Can Rats Eat Watermelon?

Can rats eat watermelon? Glad you asked. Rats enjoy various food such as cherries, but can rats eat watermelon? Continue reading to find out what’s good and bad about this tasty fruit.

Can Rats Eat Watermelon?

The short answer is yes. Rats can eat watermelon, but before you start feeding watermelon to pet rats, there are some important things you should be aware of first. Read on to find out what’s good and bad about feeding watermelon to your rodent.

Is Watermelon Good for Rats?

The answer is yes. Watermelon is good and safe for rats to eat in moderate amounts. However, you have to learn how to prepare it to prevent some risks.

Watermelon is a source of many nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, proteins and carbs that can benefit your rat. in addition to a high water levels (around 92%) which makes it a good treat for a summer day because it can aid your rodent to stay hydrated.

Down below, we’ve put together few of the health benefits of giving watermelon to rats.

Vitamins

Rats use vitamins to maintain their body functions. Below are several vitamins that rodents can get from watermelon.

Vitamin A is required for rats to maintain healthy organs and eyes.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) aids in protein metabolism in the rats’ body, impacting their overall health from growing and repairing muscles to a healthy skin.
Vitamin C helps produce antibodies which are crucial for your rodent’s immune system, and it also acts as an anti-inflammatory

Minerals

Rats need various minerals in their food. Down below are few minerals that rodents can get from watermelon.

Potassium in watermelon keep blood pressure in control and protect your rat from strokes and other problems like osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Magnesium content of watermelon aids the rats’ body to have healthy blood sugar levels in addition to a healthy heart.

Fiber

Watermelon contains 0,4% fiber which helps keep your pet rat’s digestion system in good condition.

Protein

Watermelon also consist of 0,6% protein which is required for rodents’ growth.

Is Watermelon Bad for Rats?

No, watermelon is neither bad nor poisonous to rats. However, eating significant quantities can lead to some extreme side effects like diarrhea and digestion issues because of the high water levels.

Do Rats Like Watermelon?

Yes, rats do like watermelon; they find it incredibly delicious and would happily eat it whenever they can.

Want to make sure? Watch this video

How Much Watermelon Can Rats Eat?

There is no exact rule about how much watermelon rats can eat. However, watermelon or any treat shouldn’t make more than 10% of rodents’ total daily calories. You should consider watermelon as a treat, not as a replacement for their main food. If you give your rats watermelon, it should be as a part of a well-balanced food.

How to Feed Watermelon to Rats?

Here is how you can serve watermelon to your rats.

Seek out organic watermelon whenever possible.
Wash the watermelon thoroughly to remove any pesticides from the skin.
cut the watermelon up into small pieces that your rat can easily eat.
Mix the watermelon with other foods that your rat usually enjoy.
Start with a smaller amount of watermelon the first time you serve it to your rodent to see if they show any negative signs. This should be done with any new snack.