Who doesn’t love tomatoes in their salad? When preparing your guinea pigs’ daily veggies, you may wonder if you can toss in a cherry tomato or two or perhaps share a bite of your own tomato with them. But can guinea pigs eat tomatoes?
Let’s explore the potential health benefits and risks of tomatoes for guinea pigs below.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tomatoes?
Guinea pigs, like hamsters and gerbils, can eat washed and fully ripe tomatoes in small portions a few times a week. This applies to both large and cherry tomatoes and even yellow or purple tomatoes. However, unripened tomatoes are toxic, as are the stems and leaves of the tomato plant. Generally, if it’s green, don’t feed it to your piggies.
While tomatoes are a great addition to a varied guinea pig diet, they shouldn’t be fed more than 2-3 times a week in very small amounts. For daily veggies, it’s better to go for dark, leafy greens.
Pros and Cons of Tomatoes for Guinea Pigs
Vitamins and Nutrients
Tomatoes contain vitamins B9, C, and K, as well as potassium and fiber. While tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C, which is vital in a guinea pig’s diet, they shouldn’t be the primary source as they’re not the most fibrous veggies and cannot be fed frequently due to their acidity.
Water Content
The water content in tomatoes is a plus in the summer months, especially for piggies who don’t drink a lot of water or if you have a long drive and can’t provide a water bottle.
However, the water content can also be a downside as it can cause soft poops or diarrhea, especially if you feed your guinea pig too much tomato.
Acidity
The oxalic acid in tomatoes can hurt a guinea pig’s mouth if overeaten and may even cause sores in the mouth that require veterinary treatment. This is why it’s important to feed tomatoes in small amounts only–cherry tomato-sized pieces or smaller.
Pesticides
Unwashed tomatoes often contain pesticides and other chemicals that can harm your guinea pigs. Luckily, this is an easy fix! Make sure to wash the tomato well before feeding it to your piggies.
Unripened Fruit
Unripened tomatoes are not safe for guinea pigs–or people! Tomatoes are in the nightshade family of plants, which are toxic to many animals. Luckily, both humans and guinea pigs can eat tomato fruit once it’s fully ripened, just not before.
Since guinea pigs are so small, just a small piece of unripened tomato can cause poisoning. If your guinea pig eats an unripened tomato or any part of the tomato plant (other than the ripe fruit), call a pet poison hotline or your local exotic pet vet for help.
Stem Toxicity
While the ripe fruit is safe, the tomato plant itself is toxic. This is true for guinea pigs, humans, and many other animals. Always remove the stem and any leaves before feeding tomatoes to your piggies.
Messiness
Lastly, tomatoes can be messy! They might stain your guinea pig’s fur or bedding. However, these stains are harmless and won’t bother your guinea pig at all. Stains in the fur will grow out over time.
Tomatoes can also get the guinea pig’s cage wet. This should be cleaned immediately so your guinea pigs don’t step in it and also to avoid attracting pests. Otherwise, your guinea pigs may require a bath.
It may be easier to feed your guinea pig tomato outside of their cage, such as during lap time, while you have a towel in your lap to quickly clean their mess.
How to Serve Tomato to Guinea Pigs
Here’s how to prepare tomatoes for your guinea pigs, whether you’re feeding large or cherry tomatoes:
- Check the tomato for ripeness. Never feed a tomato that’s not completely ripe, as they are toxic.
- Wash the tomato well. This removes pesticides and any other chemicals or debris from the fruit.
- Cut the tomato into pieces. Your guinea pig can have a cherry tomato-sized piece at most. Cherry tomatoes themselves should be sliced in halves or quarters to prevent choking.
Feed tomatoes a few times a week at most.
Growing Your Own Vegetables for Guinea Pigs
Tomatoes are an easy-to-grow vegetable that guinea pigs love. You can pot them in a sunny spot, water them when the soil is dry, and often receive plenty of fruit for very little investment.
If you’re looking to grow more as a beginner gardener, try creating an herb garden in your kitchen window or outdoors. Cilantro, parsley, and dill are some great herbs to include.
You can also try growing your own lettuce, either from seed, plant starts, or from the stump of store-bought lettuce. Simply place it in a shallow glass of water and watch as it regrows! This can typically be done just a couple of times before it dies off.
The best thing about creating a garden for your guinea pigs is that you can eat from it, too. This is especially useful when it comes to tomatoes since guinea pigs can only eat them in small amounts.
Best Vegetables for Guinea Pigs
The best guinea pig “salad” contains a variety of vegetables and isn’t the same every day. This ensures your guinea pig is getting a full range of nutrients. Daily veggies should also consist of mostly dark, leafy greens. Here are some of the best vegetables to feed your guinea pigs:
- Lettuces: Romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, and red leaf lettuce are all great options. Avoid iceberg lettuce.
- Herbs: Cilantro, dill, parsley, and other herbs are a great addition to your guinea pigs’ diet.
- Bell Pepper: A great daily source of vitamin C. Green bell peppers are best, while other colors are good but contain more sugar.
When deciding on what to feed your guinea pigs, also consider the calcium to phosphorus ratio in their diet, which should be around 1.5:1. While this doesn’t have to be exact, too much of either can cause health problems in your guinea pigs. Excess calcium is a common cause of bladder issues in guinea pigs, while excess phosphorus can weaken their bones.
