Pet mouses are ready to eat any sort of food or fruit when placed in front of them. They love eating fruits, and this is the main benefit of having a mouse as a pet. But this doesn’t mean you can give them anything to eat. Every fruit has its advantages, and others have not. So can pet mice eat watermelon? And it is okay for them to eat watermelon? In this article, we will explore more about mice and watermelon further.
Can my pet mouse eat a watermelon?
Yes, the mouse can eat watermelon, and it will love eating it. The mouse is considered very similar to the human in terms of digestion and diet. These creatures are omnivores and need to eat different types of food to survive.
So you can give your pet mouse watermelon to eat, and you can also include it in their diet plan including other fruits but keep in mind not to overfeed him with one fruit or food just keep the diet balanced.
How much to feed?
Watermelons are okay, but you have to feed pet mice the right amount. We, humans, love eating watermelon, especially on hot summer days. Believe it or not, these little mice share the same love as we humans have for watermelons not only because of the sweet taste but also they are rich in minerals and water.
So feed your pet mouse with watermelon but keep a check on the diet plan. Never overfeed your pet mouse with any food or fruit because it may cause stomach trouble or become hard to digest.
A balanced diet is vital to keep your pet mouse happy and active. As we know, pet mice sometimes stop eating so you should make sure he eats enough.
So, when feeding your pet mouse with watermelon instead of giving a whole piece, simply cut the watermelon into small pieces and then provide them. You can also do this with other fruits.
Can my pet mouse eat watermelon seeds?
Some fruits have toxic seeds like apples and are harmful to humans as well as animals, but in the case of watermelon its seeds are not poisonous and are edible, and your pet mouse can have them by their will.
As mentioned above, overfeeding can cause damage to your pet mouse stomach, and as we know, mouse-like eating very quickly and not chewing the food too much. As a result, it can get stuck in its throat and cause problems. So when feeding them with watermelon, try giving them only the flesh of the watermelon. It sounds complicated, but when making small pieces of watermelon, it gets easy to spot the seeds and pick them up before giving them to your pet mouse.
Can my pet mouse eat watermelon Rind?
Like the seeds, watermelon rind is also harmless and has no toxic or harmful things in it, and your little pet mouse can eat it if he wishes to. As far as I can tell, there is no goodness in watermelon rind either nor it tastes good. Your pet mouse may eat watermelon rind if given but to keep him healthy you should consider giving it the flesh of the watermelon.
What part of watermelon does the mouse like the most?
As a whole watermelon is edible and the mouse will like to eat every part of it, but the most desired slice of watermelon for your pet mouse to eat is the fleshy part. You should also consider the flesh part of watermelon for feeding your pet mouse the most because it contains minerals and water, which is useful for keeping your pet mouse happy and healthy.
A healthy diet for your pet mouse
It is your responsibility for making a healthy and balanced diet for your pet mouse as they eat anything; it doesn’t mean that you should give them anything to eat.
Your pet mouse should be eating fruits and vegetables as these are rich in nutrients and are easily digestible but also keep in mind that they should be given in a balanced amount.
Vegetables are safer than fruits, so you should prefer vegetables more than fruits. The following fruits and vegetables are right for your pet mouse, and they will enjoy eating them.
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Seedless grapes
- Watermelons
- Pomegranate
- Bananas
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Cucumber
- Carrots
- Asparagus
Feeding your pet mouse other foods
Mouse eats a variety of different fruits, vegetables, and foods, and it seems they like everything. They are like magicians whatever food you keep in front of them they disappear in seconds by eating, but it doesn’t mean that you should give them anything to eat. The great news is you can share most of the food you eat with your pet mouse because they have a similar digestive system as humans, but the food should be given to them in less quantity so that they can digest it properly and do not over-consume.
- Fruits: The following fruits are healthy and good for your pet mouse: apples, cherries, grapes, bananas, strawberries, and other berries, melons, plums.
- Vegetables: The following vegetables are healthy and good for your pet mouse broccoli, potatoes, peas, carrot, cooked sweet potato, kale, parsley, bok choy, and squash.
- Cooked liver and meat: All those food that are cooked for humans and are edible by them
- Whole wheat pasta and bread: before giving it to your pet mouse make it soft by placing it in water or milk.
- Cooked beans: All beans can be served including soybeans
- Yogurt: Yogurt is excellent for the digestion of food.
- Brown rice: cooked rice
- Mealworms
- Small dog treats: like biscuits or any other treats.
- Special treats are given when training: whole nuts in the shell-like nuts, sunflower seeds, carob chips.
Avoid food
The following are some foods to avoid feeding your pet mouse.
- Chocolate:
- Raw beans
- Raw sweet potato
- Cabbage and Brussels sprouts
- Green potatoes
- Sweet, sugary treats, and any other human “junk food.”
- Caffeinated beverages
- Carbonated drinks
- Green bananas
- Wild insects (due to parasites and pesticides they may contain)
- Poppy seeds
- Do not feed any foods with d-limonene in them to male rats (lemon and orange peels and juice, mango, black pepper, nutmeg)
Fruits and Veggies (Caution)
Fruits like orange, grapefruits, and lemons are good for female rats, but many rat fanciers avoid feeding these fruits to males due to a risk of cancer from the peels. Some rat owners also avoid papaya and mango for the same reasons. Raw veggies like sweet potatoes, cabbage, and brussels sprouts can be toxic and harmful but are fine once cooked.
The most important is to keep a balanced diet for everything your pet mouse should take and also keep a check on the quality and quantity of food that you are feeding your pet mouse with.
Fruits and Vegetables (Avoid)
Don’t give apple seeds or the pit of any fruit to your pet mouse for eating. Do not feed your pet mouse with avocado skin. Do not provide green bananas and potatoes with green skin.
Store Food
While you are going to buy food for your pet mouse, search for a diet that has been made specifically for a pet mouse. This will usually be a balanced diet since they have historically been considered the best mouse diets. Loose seed mixes are very well-balanced diets, but only if your pet mouse eats everything in the mix.
Conclusion
Pet Mouse loves to eat watermelons just as much as we humans do. These fruits can even be good for your pets because they are very rich in minerals and water and can be very good at keeping yourself and your pet mouse hydrated on hot summer days. But you need to be careful of the amount of watermelon you’re feeding your pet mouse. Watermelons have a high amount of sugar and minerals in them. Sugar isn’t good for a rat. Try to know about the fruit and its benefits as well as its side effects.
But like we discussed above, a couple of small pieces won’t hurt your pet mouse. Just give them as a treat and not a full meal. It’s easy to feed watermelon to pet mice. And not like other fruits, you don’t have to be worried about which part is right for them and which is not. All three slices of a watermelon, the outer rind, the flesh, and the seeds spread in the flesh are all okay for a mouse to eat.
Pet mice are very easy to look after and take care of. But one of the few responsibilities you have as an owner is to make sure you’re giving it the right food and the right amount of quantity as well as good quality. Your best bet is to create a diet consisting of a bulk (between 80 to 90 percent) of store-bought mouse pellets. The remaining 10-20 percent can include treats like vegetables and fruits (watermelons included).