About the Syrian Hamster
The Syrian (golden) hamster is the largest common pet hamster and must live alone — but it also has the most forgiving diet, tolerating a little fruit unlike the diabetes-prone dwarves. A typical adult weighs about 0.12–0.2 kg.
How much should a Syrian Hamster eat?
Calorie needs use the veterinary formula 70 × weight(kg)0.75 (the Resting Energy Requirement), multiplied by a lifestyle factor of ×1.5 for a typical hamster at the life stage shown. Enter your own animal's details in the calculator for an exact figure.
| Body weight | Daily calories |
|---|---|
| 120 g | 21 kcal |
| 131 g | 23 kcal |
| 143 g | 24 kcal |
| 154 g | 26 kcal |
| 166 g | 27 kcal |
| 177 g | 29 kcal |
| 189 g | 30 kcal |
| 200 g | 31 kcal |
What to feed
A good hamster diet is a quality seed-and-pellet mix as the base, plus small amounts of fresh vegetables and occasional protein (a mealworm or piece of plain cooked egg). Syrian and dwarf hamsters differ: dwarves are prone to diabetes and need low-sugar diets with no fruit.
Hamsters are nocturnal and eat mostly at night. Offer a measured daily portion — roughly a tablespoon for a Syrian, a teaspoon for a dwarf — and remove perishable fresh food before it spoils in the hoard.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed a Syrian hamster?
About one tablespoon of a quality hamster mix per day, plus small amounts of fresh vegetables. Syrians tolerate a little fruit, unlike dwarf hamsters.
Can Syrian hamsters live together?
No — Syrian hamsters are solitary and will fight, often fatally, if housed together. They must live alone.
How much food does a hamster need per day?
Roughly one tablespoon of dry mix per day for a Syrian hamster and about one teaspoon for a dwarf hamster, plus a small piece of fresh vegetable a few times a week.