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Can my guinea pig eat dragon fruit? I don’t see it on the Guinea Pig Safe Fruits and Vegetables list, so I’m curious. Thanks!
– Emily via email
Hi, Emily!
Dragon fruit you say? We have never heard of it! So off to the store The Humans were sent.
There are several different types of dragon fruit: red flesh, white flesh, and yellow flesh. Each come with hundreds of black seeds embedded in the fruit. The Humans got us the red-skinned, white flesh variety (Hylocereus undatus), so that’s the type we will be covering today.
Vitamin and Mineral Profile of Dragon Fruit
As it turns out, guinea pigs can eat dragon fruit. And because of its relatively low calcium and sugar content, it’s safe to feed your guinea pig a few small pieces three to four times a week.
But this isn’t to say your guinea pigs will be wheeking over themselves to get a piece of it. Due to its low sugar content, it has a mild, sweet to bland taste. At least, the HappyCavies seemed to think so.
The following profile is based on 100 grams.
| NAME | VITAMIN C | CALCIUM | PHOSPHORUS | CARBOHYDRATES |
| Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) |
4-25mg | 6-10mg | 16-36mg | 9-14g |
Where to Find Dragon Fruit (Pitaya)
Dragon fruit can be found in Asian grocery stores and markets. The Humans found the white flesh variety at a Fubonn Asian Supermarket in Portland, Oregon. It went for about $2.
How to Prepare Dragon Fruit for Your Guinea Pig
Dragon fruit (also called pitaya or pitahaya) is native to regions in Mexico, Central America, and South America, but it’s cultivated all around the world. The fruit itself has a wide, oval-shape, and it’s about the size of a mango, with thin, fleshy appendages protruding from the fruit’s outer skin.
To prepare, begin by washing the fruit, being sure to remove any hidden dirt or grime from the skin. Then slice the fruit lengthwise.
Using a spoon, then scoop the fleshy core out of its skin shell.
Caution!
When scooping out the fruit core, be very careful to remove any pink skin that sticks to the white flesh. The skin is not safe for consumption.
Then slice the fruit into small pieces and feed to your guinea pig!
The HappyCavies weren’t crazy about dragon fruit. But who knows, it may be your guinea pig’s new favorite snack!
Have You Had Dragon Fruit?
Have you given dragon fruit to your guinea pig? What did it think? Let us know by leaving a note in the comments section!
Have You Had Dragon Fruit
Have you given dragon fruit to your guinea pig? What did it think? Let us know by leaving a note in the comments section!
its good
vid
Popcorn LOVES dragon fruit but Peanut Butter looks at you like you have lost your mind giving it to him. My daughter loves dragon fruit so she figured she would do the right thing and share with the piggies as she always does. I had to go get some tomatoes for PB as he had a case of the rump with us. 🙂
We just gave ours some dragon fruit for the first time (white flesh). Our girls both went to town after figuring out it was edible! One of them even purred…I couldn’t figure out which one did the purring though.