Apple

Apple

Pick red ones that are not wrinkled, bruised or soft. Green ones tend to be sour therefore not advisable to feed to hamsters.
Store in fridge, preferably away from strong smelling foods, up to 1 week.
Soak in water for 10 minutes and squeeze in lime juice to rid off the pesticides. Lightly scrub the skin to remove the wax and residue. Cut into half, remove the core and seeds and quarter it. Cut the quarter to a further 3-4 small pieces and feed to the hamsters accordingly. Apples oxidize and turn brown easily so feed immediately after they are cut.
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber.

Avocado

Pick those heavy for their sizes and free of bruises and dark sunken spots. Unripe ones are hard to the touch.
Store at room temperature for 2-3 days to ripen. Ripen ones should be kept in fridge and consume within 2-3 days.
Slice into half, remove the seed and scoop the flesh with a spoon. Skin is to be throw away as inedible. Avocado turns brown easily when exposed to air so feed to the hamsters immediately after they are cut. All hamsters' favourites and can help to fat them up!!!
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber. Excellent source of Folate, Potassium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Coconut

Pick those that are heavy, shake to make sure they contain liquid inside. Avoid those with cracks moulds.
Store unopened in plastic containers to be kept in fridge. Best to consume in 3-4 days.
Use knife and slowly cut out a small circle at the top of the husk. Finish the juice and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh to feed to the hamsters in moderate amounts. All hamsters' favourites and can help to fat them up!!!
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber. Good source of Iron and Selenium.

Dragon Fruit

Classified under the cactus family. The flesh ranges in color from white to red.
Pick deep red ones that are soft to the touch and very rich in fragrance.
Unripe ones can be stored at room temperature. Ripe and cut ones to keep in plastic bag and store in fridge. Best to consume in 4-6 days.
Cut into half, scoop out the flesh and cut into quarters. Cut a quarter into a further 4-6 small slices and feed to each hamster.
Contains lycopene, a natural antioxidant known to fight cancer, heart disease and lower blood pressure. Good source of Vitamin C.

Durian

The flesh ranges in color from white to yellow.
Pick bright green and closely gapped thorns and very rich in fragrance.
Keep in plastic container to be kept in fridge. Best to consume on the same day or the very next day.
Remove the shell and pluck out the seeds. Can feed one seed for a few hamsters to share. Else remove some flesh and feed to each hamster.
Contains protein, carbohydrate, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin and minerals. Good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin B1.

Guava

The flesh ranges in color from white to pink.
Pick those that feels gentle pressure but yet to show signs of spots.
Green ones can be stored at room temperature. Ripe or cut ones are to be stored in plastic bag to be kept in fridge. Best to consume in 3-4 days.
Slice into half, remove the seeds and cut into quarters. Cut each quarter into a further 6-8 small pieces and feed to each hamster.
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber.

Honeydew

Pick those heavy for their sizes and free of bruises. The navel where stem is attached will show roughly when it was harvested, look out for any mold or excessive softness. If a shriveled stem is still attached, it was harvested too soon.
Honeydews do not ripen right after harvesting and can be kept for 2 weeks. When it is ripe, there will be a delicate aroma. Can also tap lightly for a hollow sound. Once ripe/cut, they are to be kept in fridge and consume within 3-4 days.
Cut into half, remove the seeds and cut into quarters. Remove the skin and cut a quarter to a further of 6-10 small pieces and feed to each hamster accordingly.
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber. Excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Good source of Potassium.

Mango

Pick semi-soft ones with evenly smooth skins. A couple of black spots are acceptable as it indicates a very ripe mango and tend to be sweeter. Mangoes with green areas will ripen at room temperature although completely green ones may not so avoid picking those.
Unripe ones can be stored at room temperature. Ripe and cut ones to keep in plastic bag and store in fridge. Best to consume in 4-5 days.
Peel the skin off, cut into small cubes and feed to the hamsters in moderate amounts.

Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber. Excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Papaya

Pick those free of black spots, bruises and rotting skins. Ripe ones are yellow and not green in color. Green ones will take 4-6 days to ripen.
Ripe ones are to be kept in fridge. Cut ones are to be sealed in plastic bags and kept in fridge. Best to consume in 3-4 days.
Wash the skin clean. Cut into circles in the vertical way if amount consumed is not much. Remove the seeds and skin. Cut into 6-10 small pieces and feed to the hamsters accordingly.
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber. Excellent source of Vitamin C. Good source of Folate. Has papain enzymes that promote digestion.

Peach

Pick those of nice fragrance, slightly soft or semi-firm red and yellow ones with velvety skin. Avoid those with a green hue or hard to the touch as they will not ripen. Avoid those with bruises too as it can accelerate and reveal spoilage.
Keep unwashed in plastic bags to be kept in fridge. Best to consume in 3-4 days.
Soak in water for 10 minutes and squeeze in lime juice to rid off the pesticides. Cut into half and then quarters. Cut one quarter into 4-5 small pieces and only feed sweet ones to the hamsters.
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber. Good source of Vitamin C.

Pear

Pick those that feel solid and yet not excessively hard. Avoid damaged skins and mushy brown spots which indicate core spoilage. Tenderness near the stem indicate that they are ripe.
Unripe ones can be kept at room temperature. Ripe and cut ones to be kept in plastic bags and store in fridge. Best to consume in 3-4 days.
Soak in water for 10 minutes and squeeze in lime juice to rid off the pesticides. Lightly scrub the skin. Cut into half, remove the core and seeds and quarter it. Cut the quarter to a further 3-4 small pieces and feed to the hamsters accordingly. Pears tend to turn brown easily once exposed to air so feed immediately after they are cut.
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber.

Rock Melon

Pick those heavy for their sizes and free of bruises. The navel where stem is attached will show roughly when it was harvested, look out for any mold or excessive softness. If a shriveled stem is still attached, it was harvested too soon.
Rock Melons do not ripen right after harvesting and can be kept for 2 weeks. When it is ripe, there will be a delicate aroma. Can also tap lightly for a hollow sound. Once ripe/cut, they are to be kept in fridge and consume within 3-4 days.
Cut into half, remove the seeds and cut into quarters. Remove the skin and cut a quarter to a further of 6-10 small pieces and feed to each hamster accordingly.
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber. Excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Good source of Potassium.

Watermelon

Range in color from red to yellow.
Pick those heavy for their sizes and free of bruises. The navel where stem is attached will show roughly when it was harvested, look out for any mold or excessive softness. If a shriveled stem is still attached, it was harvested too soon.
Watermelons do not ripen right after harvesting and can be kept for 2 weeks. When it is ripe, there will be a delicate aroma. Can also tap lightly for a hollow sound. Once ripe/cut, they are to be kept in fridge and consume within 3-4 days.
Cut into half, remove the seeds and cut into quarters. Remove the skin and cut a quarter to a further of 10-15 small pieces and feed to each hamster in moderate amounts. As watermelons has a high water content, only advisable to feed during the hot days.
Contains calories, protein, carbohydrate, total fat and fiber. Excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Good source of Potassium.

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Updated on 24th Feb 2008

Disclaimer: Above is a recommended intake guide fed to Chipmon's hamsters. Chipmon Hamstery will not be responsible for any consequences.