Although the hamster mix will provide the hamster with a good basic diet, hamsters also enjoy fruit and vegetables. However, it is important that fruit and vegetables should be introduced to a hamster's diet gradually as a sudden large amount of fruit or vegetables can cause diarrhoea.

To begin with the hamster should only be given a small piece of fruit or vegetable once or twice a week and over a period of weeks this can be increased to a small piece every day. If at any time the hamster shows signs of diarrhoea all feeding of fruit and vegetables should stop until the hamster has recovered and then gradually re-introduced into the diet.

Certain vegetables, herbs and fruit can be fed to hamsters. The hamster should only be fed an amount it will eat as if the hamster is fed too much and stores vegetables and fruit it can become mouldy.

Vegetables and herbs that are safe to feed a hamster are:

• Alfalfa
• Apple (seedless)
• Asparagus
• Avocado (skinned and seedless)
• Banana
• Basil
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts - small amounts occasionally - not all hamsters like the strong taste
• Calabrese
• Cabbage - should only be fed in small amounts occasionally as too much can cause health problems
• Carrots
• Cauliflower leaves and stalks
• Celery
• Cherries - stones should be removed as they can be dangerous if gnawed
• Chestnuts
• Chicory
• Chinese Leaves
• Coriander
• Corn-on-the-Cob
• Corn Salad
• Courgette
• Cranberries
• Cress
• Cucumber
• Curly Kale
• Dates
• Endive
• Fenugreek
• Feijoa
• Figs
• Grapes
• Green beans
• Kale - should only be fed in small amounts occasionally as too much can cause health problems
• Kidney Beans (cooked)
• Kiwi Fruit
• Kumquat
• Lettuce - small amounts occasionally - in excess it can cause liver problems
• Logan Berries
• Lychee
• Mange Tout
• Mango
• Marrow
• Melon
• Mint
• Mung
• Okra
• Pak Choy
• Papaya
• Parsley - a good tonic
• Peach
• Pear
• Peas
• Plums - stones should be removed as can be dangerous when gnawed
• Potato (cooked)
• Raspberries
• Raspberry Plant leaves - beneficial for diarrhoea
• Rhubarb (cooked)
• Rocket Chard
• Sage
• Sorrel
• Squash
• Star Fruit
• Strawberries
• Sugar Cane - small amounts
• Sweet Potato
• Soybean Sprouts
• Swede
• Sweetcorn
• Sweet Peppers
• Ugli Fruit
• Turnip
• Water Chestnuts
• Watermelon
• Water Spinach

Vegetables and herbs that should not be fed are:

• Kidney Beans (raw)
• Onion
• Potato (raw)
• Potato tops
• Rhubarb (raw)
• Rhubarb leaves
• Tomato leaves