Star fruit can be eaten with its skin, it is sweet on the outside, but its pulp can be sour. The flesh is juicy, crunchy, and firm. It also has high qualities of nutrition, which is much needed by the human body, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, etc. But how much all this affects our guinea pig? Can guinea pigs eat star fruit?
Guinea pigs can eat star fruit as it is rich in Vitamin C and other nutrients too. But we should only serve starfruit sparsely because star fruit has a hint of phosphorus and sugar and is quite acidic. They can cause serious health problems if overfed to our cavies.
Star fruit is not only attractive, but it also tastes good, well actually, that depends upon your preference. But the whole fruit is edible and can be eaten raw, or sometimes used for garnishing.
We should also keep in mind that feeding our guinea pigs with such fruits regularly is not an ideal choice.
However, we need to serve foods rich in Vitamin C as they cannot produce Vitamin C on their own, and star fruit contains a good amount of Vitamin C in it.
Let’s have a look at what other nutrients a star fruit has and how much it is affecting our guinea pig. We will also learn about how much star fruit can we serve to our guinea pigs and what part of start fruit is edible and what isn’t.
Nutrition in starfruit
| Nutrients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 34.4 mg/ 100 g |
| Vitamin A | 3 µg/ 100 g |
| Folate | 12 µg/ 100 g |
| Lutein + Zeaxanthin | 66 µg/ 100 g |
| Calcium | 3 mg/ 100 g |
| Phosphorous | 12 mg/ 100 g |
| Potassium | 133 mg/ 100 g |
| Fiber | 2.8 g/ 100 g |
| Sugar | 3.98 g/ 100 g |
| Magnesium | 10 mg/ 100 g |
| Carbs | 6.73 g/ 100 g |
| Calories | 31 Kcal |
| Fat | 0.33 g/ 100 g |
| Water | 91.38 g/ 100 g |
Now that we have told you cavies can eat star fruit, we should take a look at its nutrition.
- Vitamin C: Carambolas are rich in vitamin C containing 41% DV. It is one of the essential vitamins for a guinea pig, as well as for us.
- Vitamin E: It is a fat-soluble whose deficiency can cause nerve problems and slow down the aging process of cells. Sadly, a star fruit contains only 1% DV.
- Pantothenic acid: It is also known as Vitamin B5, star fruit contains 8% DV.
- Folate B9: A star fruit has 3% DV, and it is a dietary supplement. Also known as Vitamin B9.
- Iron: Star fruit is not a great source of iron as it contains only 1% DV. Although iron is a vital mineral as it maintains the blood flow in our body and the level of hemoglobin.
- Phosphorus: It is only 2% DV present in this fruit.
- Magnesium: It is an essential mineral, and is present in every cell type in every organism. 3% DV is present in star fruit.
- Carbohydrates: A star fruit has 6.73g, including sugar 3.98g and dietary fiber 2.8g.
All these nutrients are found in star fruit, but are they safe for our cavy? Are they all as beneficial for them as they are for us? Let’s find out in detail.
Is star fruit safe for our guinea pigs?
Star fruit is safe for our guinea pig as long as it is in a limited amount, but if it exceeds its limit, it can be harmful to them.
We know star fruit is rich in Vitamin C, which is suitable for our cavies as they cannot produce on their own.
But also, this fruit contains phosphorus, fat, and sugar and is quite acidic, and all this can cause kidney stones, kidney failure, and some real severe health problems in them.
Let’s look at certain hazards of overfeeding star fruit to our guinea pigs:
- Increase in weight: Guinea pigs can increase their weight as star fruit is rich in carbohydrates. Our guinea pig can get chubby, which is not a good sign for them as it can slow down their metabolism.
- Digestion problems: An increase in the quantity of star fruit may cause them to digest issues as it contains high oxalic acid, which can cause them to tummy.
- Possibility of diarrhea: Guinea pigs are not good at digesting sugar. Excess sugar can lead to stomach aches and can cause digestion problems.
Also, we should keep in mind that not every guinea pig is going to like star fruit; some may despise them.
Is star fruit good for our guinea pigs?
Star fruit is not good or bad for our guinea pigs. It has both qualities, but let us look at the extraordinary impact that it has on our guinea pig:
- Develops the immune system: Guinea pigs need Vitamin C through their food because they cannot create on their own. It helps to boost their immune system.
- Develops the nervous system: it is significant for our guinea pig. Vitamin E deficiency can cause nerve problems.
- Cures Iron deficiency: Iron is also essential for blood flow, and it maintains the hemoglobin level.
Now that we have analyzed both merits and demerits, it’s essential to know how often we should feed our guinea pigs star fruit? Let’s find out.
How often can we feed star fruit to our guinea pigs?
We can feed our guinea pig star fruit but only once or twice a week.
For example, if we have fed them on Wednesday, then the next time should be next week, say next Friday or Saturday.
Guinea pigs may or may not enjoy star fruit, but we can’t feed them regularly.
This fruit contains phosphorus, fat, and sugar and so, grazing them regularly can increase the acidic level and sugar level in their body.
And we don’t want to see our guinea pigs sick.
How much star fruit can our guinea pigs eat?
Guinea pigs are allowed only a small amount of star fruit. It is recommended to give only 2-3 small pieces or slices in one serving.
We cannot serve them this regularly as it is highly acidic for our guinea pig and can also increase their sugar level. We should serve them in limited quantities.
It will also be better if we serve them with other highly nutritious food like cilantro, spinach, kale, etc.
Serving guinea pigs a healthy and tasty bowl will help them improve their immune system and increase their appetite.
Little pieces of star fruit will be refreshing for them. But what about other parts of the fruit, do they have the same properties as pulp? Let’s scroll to find out.
Can guinea pigs eat star fruit skin?
Yes, we can serve star fruit to guinea pig with its skin.
Star fruit is an edible fruit; we don’t need to peel off its surface. Star fruit’s skin is sweet while its pulp is sour.
Its skin contains almost the same properties as its pulp.
We recommend not feeding them allot of its surface because it is sweet and can increase the sugar. Star fruit is not a fruit that should be fed daily to our guinea pig.
Can guinea pigs eat star fruit jam?
No, guinea pigs should not be feed star fruit jam.
Star fruit already contains sugar, but while making jam, we add more sugar and vanilla beans, which can be harmful to our guinea pigs.
It can increase their sugar level, and well vanilla beans should not be served to our cavies at all.
Vanilla beans should be kept far from them as they can be choking hazards, and as well as they are high in potassium and magnesium, which can do some severe damage to our cavies.
We understand that we are very fond of star fruit jam. Even I ‘can’t keep my hands to myself’ when it comes to this sweet and sour jam, but we can’t take this risk with our guinea pig, they can damage their digestive systems and many more.
Cheering up guinea pig owners lets them find out whether they can or cannot eat different styles of star fruit.
Can guinea pigs eat frozen star fruit?
Guinea pigs should not be fed anything frozen. Frozen items often get too cold and hard for them.
Also, cold food can harm their digestive system and lead to diarrhea and bloating. Always make sure you bring the star fruit to room temperature before offering it to your guinea pigs.
Can guinea pigs eat dried star fruit?
Dried star fruits are high in calories and sugar. A little bit of dried star fruit will not harm our guinea pig, but feeding them in high quantity can be very harmful.
As the amount of sugar has to be limited, it is better to avoid dried star fruit.
We will recommend not feeding guinea dried star fruit.
They can lead to various health hazards, and thus it is better to avoid them.
How to prepare star fruit for our guinea pigs?
We don’t need to do something out of the box to feed guinea pig star fruit. Just simple steps can give us a healthy diet for our cavy.
- The most important part of preparing any fruit or veggie for our guinea pig is to rinse it properly. Star fruit should also be washed carefully to get rid of dirt or unwanted chemicals.
- Cut it into small pieces so the guinea pig cannot eat a lot in one go. We don’t want our cavies suffering.
- There’s no need to peel off its skin as star fruit is eaten with its skin only. And our guinea pig too can eat carambola with skin.
- Please check before serving them if star fruit is ripe or not. Rotten star fruit can create some digestive problems for our guinea pig.
- The quantity should be small and limited. High oxalic acids present in this fruit can cause the problem.
We wish to take care of a healthy diet for our cavies were as simple as taking care of them.
They might give us a hard time for their food, but if that’s what it takes for their well being, then be it.
Conclusion: Guinea pig and Star fruit
After researching on each small topic of guinea pig and star fruit, we have concluded the following:
- Guinea pigs can eat star fruit but only 2-3 pieces at a time. It should be served once or twice a week. A limited amount of star fruit will not harm them, but it can cause some severe damage if it exceeds its limit.
- Star fruit contains essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, or Iron. They are all required for guinea pigs as they cannot produce Vitamin C on their own, and iron maintains the flow of blood and maintains the hemoglobin level.
- Star fruit also contains minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, oxalic acids, sugar, or carbohydrates, which can be very harmful to them. They can lead to fatal illnesses like kidney failure or kidney stones.
- Guinea pigs can eat star fruit with their skin. Star fruit is supposed to be eaten with its surface. And so its skin doesn’t contain any other properties than its pulp.
- Frozen star fruit should only be fed to a guinea pig when it is thawed to room temperature.
- Dried star fruit should also be not fed to our cavies as they are high in calories and sugar. The excess sugar level is a significant problem among guinea pigs, and thus they should be controlled.
- Feeding our cavies star fruit jam will also be not a bright idea as they contain added sugar, preservatives, and vanilla beans. Among which vanilla beans should not at all be feed to them.
- Well, guinea pigs can eat star fruit but only once or twice in a week and that too be served with other nutritious veggies or fruits.
So, that will be all for the guinea pig and star fruit. We hope we haven’t disappointed you with our article and you would have all your answers.
Sources: Everything you need to know about star fruit, Nutrition in star fruit, Diet Composition and Mineral Balance in Guinea Pigs, Dietary Vitamin C, and Vitamin E on Guinea Pig Immune Responses to Mitogens, Vitamin C requirements of the guinea-pig, Is Your Guinea Pig’s Diet Providing the Right Nutrients? Care of Guinea Pigs.
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