Tag Archives: pomelos

can guinea pigs eat citrus fruits

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Citrus Fruits?

Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae.

Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, pomelo and limes.

Many citrus fruits, such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, and clementines, are generally eaten fresh.

They are typically peeled and can be easily split into segments.

Grapefruit is more commonly halved and eaten out of the skin with a spoon.

There are special spoons (grapefruit spoons) with serrated tips designed for this purpose. Orange and grapefruit juices are also very popular breakfast beverages. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat citrus fruits?

No they can’t at all. They are not good for them.

Citrus fruits are far too acidic for guinea pigs and generally should be avoided as a food for them.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat check out our guinea pig food list

can guinea pigs eat pomelos

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pomelos?

Otherwise known as shaddocks, pummelos, pommelos, or lusho fruit, Pomelos are a crisp citrus fruit that is native to south and South East Asia.

It varies from green to yellow colour when it is ripened and it has sweet flesh. It is the largest citrus fruit you can get measuring between 15-25 cm in diameter.

It tastes much like a sweet grapefruit but without the bitterness.

image wikpedia

So if we can eat them, can guinea pigs eat pomelos?

As per usual, lets take a look at their nutritional data, in particular, their calcium, sugar, fat, phosphorus, and acidic content.

Flesh of a pomelo
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 159 kJ (38 kcal)
Carbohydrates 9.62 g
– Dietary fiber 1 g
Fat 0.04 g
Protein 0.76 g
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.034 mg (3%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.027 mg (2%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.22 mg (1%)
Vitamin B6 0.036 mg (3%)
Vitamin C 61 mg (73%)
Iron 0.11 mg (1%)
Magnesium 6 mg (2%)
Manganese 0.017 mg (1%)
Phosphorus 17 mg (2%)
Potassium 216 mg (5%)
Sodium 1 mg (0%)
Zinc 0.08 mg (1%)

Source USDA Database entry

As you can see they have a hint of phosphorus, fat, and are a little acidic. However they contain a great deal if vitamin c which is terrific for guinea pigs.

So guinea pigs can eat pomelos one to two times a week in small amounts. But not more than that due to their acidic nature.

But they are a great addition to a guinea pigs diet.

If you are looking for a good way of peeling a pomelo, check out this article