Guinea pigs are strictly herbivores. However, there are some restrictions on the animals' plant-based diet. Guinea pigs can generally eat zucchini, provided the vegetable does not contain any toxic bitter substances.
In a nutshell
- only feed fresh zucchini
- bitter zucchini are poisonous to guinea pigs
- Feed a maximum of 1 handful of chopped zucchini
- only feed large portions once or twice a week
- some discs can be fed regularly
Table of Contents
- Feed fresh zucchini
- No bitter fruit
- Crowd
- frequency
- frequently asked Questions
Feed fresh zucchini
Always give your guinea pigs only fresh zucchini to eat. They shouldn't have any damaged areas or perhaps already be rotten in individual places.
Rotting zucchini, even if the spots are liberally removed, can cause digestive problems in the guinea pigs. Fresh zucchini, on the other hand, contain a number of important ingredients that guinea pigs need.
Among other things, the following substances are included:
- vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- iron
- dietary fiber in the shell
You should stop feeding zucchini to your guinea pigs when the plant is sick. In particular the mildew can have a negative effect on the taste.
A notice: Don't leave zucchini slices in the guinea pig's feeding bowl for more than a day. The slices can spoil quickly, which can cause digestive problems in the guinea pigs if they are still being eaten.
No bitter fruit
Zucchini can develop toxic ingredients. This risk is mainly associated with fruit from your own garden. They form bitter substances that are not only deadly poisonous for guinea pigs, but can also harm humans.
When you garden yourself pull zucchini, you should therefore pay attention to a few things when growing and caring for them so that you can later feed them to your guinea pigs without hesitation.
Tips for cultivation and care:
- only use purchased seeds
- Water plants regularly and thoroughly
- Avoid stress factors such as pests
- only fertilize organically
If you buy zucchini for the guinea pigs in the supermarket, only use organic products. Vegetables grown for trade are in most cases contaminated with pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This may not be a problem for humans in small amounts, but the organism of the guinea pig, which is many times smaller, can have problems with it.
A notice: Also remove the stalks before feeding the courgettes, as they may already be slightly bitter.
Crowd
Zucchini are very hydrated. You should therefore only feed them in small amounts. Otherwise, your pet's droppings may become muddy and watery.
Tips for the right amount:
- a maximum of a handful of chopped pieces or slices per animal
- reduce quantity with many other watery vegetables
A notice: Always cut the zucchini into small pieces or slices. Guinea pigs can choke on pieces that are too large.
frequency
Guinea pigs also have certain food preferences. There are definitely guinea pigs who despise zucchini. In this case, you should refrain from feeding and offer other vegetables.
If your guinea pig likes the courgettes, you should feed them smaller amounts at regular intervals. It is ideal if they feed a full portion once or twice a week. If the food has a high water content, always combine it with dry food, e.g. B. be hay or dried pellets. This compensates for the moisture content somewhat and reduces the risk of the guinea pig getting diarrhea.
A notice: If you combine the zucchini with other vegetables, a few pieces can be added to the bowl of fresh vegetables every day.
frequently asked Questions
Guinea pigs should not eat grapes or raisins. In general, vegetables that are poisonous to humans when raw, such as potatoes or beans, are also taboo for the animals. Legumes such as peas and cabbage are also unsuitable for guinea pigs. This also applies to all leek plants. Stone fruit and exotic fruits also do not belong in the feeding bowl.
You should no longer feed courgettes that you have kept in the freezer to the guinea pigs, as they do not add any significant value to the animals. You can offer the zucchini to the guinea pigs only as a dried vegetable. However, it takes a lot of effort to dry them, since the zucchini consist largely of water.
It may be tempting to remove a few leaves from lush zucchini plants to feed the guinea pigs. The herb of the pumpkin family can also contain an increased value of toxic bitter substances. In this case too, if you want to feed the leaves, you must taste a small piece, whether it is bitter or not.
