Hamsters are omnivorous!
My younger brother read this fascinating fact many years ago as a hamster-owning 12-year-old.

Now at the time, our hamster - we'll call him "Nibbles", cos that was his name - was very well fed on fresh fruit and veg every day.

Upon learning that Nibbles would enjoy a meaty treat, my brother pops out into the back garden before school one morning and brings back the biggest, fattest, juiciest worm ever (still very alive) for Nibbles to feast upon.

He takes it to the hamster cage and starts to pass it through the bars to the very pleased looking Nibbles.

Interesting fact about hamsters... they are VERY territorial. You can keep mice or rats or gerbils in the same cage... but NEVER male hamsters because they will literally fight to the death.

So, nice juicy wriggly worm is being gobbled down (whole) by Nibbles. Being a very alive worm and not liking the idea of being eaten, it writhes its way back out of the hamster's throat and onto the floor of the cage. My brother, being the helpful sole that he is, decides to pick up the worm to hand it back to the rather miffed looking hamster.

Big mistake!
Hamster thinks that brother is trying to steal his worm.

Hamster decides to sample human finger flesh! Right down to the bone, in fact.
Much, much blood and screaming and rushes to the doctor.

As for the worm? Never made to the bars of the cage. Swallowed whole. Yum!
(IcePimp, Thu 2 Jun 2005, 13:13, Reply)