Yes, hamsters can eat pistachio nuts, but they should only be given them as treats and not as an everyday food source. There are a few reasons for this:
- Hamsters should be fed a base hamster mix. This should be their primary diet as too many fresh foods can cause digestive issues.
- Most hamsters have never experienced fresh food before, and may not react well internally to it at first. Fresh food should be introduced slowly. Try once a week at first.
- Hamsters will store food for later. If you provide too much fresh food, the hamster will store it in its nest, where it will likely go mouldy.
With the above in mind, there are a variety of fresh foods that can be fed to your hamster as a treat every once in a while. Here's a quick list of some of the best options:
- Apple
- Blueberry
- Peas
- Strawberry
- Cress
- Grass
- Pistacio nuts
- Raisins
- Sultanas
There are plenty more options alongside the above list, but that's probably enough to get you started. I'd recommend that you only introduce these fresh foods in small amounts once per week to begin with to see how your hamster deals with them.
Here's a cute little video talking about fresh food and hamsters - enjoy!
