Can Rabbits Eat Bananas? What You Need To Know.

Last Updated on February 21, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Bananas are one of the most recommended treats for rabbits due to their availability and nutritional benefits. You can safely feed your rabbits small amounts of bananas 1-2 times per week, but make sure that your rabbit is at least 7 months old before you give one.

Also, when you’re introducing any new food into your rabbit’s diet, always introduce it slowly to avoid triggering digestive problems.

Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can eat bananas:

Do rabbits like eating bananas?

The most common treats I personally give to both my rabbits (Tyr and Freya) are bananas, due to the fact that my rabbits would go crazy whenever they smell I’m eating one.

I’ve also asked several of my friends who have rabbits if they ever fed bananas to their babies or if their rabbits liked bananas.

My conclusion is that bananas are universally liked by rabbits.

Are bananas safe to be eaten by rabbits?

As long as your rabbit is at least 7 months old and you only feed it 1-2 times per week, feeding bananas to your rabbit is perfectly safe.

The problem would most likely come when rabbit owners feed treats to young rabbits whose susceptible to digestive problems.

Another possible way bananas would harm your rabbit is if they are already obese.

Obese rabbits should not be fed sugary treats like bananas until normal weight is acquired.

Finally, bananas when fed regularly could lead to dental problems because sugar damages teeth if fed long-term.

What are the benefits of feeding bananas to rabbits?

To properly identify the benefits of feeding bananas to your rabbits, let’s first take a look at what nutrients your rabbits are getting whenever you feed them bananas.

We can use this nutrient constraint calculator, which shows the different nutrients your rabbit is getting and if the amount you’re giving is within the nutritional constraint.

You can also click on the blue icon beside the nutrient to show the different benefits and deficiencies of each nutrient:

As you can see from the nutrient constrain calculator above, 100 grams of bananas contains very little nutrients.

But, as an occasional treat, it’s perfectly fine to have this low in nutrients.

You should never rely on treats like bananas to meet your rabbit’s nutritional needs.

Doing so could lead to obesity or digestive problems.

Are bananas good for rabbits?

100 grams of bananas contain small amounts of vitamins A, E, and B6. As well as copper, pantothenic acid, niacin, choline, protein, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.

All of which are great for rabbits and are still within the nutritional constraint for rabbits.

How many bananas can a rabbit eat?

The proper amount of bananas you should feed your rabbit would depend on their current weight and age.

You can use this nutrient constraint calculator to determine the number of bananas (treats) you should give your rabbits:

If you currently have no idea what your rabbit’s weight is, here’s a table of the different weights of rabbit breeds and how many bananas you can give:

When can rabbits start eating bananas?

The table above, which shows how many bananas you can give your rabbit, assumes that your rabbit is at least 7 months old.

Another important factor when deciding how many bananas to give your rabbits is their age.

Here’s a table that shows how many bananas you can give your rabbit based on their age:

When should you not feed bananas to rabbits?

Gist:

Do not feed bananas to your rabbit if you suspect any digestive problems.

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The proper protocol whenever you notice that your rabbits are having digestive problems is to remove any other food from their diet except hay.

This would ensure that your rabbits are not eating bananas in lieu of hay.

The lack of fiber in a rabbit’s diet is the number one cause of digestive problems, especially in young rabbits.

Finally, always bring your rabbits to a veterinarian if you suspect that they might be suffering from digestive problems.

Risk of overfeeding bananas to rabbits.

While bananas are safe and nutritious for rabbits, there are still risks associated when a rabbit owner overfeeds their rabbits:

• Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding bananas in lieu of hay to your rabbits could lead to GI stasis, which is caused by a lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet.
• Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also possible when rabbit owners overfeed large amounts of bananas to their rabbits too fast. Always introduce any new diet to your rabbits slowly.
• Uneaten cecotropes: Soft uneaten cecotropes are also possible when rabbits are eating large amounts of bananas instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.
• Dental problems: Due to the sugar content of bananas, feeding your rabbits large amounts of them could lead to dental problems.
• Obesity: Overfeeding bananas to older rabbits whose metabolism is slower could lead to obesity due to the high sugar content of bananas. Obesity could also lead to uneaten cecotropes, or “poopy bottoms,” because obese rabbits wouldn’t be able to reach their cecotropes to eat them.

Healthy alternatives to bananas.

While bananas are a great treat for rabbits, you should still give your rabbits a variety of choices when it comes to their diet.

Never feed one thing for a long period of time.

Here are some healthy alternatives to bananas that you can give your rabbits 1-2 times per week:

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can rabbits eat banana skin?

Yes, banana skin is safe to be given to rabbits.

In the past, people used to feed banana rejects to rabbits as a substitute for feed.

Can rabbits eat banana leaves?

Yes, banana leaves are safe to give to rabbits.

Just make sure that it’s not the only thing they eat that day, and it should be fine.

Can rabbits eat banana skin?

Yes, banana chips are safe for rabbits.

But we don’t recommend giving them, or at the very least, only giving them in small quantities as treats.

Banana chips contain too much sugar.

Can rabbits eat banana skin?

Feeding your rabbit the whole medium-sized banana is not recommended.

There’s too much sugar for them.

Instead, only feed them small slices of banana at a time.

Conclusion

Bananas are safe to give to rabbits as long as you only give them in small quantities as treats.

Feeding your rabbits too many bananas can cause GI issues and can damage their teeth because bananas contain too much sugar.

You can start giving your rabbits bananas at 7 months old.

Rabbits that are younger than 7 months old should only eat hay to ensure proper growth.

All parts of the banana can be safely given to rabbits.

This includes banana leaves and skin.