The banana is a fruit rich in fiber and sugar that is very tasty on the palate. Whether eaten plain or in various preparations, most people love it and so do many animals.
When it comes to your rabbit's diet, you know it shouldn't be all about lettuce and greens. Despite this, not all foods of plant origin are recommended for them. Do you want to know if rabbits can eat banana? Coming up next, we tell you?
Food for rabbits, what should they eat?
Rabbits' diet depends on their age, because according to their life stage they have different needs. In this sense, a baby rabbit or rabbit needs to consume breast milk during the first weeks of life. If it is an orphaned baby rabbit, you can choose to feed it with veterinary milk for kittens.
As the rabbit grows new foods should be introduced into its diet. A young rabbit needs to consume unlimited amounts of fresh hay from the eighth week of life until he is the 6 months. To vary your diet, you can include some pellets for rabbits and oat flakes It is the ideal time, also, to start including green vegetables daily, and fruits as a reward.
From 7 months the rabbit can be considered adult, so it has other nutritional needs. At this stage, the rabbit still requires large amounts of hay which must be available at all times, but other foods can be added. Green vegetables and vegetables form the main axis of the diet together with hay, being the most recommended foods for rabbits, while the consumption of fruits should be limited due to the high sugar content.
During these stages and for the rest of its life, the rabbit should have access to a container of clean, fresh water at all times. moment.
Can rabbits eat bananas?
In principle, the answer to this question is no. In an ideal scenario, rabbits should not eat banana, and there are several reasons for this:
- Bananas contain high levels of starch Starch is detrimental to the digestive system of rabbits, as it is designed to ingest cellulose, but not carbohydrates and fats, so eating bananas will cause unnecessary stomach problems.
- Contains sugar Although all fruits have sugar, bananas include them in large amounts, so it is not a recommended food for your rabbit Think about how much sugar can be contained in a single slice, it's too much for such a small animal.
- There is a risk of obesity. A rabbit that consumes bananas frequently is more prone to obesity and other diseases related to weight gain.
- The rabbit may refuse to eat other foods If you are used to feeding your rabbit large quantities of bananas, chances are that become so habituated to its taste that it then rejects green foods, such as greens and vegetables, so necessary to keep it strong and he althy.
How to give a banana to a rabbit?
Although bananas also provide nutrients, they are not recommended for rabbits. If you still want to give it a little taste, we recommend just a small slice, a maximum of one centimeter thick, once a month.
Of course, bananas in all their forms are not recommended. Can rabbits eat ripe bananas? Yes, actually, the banana should always be ripe, never green, as it would cause stomach problems.
Can rabbits eat banana peels? The answer to this is no, you should never allow them to eat banana peels. Not only could it cause indigestion, but these shells are often polished with waxes or chemicals to make them look more attractive, making them toxic to your furry friend.
Can rabbits eat banana leaves? It is also not advisable to offer them the leaves, as they do not provide any benefit.
What does banana do to rabbits?
As we have already said, bananas are harmful to rabbits, so excessive intake of this fruit can cause these animals stomach problems, such as diarrhoea, as well as being overweight and all that this entails. The banana is toxic for rabbits if it is given in large quantities or very often, offering a small slice once a month, as we mentioned, does not have to cause any damage. In any case, we recommend paying attention to its behavior to ensure that this small amount does not cause any damage.
Fruits that rabbits can eat
Fruits are part of the rabbit's diet but in a much lower percentage than other rabbit foods, so it is best to offer them sporadically, as a prize or a variant to introduce an interesting flavor to your menu. As we have already explained, the diet should be based on hay, green food and pellets.
Since bananas are bad for rabbits, we offer you other fruit options that are recommended for these animals. Your rabbit will love them and they won't cause any harm! The recommended fruits for rabbits are:
- Watermelon
- Pineapple
- Papaya or papaya
- Apple
- Pear
- Cantaloupe
- Cherry
- Strawberry
- Mango
- Orange
- Mandarin
- Peach
- Kiwi
Although these foods are good for rabbits, they are still a considerable source of sugar. For this reason, it is best to offer a few pieces once or twice a week, as a complement to the rest of the diet.
Don't forget to wash the fruit, remove the thick skins (as in mango and citrus) and extract the seeds before offering this delicious treat to your rabbit.
