Summer is around the corner and this means there will be many people selling juicy watermelons.
Since fruits are the favorite snacks of mice, you might want to know, can they eat watermelon?
Here’s the answer:
Mice can eat watermelon. In fact, they love having them. Watermelons also have great health benefits for mice.
Especially on summer days, 2-3 slices of watermelon can keep your pet cool. It is also an ideal snack for your pet since it is loaded with fiber and minerals.
In this article, we will go deeper into the topic of mice and watermelons.
Let’s first try to find out what parts of watermelon your mouse can have.
Table of Contents
What Part Of Watermelon Can You Feed Your Mouse?
Your pet mice can eat all the parts of a watermelon.
Watermelon consists of three parts:
- the thick rind,
- the red flesh containing seeds
- the black seeds throughout the flesh.
The red portion is the main edible part of it. The flesh is ready to eat in its original state.
The flesh is safe for your pet rat to consume as long as it is given in the right portion. It is also the part of the fruit that your pet will enjoy the most.
Seeds are edible, but it would be better not to feed your mouse watermelon seeds.
However, the thick, greenish pieces that form the crust of the watermelon are referred to as the rind. This part is also edible, although it does not have much nutritional value.
Can Mice Eat Watermelon Seeds?
Yes, mice can eat watermelon seeds.
Now, while eating watermelons, are mice able to digest the seeds of the watermelon as well? To be fair, unlike apple seeds, watermelon seeds don’t pose much of a health risk.
The seeds of the fruit are not dangerous; rather, they are edible. Your pet mouse can easily digest them.
Nevertheless, you need to be careful when your mouse eats them. Because of their relatively small size, they might provide dangers such as choking.
Mice always eat very quickly but do not chew the meal too thoroughly. Because of this, their meals can get stuck in their necks. This can lead to a variety of other issues.
Therefore, it is recommended to simply give them the flesh of the watermelon.
You need to cut the watermelon into smaller pieces. You’ll find that the seeds are much easier to spot and clean up before feeding them to your pet mouse.
So, watermelon seeds are no doubt edible and digestible but can pose a threat. So as a responsible pet owner, it would be better if you remove the seeds.
Can Mice Eat Watermelon Rind?
Your small pet mouse can definitely eat the watermelon rind as long as it finds this part tasty and chewable.
Similar to the seeds, the rind does not contain any material that may be considered harmful.
The rind of a watermelon neither has any beneficial element nor a tasty flavor. But, despite being tasteless, they can like the chewy feel of it more than the real flesh.
You can certainly give your mice watermelon rind. But for their good health, you should consider giving them the flesh of the watermelon instead.
Now that you know which part they can eat, you must know the routine of feeding them watermelon.
How Often Can Mice Eat Watermelon?
You can give watermelon to your pet mice every 2-3 days.
Fruits are a must in their diet. You have to give them different types of fruit every day alternately in small portions. And watermelon is a good option to feed them alternately.
Never give your pet mouse watermelon every day. It can create stomach problems or make the food difficult to digest.
Also, watermelon is sugary. So it’s best to give them once in a while as treats.
You need to give your mice more well-rounded food if you want them to remain in good health.
So, you have learned how often you should feed watermelons, now let’s look into how to feed them.
How To Feed Your Mouse Watermelon?
The process of feeding watermelon to pet mice is surprisingly easy.
Step 1: Buy Fresh Watermelon
The first step is to shop for fresh watermelon. Make sure you choose a watermelon that is not too small or too large.
For more details on how to pick the right watermelon, you can refer to this link.
Step 2: Cut the Watermelon into Small Pieces
The next step is to simply chop the watermelon into little pieces. This way, it will be easy for your pet to eat and digest it.
Step 3: Remove the Seeds
Cutting them small will reveal the seeds. Now you can easily remove them.
Step 4: Ready To Be Served
After removing the seeds, you can serve them with this delicious treat.
Pay Attention!
Be careful not to overfeed them this treat. You should not feed them watermelons as their main course.
There is a significant amount of sugar in fruits in general, including watermelons. Even if they are perfectly safe in tiny doses, giving your mice too much could be harmful.
Mice have certain dietary needs in order to maintain their health and high levels of energy. So, you need to know the nutritional values of watermelon to monitor its dietary needs.
Nutritional Value of Watermelon
Watermelon is an excellent source of water in addition to elements, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
For the detailed nutritional value of watermelon, see the table below:
| Nutritional Value | Per 100 g of Watermelon |
| Water | 91.45 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7.55 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.4 g |
| Sugar | 6.20 g |
| Protein | 0.61 g |
| Fat | 0.15 g |
| Energy | 30 kcal |
| Vitamin B5 | 0.221 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.045 mg |
| Vitamin C | 8.1 mg |
| Calcium | 7 mg |
| Iron | 0.24 mg |
| Magnesium | 10 mg |
| Manganese | 0.038 mg |
| Potassium | 112 mg |
| Zinc | 0.10 mg |
| Sodium | 1 mg |
| Phosphorous | 11 mg |
Benefits of Watermelon
As a fruit, watermelon has very high nutritional benefits for your pet mouse.
Below are the 3 major benefits of watermelon for your per:
1. Hydration
Since it contains water, giving watermelon in the right portion will keep your mice hydrated. It is best in summer.
The water keeps the stomach cool on hot days.
2. Improved Digestion
The amount of water contained in watermelon is high. And it also contains some fiber.
These nutrients make it possible to have a healthy digestive system. It also increases regularity in bowel movements.
3. Active Lifestyle
This fruit is also very low in calories, so it does not have any chance to make your pet fat.
It will keep them active and fit.
Final thoughts
We, as humans, are huge fans of eating watermelon, mainly when the weather is warm during the summer. Believe it or not, these little mice have the same fondness for watermelons.
And it’s not just a delicious, sweet fruit. Watermelons also contain a lot of minerals and are a good source of hydration.
However, you should give your mice only a moderate amount of watermelon because it has a delicate digestive system.
Excessive amounts will cause a mouse to suffer from stomach aches and other health issues.
So, giving your pet a few little slices won’t do any harm. Just make sure you give watermelon as an occasional treat to your pet and not as a main course.
Wait a sec! Also, learn if guinea pigs can eat watermelon here.