseases and infections.

Hamsters that get sick often may lack enough quantities of this critical nutrient in their diets. Fortunately, Crickets provide 7 times as much Zinc as Chia seeds, a famous superfood touted by vets as a great option for hamsters.

Risks of Feeding Crickets to Hamsters

A cricket diet can offer good amounts of nutrients for hamsters but moderation is key because overfeeding may result in several digestive problems. Here are a few risks of feeding crickets to hamsters:

Bites from Live Crickets

Live crickets may bite your little guy when swallowed and trigger significant pain. This is why making sure that the insects are completely dead before feeding hamsters is essential. You can always crush the head before offering the bugs to hamsters as a precautionary measure.

Choking Hazard

Hamsters may choke on crickets when you fail to cut them into small-sized chunks. It can be a major source of distress for extended periods and soil their experience from eating these bugs. Cutting up hamsters into bits minimizes the risk of hamsters choking on them.

Exposure to Parasites

Live crickets bred in the wild may carry numerous parasites that can pose health problems for hamsters via physical contact. Always feed crickets bred in captivity to be sure of a reasonable degree of being parasite-free.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Crickets are a valuable source of food for hamsters but they lack certain nutrients required to provide a balanced diet. Feeding hamsters on exclusive cricket diets can lead to malnutrition, stunted growth, and related effects.

Conclusion: Can Hamsters Eat Dead Crickets?

Hamsters can enjoy crickets because they’re a rich source of essential nutrients such as Protein, Fats, Zinc, and Potassium. Combining plant-based meals with fruits, hamster pellets, and insects can meet the little guy’s nutritional base needs.

Fortunately, Crickets are available for sale on many retailers’ and local pet store shelves so accessibility will never be a problem. Make sure they’re always served dead to minimize the risk of bites to hamsters.