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Yes, hamsters can eat courgette (zucchini). A washed cube about 1 cm (0.4 in) across, two or three times a week, is a safe treat for a Syrian, and half that for a dwarf. Courgette is mild, watery and low in sugar, which makes it a good vegetable for diabetes-prone dwarfs. Too much at once can cause soft droppings, so keep it small.
| Safe? | Yes |
| How much | A 1 cm (0.4 in) cube for a Syrian, 5 mm (¼ in) for a dwarf |
| How often | Two or three times a week |
| Best served | Raw, washed, skin on, cut small |
| Watch out for | Soft droppings, oil and garlic, hoarded pieces |
Is courgette safe for hamsters?
Yes. The PDSA lists courgette among the vegetables suitable for hamsters, and Burgess repeats that list. The Vet Desk, whose hamster pages are reviewed by a vet, says hamsters can eat zucchini (the US name for courgette) but only in limited amounts, as a supplement to their main food rather than a meal.
Courgette is mostly water and low in sugar, much like cucumber. That makes it a good choice for dwarf hamsters, since the PDSA says Russian dwarfs are particularly prone to diabetes. The usual caution with watery vegetables applies: Burgess warns that too much green food can cause diarrhoea.
How much courgette can a hamster have?
The Vet Desk gives no exact amount, so we use Woodgreen's rule for treats, a piece about the size of your hamster's ear. For a Syrian that is a cube about 1 cm (0.4 in) across, and for a dwarf about 5 mm (¼ in). Two or three times a week, rotated with other vegetables, is plenty. The PDSA puts all fresh food at a teaspoon or two a day. Our hamster diet guide shows how that fits around the dry mix.
How to prepare courgette
- Wash it. Rinse the courgette under cold water, as The Vet Desk advises.
- Cut a thin round. Slice one round about 1 cm (0.4 in) thick.
- Cube it. Cut a small cube from the round, skin on, and keep the rest for yourself.
- Start small. The first time, give half a portion and check the droppings the next day.
- Clear up. Remove leftovers after a few hours and check the hoard, because damp vegetables go off quickly.
Skin, seeds, cooked and other squashes
- Skin: not covered by our sources. It is thin and soft, so we leave it on after washing, and peel it if it is tough or bitter.
- Seeds: the soft seeds in a young courgette are eaten with the flesh. Very large, old courgettes (marrows) have tougher seeds, which we scoop out.
- Cooked: not covered by our sources. Plain steamed is probably fine. Never fried, roasted in oil or cooked with garlic or onion, which Woodgreen lists as unsafe.
- Courgette crisps or fries: no. They are fried and salted.
- Pumpkin and squash: the PDSA lists both as suitable. See our page on pumpkin.
Yellow courgettes are the same vegetable in a different colour and can be fed the same way. A mix of yellow and green cubes is an easy way to add variety.
Which hamsters should skip courgette?
Skip it for a hamster with soft droppings or a wet bottom. Wait until young hamsters and new arrivals are settled and eating their dry food well, then add one new vegetable at a time.
What to offer instead
Other mild, low-sugar vegetables are cucumber, de-stringed celery and broccoli. The full list is on what can hamsters eat, and our hamster care guide covers everything else.
Courgette questions
Can dwarf hamsters eat courgette?
Yes. Courgette is low in sugar, so it is one of the better vegetables for Campbell's and winter white dwarfs, which the PDSA says are prone to diabetes. Give a dwarf about half a Syrian's portion, a cube about 5 mm (¼ in) across, two or three times a week.
Can hamsters eat courgette skin?
Our sources do not cover the skin, but courgettes are normally eaten skin and all and the skin is thin and soft. We leave it on after a good wash. If the skin is tough, bitter or waxy, peel the piece first.
Can hamsters eat cooked courgette?
Our sources describe raw courgette. A small piece of plain steamed courgette with nothing added should be fine, but courgette cooked for people usually has oil, salt or garlic, which hamsters should not have. Raw is simpler and gives your hamster something to gnaw.
Can hamsters eat courgette flowers?
Our sources do not cover courgette flowers, so we leave them out. They are usually served stuffed or fried for people, which rules those versions out anyway. Stick to the plain vegetable.
