Mango is a tropical fruit that’s popular due to its nutritional value and great taste. This fruit is very versatile and can be used to make desserts, smoothies, dipping sauces, and added to a fruit salad. If you own guinea pigs, you may wonder if you can feed them mangoes.
So, can guinea pigs eat mango? Yes, guinea pigs can eat mangoes. This fruit is rich in many nutrients, especially vitamin A and C. While the mangoes are nutrient-rich, they also contain a high content of sugar. Fed in excess, it can be very harmful to them.
Are Mangoes Good For Guinea Pigs?
Mangoes are great for guinea pigs due to the high level of nutrition that it has.
One of the nutrients in mangoes is vitamin C. This vitamin is important for the health of guinea pigs. Without it, the cavies can die.
Guinea pigs are prone to scurvy, especially those in captivity. Scurvy is a disease when there’s not enough vitamin C in the diet.
Unfortunately for guinea pigs, they are unable to synthesize or store vitamin C in their body. They will need a constant of vitamin C each day to prevent scurvy.
Another nutrient in mangoes that’s important for guinea pigs is calcium. Calcium is important for strong and healthy bones, teeth, and nails.
A whole mango contains a small amount of calcium. This is the right amount of calcium for a guinea pig. A large amount of calcium often leads to digestive issues such as bladder stones.
Hazards of Feeding Mangoes to Guinea Pigs
Mangoes, when it’s ripe are rich in sugar. Feeding them in a small amount should be fine and pose no harm to their health.
On the other hand, when mangoes are fed to them in excess, it will cause health problems for them.
The high sugar in mangoes will often lead to diabetes, obesity, and diarrhea. Prolong sugar intake could result in the guinea pigs dying.
Also, guinea pigs may get addicted to the sweet taste of mangoes. This means that will refuse all other food, especially their staple food of vegetables and hay.
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Mangoes?
Baby guinea pigs should not be given any mangoes. Their digestive system has not developed enough to be able to digest the mango properly.
Instead, they should be fed a diet of timothy hay and their mother’s milk.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Skin?
You should avoid giving your guinea pig any mango skin. The skin is not very nutritious and too tough for them to eat.
Also, if you’re buying them from the store, they may contain traces of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers.
It’s best to peel off the skin and feed your guinea pigs the flesh part of the mango. It’s the most nutritious and easy for them to eat.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Pit?
Guinea pigs should be given the mango pit or seed. The pit is too tough and will cause a choking hazard for them.
Before feeding the mango, make sure to remove the pit from the fruit first.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Mango?
It’s not recommended to feed dried mango to your guinea pigs. Dried mango has a very high concentration of sugar. When the fruit is dehydrated, all the moisture is removed and left only with the flesh and sugar.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Frozen Mango?
Guinea pigs should not be fed any frozen mango. Frozen food or food that is cold will cause an imbalance in the digestive system of the guinea pigs.
To prevent any issues, avoid feeding frozen mango to them.
How To Feed Mangoes To Guinea Pigs
When it comes to feeding mangoes to your guinea pigs, you have a few options. You can either feed them fresh mangoes or make a fruit salad for them.
Before giving them any mangoes, make sure to give it a good wash first to remove any dirt and pests that may be on there.
Feeding Fresh Mangoes To Guinea Pigs
Feeding them fresh mangoes is pretty straightforward. Make sure the mango is ripped first. It should be vibrant in colors and soft to the touch.
Avoid feeding them unripe mangoes as it is too tough and could cause them to choke on them. Also, unripe mangoes have a sour taste to them which the guinea pigs will not enjoy.
Using a sharp knife, peel the skin off the mango. Then slice the mango into small pieces. Place it into their bowl for the guinea pig to enjoy.
Making a Fruit Salad
If you want to make their food more interesting, you can try to make a fruit salad for them. Besides mangoes, you can use other fruits such as apples, bananas, apricots, and plums.
Make sure to cut all the fruits into small pieces and then mix them all in a bowl. Then place the mixed fruit into their cage for them to enjoy.
If this is their first time eating mangoes, you will want to test them out for allergic reactions first. Give them a small piece of mango and wait 24 hours. Within that time, you should see if they will have an allergic reaction to the mango. If they do, the guinea pigs will have diarrhea or an upset stomach.
On the other hand, if the guinea pig doesn’t have any allergic reaction, and they seem to enjoy eating it, you can continue to feed them mangoes.
How Many Mangoes To Feed Guinea Pigs?
The suggested amount to feed mangoes to your guinea pigs is a small amount of it. This means a slice of mango is enough for them.
Fruits like mangoes should only make up 5% of their entire diet. 80% of their diet should be from hay while 10-15% should be from vegetables and quality feeds.
So, mangoes should only be fed to them as a treat. You also want to avoid feeding them too much mango as they may get addicted to the sweet taste of it.
How Often Can A Guinea Pig Eat Mangoes?
While this fruit is high in nutrients, it’s recommended to feed them in moderation. The sugar content in mango is very high and could lead to obesity and other ailments if excessively eaten.
For that reason, give your guinea pigs mango, once or twice per week.
Other Fruits That Guinea Pigs Can Eat
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is a good source of antioxidants, fiber, and other essential nutrition. This fruit has a soft texture that’s easy for the guinea pigs to eat. While the fruit is nutritious, it is also high in water and sugar. To prevent health issues, only feed dragon fruit to your guinea pigs in moderation.
Peaches
Peaches are a great source of vitamins and minerals for guinea pigs. You can feed them all part of the fruit, except for the pit. The pit or seed contains cyanide which is harmful to the guinea pigs.
Jackfruit
Jackfruit makes a great treat for guinea pigs. It’s high in a good deal of nutrition that the guinea pigs require each day. While this fruit is nutritious, it can be harmful to guinea pigs due to the high level of sugar. It should be fed to them in moderation to avoid any health issues.
Only the yellow flesh of the fruit can be fed to them. All other parts of the jackfruit should be discarded.
Conclusion
Mango is a tasty and nutritious fruit that’s healthy to eat. For guinea pigs, mango makes a good treat. They should only eat ripe mangoes. Unripe mangoes are too tough and the taste is too bitter for the guinea pigs.