A stereotypical diet for Guinea pigs primarily consists of “hay.” Its what we see at most pet stores and how we always assume Guinea pigs are fed. But is it so? Can’t we feed them other fruits and vegetables? What about a mango? Can guinea pigs eat mango? Let’s find out!
Yes, Guinea pigs can eat mangoes. Mangoes are rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin A that is essential for our guinea pigs. However, it should be fed more like an occasional treat to them because it contains a high proportion of sugar in it which is terrible if fed in excess.
You can feed them mangoes sometimes, but it should not at any cost be the only part of the diet. A guinea pig needs a well-diet to lead a healthy and long life.
An essential part of any guinea pig diet is Hay, which consists of 80% of their total intake. The vegetables contribute to the rest of the 10-15% of their dietary needs.
The rest 5% should be the fruits and other treats. If we do not maintain this ratio, then we might not feed them the right diet they deserve.
When Underfeeding your Guinea pigs can be a significant issue as it may lead to many health issues and shorten their lifespan henceforth. At the same time overfeeding them with the wrong part of the diet can be equally fatal to them.
Choosing the right food is just one step in the Guinea pig diet. There are a lot of things you need to consider to maintain their dietary needs.
You can learn more about the Complete diet of Guinea in our article posted earlier.
Also, read our article on 70+ fruits for your guinea pigs.
Is mango ok for guinea pigs?
Mangoes are excellent for a small treat now and then, but you should not be giving them mangoes regularly.
A well-balanced diet for a Guinea pig must be the supreme priority of any Guinea pig owners. If you do not give Guinea pig the right nutrition, then they might not leave a happy life.
Source: USDA National Nutrient database
| Vitamin C | 36.4 mg/ 100 g |
| Vitamin A | 1082 IU |
| Vitamin K | 4.2 ug/ 100 g |
| Calcium | 11 mg/ 100 g |
| Phosphorous | 14 mg/ 100 g |
| Potassium | 168 mg/ 100 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g/ 100 g |
| Sugar | 13.66 g/ 100 g |
| Protein | 0.82 g/ 100 g |
| Carbs | 14.98 g/ 100 g |
| Calories | 60 Kcal |
| Fat | 0.38 g/ 100 g |
| Water | 83.46 g/ 100 g |
As we can see mangoes are rich in Vitamin C and also have low calcium in it. Let us see further, what are the benefits and what are the hazards of serving our guinea pigs with mangoes.
Are mangoes good for guinea pigs?
Mangoes contain the right amount of vitamin C in it. Vitamin C is an essential part of a guinea pig’s diet. Guinea pigs are susceptible to diseases like a weak immune system, Scurvy, etc. when their body lacks the proper supply of vitamin C.
Mangoes also have a decent amount of Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6 and other minerals in it. These vitamins are also equally essential to keep our guinea pigs healthy. These vitamins also help in the proper growth of their bodies.
Mangoes also contain a small amount of calcium in it. Although a small amount of calcium is suitable for your guinea pigs, a large amount of calcium often leads to bladder stones and sludge in guinea pigs.
Guinea pig diet needs a supplement of vitamin A, and Vitamin C. Guinea pigs cannot produce these vitamins on their own, unlike few other animals can. So providing them with fruits high in vitamin C is an excellent thing to do.
Hazards of serving mangoes to guinea pigs
Mangoes are rich in sugar(14 gm/ 100 gm.) Although small feeding shall be okay with our guinea pigs most of the time, we get charmed by guinea pig’s personality when they are craving for more food and end up feeding them much more than we should.
The high sugar diet often leads to diseases like obesity which further develops into diabetes, Diarrhea, and led to the ill health of our guinea pigs.
How many mangoes can we feed our guinea pigs?
Suggested Feeding: A slice or two(small) once in a week or so.
The suggested feeding is developed keeping in mind that the guinea pigs rip the advantage of vitamins and minerals in the fruit but at the same time is not harmed by diseases caused by high sugar in mangoes.
Fruits and vegetables work as a supplement of vitamins and minerals in the guinea pig’s diet. The quantity of these should not exceed much. In general, 80% of guinea pig’s diet consists of hay while 10-15% contains fresh vegetables and fruits contribute only 5%.
The well-balanced diet for any Guinea pig shall contain more of a Hay, Some vegetables and occasional treats like mangoes. We can feed our Guinea pig mangoes every once a week or so. But make sure to limit the quantity to a slice or two.
You might get in love watching those cute little pigs munching on the mangoes happily but remember Nothing more than the suggested quantity should be fed to them as it can be bad for their health.
How to prepare mangoes for Guinea pigs?
Preparing the food for your Guinea pig in the right way is also an essential part of the process you need to learn. You cannot casually toss a mango into their cage and gaze them having it. There is a simple process for preparing the food for them which you must follow.
- Firstly, Choose the correct mango for them. The mango must be ripe and sweet and not sour as sour fruits can often lead to health issues in guinea pigs.
- Secondly, you need to ensure to wash the skin properly to get rid of any pesticide or chemical present in it. Any harmful chemicals can lead to serious health issues if consumed by them.
- Third, Peel off the mango skin completely. The skin of the mango is not something you want to feed your Guinea pig.
- Forth, Cut the mangoes in small sizes. The size must not be a big one. If the size of the slice is too big the guinea pig might have trouble having it. Also, you might end up feeding them too much.
- You can put the mango now in their fruit or vegetable container or a bowl. Always ensure to remove any uneaten fruits from their cage after a few hours as they might be home for bacteria bloom.
Can guinea pigs eat mango skin?
No, Guinea pigs cannot eat mango skin. You must always remember to remove the mango pit and skin before serving it to your Guinea pig.
The mango Skin may have some traces of pesticides and other chemicals used in the farms which can lead to a severe health issue in your Guinea pig.
Additionally, the skin of mangoes is also not nutritional, so there is no point in feeding it to your Guinea pig. On the other hand, the rough and hard texture of the skin can often lead to choking of their throat if they try to eat it. And we do not want your pet to suffer from any such situation; thus it is best to avoid it.
Can guinea pigs eat mango pit?
No guinea pigs cannot eat mango pit at all. The pit of the mango is also very harmful to a guinea pig. It is sturdy and can get choked in their throat if they try to swallow it, so its best to avoid the pit.
Can guinea pigs eat dried mango?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat dried mango at all. Dried mangoes are not something that you would like to serve your guinea pig ever.
Although fresh fruits have an excellent nutritional value which is essential for guinea pig diet on the contrary the dried fruits are high in sugar content which is bad for your guinea pigs.
It may also contain preservatives that are best avoided for your guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat frozen Mango?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat frozen mango at all. Cold food often leads to an imbalance in the digestive system of the guinea pigs. Thus, it is best to avoid feeding frozen mango to your guinea pigs.
Conclusion: Mango for guinea pigs
Mangoes are an excellent addition in guinea pigs diet as it contributes a lot of essential vitamins and minerals needed by guinea pigs. Mangoes have a decent amount of vitamin C, which is an integral part of the guinea pig’s diet and should be there.
But at the same time, it also contains a decent amount of sugar in it which can lead to various health diseases among guinea pigs.
The key here is to serve the guinea pigs with just the right quantity of mango so that they can rip the benefit of the vitamins and minerals but at the same time are not harmed by high sugar content in it.