Can Rabbits Eat Dragon Fruit? Here’s Why.

Last Updated on March 4, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Dragon fruits, or pitaya, are safe for rabbits to eat as long as your rabbit is old enough (at least 7 months old) and you only give them in moderation (2 times per week). You should also base the amount you give your rabbits on their current weight.

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

Do rabbits like eating dragon fruit?

Yes, rabbits like dragon fruits and would eat them if you gave them some. In my case, my two babies (Tyr and Freya) both liked the taste of dragon fruit.

We’ve also asked a few rabbit owners if they ever fed dragon fruit to their rabbits and what their reactions were. All of those who did give dragon fruits to their rabbits reported that their rabbits liked dragon fruits.

Is dragon fruit safe to be eaten by rabbits?

Rabbits can eat dragon fruit as long as it is given in moderation and your rabbit is old enough to eat treats (7 months old).

You should also stop giving dragon fruits to your rabbits if they are having any digestive problems.

What are the benefits of feeding dragon fruit to rabbits?

To properly understand the benefits of feeding dragon fruits to your rabbits, let’s first take a look at how much and what nutrients your rabbits are getting when you feed them dragon fruits.

You can use this nutrient constrain calculator to determine if the amount you’re giving your rabbits is within the recommended nutrient constrain.

You can also click on the blue icon beside the nutrient to see its benefits and deficiency.

As you can see from the calculator above, dragon fruits contain very little nutrients and are within the nutritional constraints for rabbits.

It’s actually okay for rabbit treats to be this low in nutrients because treats should only account for 1% of your rabbit’s diet. You should never rely on any sugary treats to meet any nutritional requirements for your rabbits.

How much dragon fruit can a rabbit eat?

The amount of treats (dragon fruit) you should give your rabbits would depend on their age and weight.

You can use this diet portion calculator for rabbits to determine if your rabbit is old enough to eat dragon fruits (treats) and how many treats to give based on your rabbit’s weight:

If you don’t know your rabbit’s weight, here’s the average weight of each rabbit breed and how much dragon fruit to give based on their weight:

The table above only applies to rabbits that are at least 7 months old.

Here’s a table to guide you on how much dragon fruit you can feed your rabbits as they get older.

When should you not feed dragon fruit to rabbits?

Gist:

Never give dragon fruits to young rabbits (less than 7 months of age) or rabbits that are having digestive problems.

---

Feeding dragon fruit to rabbits that are having digestive problems could exacerbate the problem due to the sugar content of dragon fruit and the lack of hay in your rabbit’s diet.

The proper protocol for rabbits that are having digestive problems is to remove any other food from their diet, except hay, and take them to a veterinarian.

As for young rabbits, or rabbits that are less than 7 months old, they should focus on eating high-quality hay, veggies, and pellets in order to maximize growth.

Not to mention, young rabbits are more likely to develop digestive problems when fed sugary treats like dragon fruit, so it’s not advisable to feed them any.

Risk of overfeeding dragon fruit to rabbits.

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

• Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding dragon fruit 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 dragon fruit 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 dragon fruit instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.
• Dental problems: Due to the sugar content of dragon fruit, feeding your rabbits large amounts of it could lead to dental problems.
• Obesity: Overfeeding dragon fruit to older rabbits whose metabolism is slower could lead to obesity due to the high sugar content of dragon fruit. 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 dragon fruit.

Even though dragon fruits are safe to be eaten by rabbits, you should still give your rabbits a variety of choices when it comes to their diet, just like what wild rabbits eat.

Here are some alternatives to dragon fruits that you can give to your rabbits one to two times per week as a treat:

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Conclusion

Dragon fruits are safe for rabbits to eat as long as your rabbit is old enough and you only give them sparingly, or two times per week. Another factor to consider when giving pitaya to rabbits is their weight. The treats you feed your rabbits should be based on their weight.

Overfeeding dragon fruits to your rabbits could lead to digestive distress. This is especially true for young rabbits, which are susceptible to digestive problems.