Tuna is a delicious fish type with fans all over the world and is popular in soups, stews, and sauces. Canned tuna is also a favorite in sandwiches and other finger foods thanks to its delicious taste.

Can hamsters eat tuna? This is one of the main questions that pop up among tuna fans who’re also raising these pet rodents. This article looks at answering the question by providing the pros and cons of these pocket rodents eating tuna so you can make an independent but well-informed decision.

Let’s get started.

Can Hamsters Eat Tuna?

Hamsters cannot eat tuna because it is a source of excessive fats and sodium. The popular fish may also contain numerous small pieces of bones that can become a choking hazard for hamsters. Tuna may also contain large Mercury deposits which may cause health problems for hamsters.

Hamsters are omnivores that require good amounts of animal-based protein to complement staple diets such as pellets and seed mixes. While they enjoy many fish species including salmon without trouble, tuna is just one of those to avoid.

Nutritional Facts of Tuna

Here’s the nutritional data for 100g of raw Bluefin wild-caught tuna compared to 100g of canned tuna with no added salt.

Nutrient	100g, Bluefin (Wild), raw	100g, light, canned in water, no added salt, drained solids
Calories	144Kcal	116Kcal
Protein	23.3g	25.5g
Carbohydrates	0 g	0g
Fat	4.9g	0.8g
Saturated fat	1.3g	0.2g
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	1,298mg	279mg
Sodium	39mg	82mg
Vitamin A	2,183IU	56IU
Niacin (B3)	8.7mg	13.3mg
Vitamin B12	9.4mcg	3mcg
Selenium	36.5mcg	80.4mcg

(Source)

Why Tuna is a Bad Idea for Hamsters

Tuna is bad for hamsters in numerous ways and it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out after glancing over the nutritional facts table above. Here are a few reasons why feeding tuna to hamsters may be a terrible idea with the potential to backfire.

High Fat

Whichever way you look at it, tuna contains too many fats for hamsters to digest comfortably. A 100g of fresh wild-caught Bluefin tuna contains 4.9 mg of fats and even though the figure declines to 0.8g in canned tuna with no additives, the fat content is just too much for your pet rodents to handle.

Exposure to tuna consumption can spike weight gain in your little guy, increasing the risks of health complications including heart disease.

High Sodium

One of the secrets behind the amazing taste of tuna is the high sodium content. While humans and larger pets like dogs may have little problems digesting it, the same cannot be said for pocket rodents like hamsters.

With fragile digestive systems that easily get hammered by the slightest amounts of potentially harmful nutrients, they’re best served with diets that do not contain salt. Feeding sodium-rich diets to hamsters often result in kidney issues that often stimulate dehydration and excessive thirst.

The kidneys may get weaker over time, surging the risks of kidney failure and possibly death in the long run.

Choking Hazard

Do you have any experience eating any type of fresh tuna? One of the most memorable points of the meal is likely to be when you had to pick numerous small bones from the fish. Fresh tuna contains many of these small bones which can cause choking problems for your little guy.

The result is severe discomfort in the hamster’s mouth or throat as he tries to get rid of the bones without success. You may have to send your furry friend to the vet when that situation occurs to help him gain relief.

Even humans with larger bodies and more sophisticated digestive systems are aware of how difficult choking on these tiny bones can be so can you imagine how much discomfort pocket rodents like hamsters are likely to experience?

Mercury Deposits

Fish can be a reliable source of animal-based proteins for hamsters but Mercury deposits may be a huge problem. Oceans around the world receive high amounts of Mercury deposits and studies have shown that fish and seafood that end up on dining tables typically contain high traces of the potentially toxic substance.

While the quantity of Mercury in fish may pose little problems for humans due to the advanced nature of our digestive systems, the same cannot be said for tiny pocket rodents like hamsters. Keeping tuna away from these guys may save them from Mercury poisoning and resultant effects.

Can Hamsters Eat Tuna Mayo?

Hamsters should not eat Tuna Mayo because it contains too many unhealthy ingredients that can pose problems. Firstly, tuna offers high amounts of fat exposing pet rodents to the risk of obesity and related problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Tuna Mayo also contains mayonnaise, another fat-dense ingredient hamsters may struggle to digest and keep the calories off. Besides, most recipes require good amounts of salt and peppers which are additional ingredients hamsters are better off staying away from.

The salt can cause problems for the pet rodent’s kidneys as previously stated while the peppers may also trigger diarrhea. Tuna Mayo should not appear in a hamster’s food bowl. Period.

Can Hamsters Eat Mashed Tuna?

Hamsters may be able to eat Mashed Tuna once in a while if you’re hellbent on feeding the tasty fish to your pet rodents. However, make sure the tuna is well mashed to remove elements of small bones that could cause choking issues for your furry friends.

Can Hamsters Eat Canned Tuna in Water?

Canned Tuna in water can be a healthier option compared to salty oil. We recommend draining the brine out of the can completely and washing the tuna in a bit of fresh clean water to reduce the sodium content before feeding just a tiny bit to hamsters.

How Much Tuna Can Hamsters Eat?

Hamsters can eat up to 1/2 of a teaspoon of tuna if you are desperate to let them taste it at all costs. We do not recommend pet rodents eating tuna but giving the stated quantity once every 1-2 months may cause minimal problems.

Conclusion: Can Hamsters Eat Tuna?

Hamsters should not eat tuna at all due to numerous health concerns. Tuna contains excessive amounts of fats and can trigger obesity in pet rodents when exposed to it. Besides, the high sodium quantities can take a heavy toll on internal organs such as kidneys, and inhibit normal functionality.

Eating tuna may also expose hamsters to choking due to the high number of small bones that are typically hidden in them.

If you’re determined to feed tuna to your furry friends at all costs, make sure any slice is mashed to eliminate pieces of small bones that may serve as choking hazards. You should also consider washing off canned tuna in water to remove some of the sodium traces before putting it on the little guy’s food plate.