Are you health-conscious for your guinea pigs?
Then you know diet plays a major role in their overall well-being.
It can be hard to know what foods you can and cannot feed your guinea pig.
Keeping reading to know what fruits and vegetables are on the guinea pig safe food list and which to avoid entirely.
Table of Contents
What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
Fruits are a healthy and delicious snack to feed your guinea pig every now and again. They’re full of vitamins and minerals that your guinea pig needs to be healthy and strong.
Most guinea pigs have a sweet tooth and will happily devour any fruit you give them, which makes them a great treat to use for training or when your pet has been especially well-behaved.
However, fruits are naturally high in sugar, so they shouldn’t be fed as often as vegetables. Around once or twice a week is usually enough!
When you’re introducing new fruits to your guinea pig, only offer them a small amount at first to see if they like it.
Guinea pigs are usually wary of new foods, so it may take some time before they become used to eating new fruits.
You should also monitor your pet over the next 24 hours to make sure they don’t get diarrhea or an upset stomach from a new fruit.
Make sure you wash all fruits thoroughly before you feed them to your guinea pig. All fruits and vegetables should be fed raw as guinea pigs can’t process cooked foods very well.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples?
Guinea pigs can eat apples. In fact, apples are full of dietary fiber and flavonoids that are great for your guinea pig’s digestive system and overall health. They’re also a good source of vitamin C.
You should make sure the apple you are feeding your guinea pig is ripe and not sour.
You can feed any type of apple to your guinea pig but use caution if you decide to use green apples. These types of apples have a tendency to be quite sour and acidic.
The acid in apples can cause digestive discomfort and mouth sores, so it might be best to opt for red/pink apples as these are typically sweeter.
Before feeding your guinea pig an apple, wash it thoroughly and chop it into small pieces (around 1/8 of an apple is enough). Make sure you remove all the seeds.
So, can guinea pigs eat apple seeds? Apple seeds are a choking hazard and contain cyanide, which can be harmful if consumed.
You can leave the skin on apples when feeding them to your guinea pig, but make sure they don’t eat too much of it. A lot of fiber is in the skin of the apple, which is great but could cause stomach upset in excessive amounts.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Grapes?
Can guinea pigs have grapes? Yes, guinea pigs can eat grapes. Grapes contain vitamin B6, which can help boost your guinea pig’s activity levels.
This means grapes are a great fruit to feed your guinea pig when they are exercising.
Additionally, grapes have a high water content, making them a refreshing snack to feed your guinea pig on warm days.
You should opt for seedless grapes when feeding this fruit to your guinea pig. Make sure you wash the fruit thoroughly and chop it into quarters to make it easy for your pet to eat.
Like with all fruits, feed grapes in moderation. About ½ to 1 grape per guinea pig is more than enough as they do contain a lot of sugar.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Bananas?
Can guinea pigs have bananas? Guinea pigs can eat bananas and banana skin/peel. Make sure the banana is ripe (not green!) before you feed it to your pet.
Bananas are a good source of vitamin C, but they are incredibly high in sugar. This fruit should be fed very sparingly. A small slice of banana is enough.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Strawberries?
Strawberries are safe to feed guinea pigs. The tops of strawberries are also safe to feed your guinea pig.
Although strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, they are very high in sugar. A small slice is more than enough to feed your guinea pig.
READ MORE: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Strawberry Tops?
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Blackberries?
Blackberries are safe to feed guinea pigs in moderation. Blackberries contain a lot of vitamin C, but they are very high in sugar, so 1 is an ideal portion for your pet.
Blackberries should be ripe before being fed to guinea pigs. Avoid blackberries that are red in color as they are not ripe!
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pears?
Pears are safe for guinea pigs to eat. However, due to their high sugar content and acidity, they shouldn’t be fed too often.
Around 1/8 of a pear is enough for your guinea pig. You can leave the skin on the pear as this is safe for your guinea pig to eat.
Make sure the pear is ripe and you remove the seeds from it before you serve it to your guinea pig. Pear seeds contain traces of cyanide, which is harmful to your pet if consumed.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelons?
Watermelons are fine for your guinea pig to eat. They contain vitamin C, vitamin A, and are a great refreshing snack for your guinea pig on hot days.
The rind is also safe for your guinea pig to eat. In fact, the rind on a watermelon contains more nutrients than the flesh!
However, watermelons are very high in sugar, so don’t feed them too often. Additionally, the high amount of water in watermelons can cause diarrhea and abdominal discomfort in guinea pigs.
A small slice that’s no bigger than 2 inches is more than enough for your guinea pig. Make sure you remove all the seeds before giving this fruit to your pet.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tomatoes?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat tomatoes. However, never feed tomato stalks or leaves to your guinea pig as these are toxic.
Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber, making them a great addition to your guinea pig’s diet. Tomatoes can be fed around every 2 days.
However, tomatoes are quite acidic, so they shouldn’t be fed in excessive amounts.
A couple of slices of tomato is a suitable portion size for a guinea pig. Make sure the tomato is ripe too!
All types of tomatoes are safe for guinea pigs, including cherry tomatoes and beef tomatoes. For bigger tomatoes, make sure you chop them into small slices before feeding them to your guinea pig.
The seeds and skin are safe for your guinea pig to consume, so you don’t need to remove them.
What Vegetables Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
Vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables, play an important role in your guinea pig’s diet.
A guinea pig needs a wide range of different vegetables to keep them healthy. They require around ¾ to 1 cup of vegetables each day, with one of these vegetables being a leafy green.
It’s important to note that some vegetables should be fed more than others. Veggies like kale can be fed to your guinea pig regularly.
Vegetables like carrots and baby corn/corn on the cob should be fed less frequently.
The following vegetables are safe for your guinea pig to consume:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower leaves
- Cucumber
- Cabbage
- Peas
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Zucchini(Is Zucchini Good for Guinea Pigs?)
- Beetroot (not the leaves or stalks)
- Asparagus
- Baby corn
- Celery
- Brussel sprouts
- Butternut squash (remove seeds)
- Pumpkin (remove seeds)
- Radish (Do Guinea Pigs Like Radishes?)
- Parsnip
- Chicory
- Turnips
- Coriander
- Corn on the cob
- Salad peppers
- Bok choy
- Romaine/Cos/Baby Gem lettuce
- Collard greens
- Watercress
- Basil
- Parsley
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Carrots?
Carrots are safe for guinea pigs to eat. Most guinea pigs adore the taste and crunch of carrots, so it’s a great treat to feed your pet during training!
Although carrots contain healthy nutrients, such as vitamin C and dietary fiber, they are very high in sugar. This vegetable shouldn’t be a daily part of your guinea pig’s diet. A couple of slices 2 to 3 times a week is more than enough.
Carrot skin/peel and the tops are safe for your guinea pig to eat, so you don’t need to remove them.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Lettuce?
Lettuce, except for Iceberg lettuce, is safe for guinea pigs to eat. Romaine and green leaf lettuces are generally the best types to feed and can be fed fairly regularly.
Cut lettuce into small pieces and remove the hard sections of the stalk before you feed it to your pet.
Cos/Baby Gem/Romaine and other types of lettuce are fine for your guinea pig. Iceberg lettuce, on the other hand, should be avoided.
Iceberg lettuce offers no nutritional value and is incredibly watery, which can cause diarrhea in guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cucumber?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat cucumber. Cucumber does not contain a lot of nutrients, but it does contain a lot of water.
This makes cucumber perfect to feed guinea pigs on hot days. A few slices a couple of times a week is enough.
The skin and seeds are also safe for your pet to consume, so you don’t need to remove these.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Celery?
Celery is fine for your guinea pig to consume. Celery is packed with water and also contains vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, and dietary fiber, which are great for your guinea pig.
The stems and leaves are safe for your guinea pig, so you don’t need to waste these.
However, celery shouldn’t be fed to your guinea on a regular basis as it contains oxalates. Oxalates can cause kidney stones to form, which guinea pigs are already at risk of getting.
With this in mind, celery should only be fed to guinea pigs as an occasional treat.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Spinach?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat spinach. Spinach is low in sugar and full of other nutrients, such as vitamin C, which are beneficial for your guinea pig.
However, spinach contains a high amount of oxalates, so should be fed in small portions around twice a week.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cabbage?
Can guinea pigs eat white cabbage? Cabbage is safe for guinea pigs to consume. Cabbage contains a lot of nutrients, such as vitamin C, and is also low in fat, making it a nutritious vegetable to include in your pet’s diet.
However, cabbage shouldn’t be fed to guinea pigs in excessive amounts. A small portion a couple of times a week is enough.
Cabbage can cause bloating, flatulence and diarrhea when fed too often to guinea pigs. That’s why moderation with this vegetable is key!
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Peppers?
Peppers are fine for guinea pigs to eat, provided they are the non-spicy kind (bell peppers).
All colors of bell peppers are safe to feed your guinea pig. Bell peppers are low in fat and sugar. They are also very high in vitamin C, especially the red ones, so they are a great addition to your pet’s diet.
Around 1 slice of bell pepper, each day is enough for your guinea pig. Make sure you remove the stem and seeds beforehand.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Sunflower Seeds?
No, guinea pigs should not be given sunflower seeds. All types of hard seeds should be avoided.
Not only are sunflower seeds a choking hazard for guinea pigs, but they can become lodged in their teeth.
Sunflower seeds are very high in fat too! Guinea pigs on high-fat diets are prone to obesity, which can lead to liver, heart, and respiratory disease.
Related: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Eggplant?
What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Not Eat?
These fruits are believed to be unsafe for guinea pigs:
- Citrus fruit (although oranges can be fed in moderation, the high acidity in citrus fruits can cause mouth sores and digestive issues)
- Tomato leaves (the fruit is okay, but the green sections are unsafe)
What Vegetables Can Guinea Pigs Not Eat?
The following vegetables are generally thought to be unsafe for guinea pigs:
- Avocado
- Rhubarb
- Onions
- Leeks (Check: Can guinea pigs have leeks?)
- Chives
- Shallots
- Iceberg lettuce
- Potatoes
FAQs
How often do guinea pigs need feeding?
Guinea pigs need to be fed every day. They require constant access to grass hay, high-quality pellets, and around ¾ to 1 cup of vegetables daily.
Can guinea pigs have drinks like soda, tea, coffee, etc.?
No. Fresh clean water is the only drink guinea pigs need. Make sure you change your guinea pig’s water every day.
What foods shouldn’t my guinea pig eat?
Your guinea pig shouldn’t be given meat or dairy of any kind as their digestive system will have trouble digesting it. iceberg lettuce tends to give guinea pigs diarrhea and is best to avoid too.
Did you get now what to feed your guinea pigs? Let us know for any queries if you still have
Alina Hartley is a small-town girl with a ginormous love of bearded dragons. It all started with Winchester, a baby bearded who was abandoned at the shelter by his former owners because of a birth defect that caused one front leg to be shorter than the other. Alina originally went to the shelter looking for a guinea pig, but one look at Winchester and it was love at first sight. From that day on, Alina has dedicated her life to learning everything she can about bearded dragons. She loves helping new beardie parents start their incredible journey with these magnificent reptiles.
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