Yes, guinea pigs can eat tomatoes. Tomatoes have many nutrients that are beneficial for guinea pigs’ health. It is of vital importance that tomatoes are very low in calories and have a good ratio of proteins, carbs, and fiber.
Do Guinea Pigs Like Tomatoes?
Most guinea pigs like tomatoes, but some owners have also said that their guinea pigs don’t like them.
So, just like humans, guinea pigs have their own taste preferences some of them will love tomatoes and some will not.
Benefits of the tomatoes for guinea pigs
- Tomatoes are very low in calories and have a good ratio of proteins, carbs, and fiber.
- There are many vitamins and the importance of vitamin C cannot be overstated. It is essential for the daily life of a guinea pig and should not be taken for granted.
- Vitamin K is an essential vitamin for blood clotting and bone formation/growth.
- folate is a compound that is needed by the heart to avoid failure. It is also vital for tissue growth and cell function.
- There is also a good amount of potassium and aside from preventing heart diseases and complications, this mineral also lowers blood pressure.
- Lycopene and beta carotene are powerful antioxidants that have benefits towards reducing inflammation and the existence of free radicals in the body and also help to improve sight, among many other functions.
How Much Tomato Can a Guinea Pig Eat?
You can simply cut one cherry tomato in half and serve the two halves to your guinea pig every two to three days. You need to chop the tomatoes into smaller pieces for the guinea pig to eat comfortably without any problem.
Risk of overfeeding tomatoes to Guinea Pig
overconsumption of tomatoes includes:
- Allergies and infections
- Kidney problems
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Diarrhea
- Lycopenodermia
- Urinary problems
- Acute gastrointestinal problems
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tomato Seeds?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat tomato seeds. Considering that tomato seeds are tiny and soft, it doesn’t give guinea pigs much trouble chewing and eating them.
They eat tomato seeds without any problems because they are not a choking hazard for them
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Tomatoes?
It’s not recommended to feed tomatoes to baby guinea pigs if they’re just a few weeks old.
After 3 or 4 weeks, you can introduce tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits to baby guinea pigs, but only in small amounts.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tomato Leaves?
Guinea pigs can’t eat tomato leaves because these leaves contain huge amounts of glycoalkaloids, i.e. tomatine and solanine that are toxic and harmful to guinea pigs’ stomachs and digestive systems.
Also, tomato leaves contain calcium and phosphorus, both of which can be harmful to them. If taken in huge amounts, it can form kidney or bladder stones in guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Green Tomatoes?
Guinea pigs can’t eat unripe green tomatoes, because these tomatoes contain solanine which can be harmful to them and cause diarrhea or vomiting. Solanine levels decrease in the ripe red tomatoes.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Yellow Tomatoes?
Guinea pigs can eat yellow tomatoes and these tomatoes are very delicious to them because they are usually sweeter than regular red tomatoes.
Yellow tomatoes, just as regular tomatoes, have many nutrients that are beneficial for guinea pigs’ health, like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, different antioxidants, and many others.
