Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
Yes, hamsters can eat crickets. They are omnivores, and the RSPCA notes that wild hamsters eat crickets and insect larvae. One or two pet-shop crickets once or twice a week make a good protein treat. Dried crickets are the safe choice: live ones can bite, and PetMD advises against live prey. Never feed crickets caught in the garden, which can carry pesticides or parasites.
| Safe? | Yes, as a protein treat |
| How much | 1 or 2 crickets (small ones or halves for dwarfs) |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Dried, from a pet shop, softened and broken small |
| Watch out for | Live or wild-caught crickets, dried pieces stuck in pouches, weight gain |
Are crickets safe for hamsters?
Yes. Hamsters are omnivores and need some protein, and the RSPCA notes that wild hamsters eat crickets. The Bunnyjackpot Foundation, a UK small-pet rescue, lists crickets, mealworms, locusts and grasshoppers among good protein foods. A vet-reviewed guide from The Vet Desk says crickets offer protein, fatty acids and minerals such as potassium and magnesium.
A good complete hamster food already contains protein, so crickets are a bonus, not a must. Omlet notes that a good pellet means you do not need to add insects. They are still great enrichment, because foraging for and crunching insects is natural hamster behaviour.
How many crickets can a hamster eat?
One or two crickets once or twice a week is plenty for a Syrian. For a dwarf, one small cricket or half a large one. Woodgreen suggests one or two mealworms at a time, and we use the same rule for crickets, since both are rich insect treats. The Vet Desk gives no fixed number, and warns that too many crickets can lead to weight gain because of their fat and protein.
If you give crickets one day, skip other protein treats such as boiled egg that day. Our hamster diet guide shows how protein fits into the week.
Live, dried or tinned crickets?
| Type | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Dried | Easy to store and portion, cannot bite | Can lodge in a cheek pouch; soak briefly to soften |
| Live | Full nutrition | Can bite and injure a hamster; we would not use them |
| Tinned or rehydrated | Soft, easy to eat | Remove leftovers fast, they spoil |
| Wild-caught | Nothing | Pesticides, parasites; never feed |
Sources disagree on live crickets. PetMD says never offer live prey, while Bunnyjackpot says live insects are fine as long as they are not left in the enclosure. The Vet Desk points out that a live cricket can bite. The Vet Desk goes as far as saying a live cricket should be killed before it goes in the cage. We take the careful side: dried crickets only, from a pet shop.
How to serve crickets
- Buy from a pet shop. Pet-shop crickets are raised as food. The Vet Desk advises store-bought insects over wild ones.
- Pick the right size. Small or medium crickets for a Syrian, small ones or halves for a dwarf. Break big dried ones up.
- Soften dried ones. A few seconds in warm water makes a dried cricket easier to chew and less likely to stick in a pouch.
- Hand feed or scatter. Offer from your fingers or hide in the bedding for a forage. Sniffing out a hidden cricket gives the same fun as a hunt, without the bite risk.
- Clear up. Remove anything uneaten, especially softened crickets, which spoil quickly.
Do not catch crickets or grasshoppers from the garden or park. They may have eaten pesticides or slug pellets, or carry parasites. If your hamster has eaten one, watch for diarrhoea, low energy or not eating for two days and ring your vet if you see any of these.
What to offer instead
Other protein treats include one or two mealworms or a little plain boiled egg, which the PDSA suggests. Skip cat food and dog food, which are too rich. For more ways to keep foraging fun, see our hamster enrichment guide, plus what can hamsters eat and our hamster care guide.
Cricket questions
Can dwarf hamsters eat crickets?
Yes. Crickets are low in sugar, so they suit diabetes-prone dwarfs better than fruit. Give one small cricket or half a large one once or twice a week. The Vet Desk notes dwarfs need fewer than larger hamsters. Break dried ones small and soften them so they do not lodge in a pouch.
Do hamsters need insects in their diet?
Not if their food is right. A good complete hamster food includes protein, and Omlet says a good pellet saves you buying crickets or mealworms. Some mixes, Woodgreen notes, need dried mealworms added. Check the label, then use crickets as a fun extra.
Can a live cricket hurt my hamster?
It can. The Vet Desk warns that crickets can bite and injure a hamster, especially a small or older one. PetMD advises against live prey altogether, so we would use dried crickets, which cannot bite.
