Preface
So as to try and be as helpful as we can, I try and cover all the foods that guinea pig owners could possibly have a question about.
If you’re looking for the other foods that we have reviewed then you check them out in our guinea pig foods section
Anyway, lets get to this one.
Today we’re looking at the question ‘can guinea pigs eat mushrooms?’.
Can guinea pigs eat mushrooms?
We eat mushrooms quite a lot in our household as we really enjoy them with all kinds of meals. So can guinea pigs eat mushrooms?
It seems there is quite a lot of contention as to whether guinea pigs can eat store-bought mushrooms.
Somewhere helpful to start is to look at the nutrient content of mushrooms. So here goes…
image: flickr
Total fat 0.4 g 0%
Saturated fat 0.1 g 0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0 g
Trans fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 9 mg 0%
Potassium 364 mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 3.9 g 1%
Dietary fiber 1.3 g 5%
Sugar 2.5 g
Protein 2.1 g 4%
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0% Iron 1%
Vitamin B-6 5% Vitamin B-12 0%
Magnesium 0%
As you can see, they don’t contain any vitamin c which is already a big turn-off as far as whether it is good for our guinea pigs. But it is not necessarily bad for them either as they contain minimal amounts of fat, a little sugar but no phosphorus and oxelates. So guinea pigs can eat mushrooms, but take care which type you feed them and only feed in their raw state in small amounts.
Lets look at as wide a selection of mushrooms and other mushroom foods and recipes as we can. So as to be as helpful as we can, we have looked at as many options as we can so as to cover all the bases. No matter how obvious
Can guinea pigs eat wild mushrooms?
No, don’t let your guinea pig go near them. They are poisonous and very dangerous for them.
Can guinea pigs eat button mushrooms?
Yes, they can do, but there isn’t much in there which is good for them. So it isn’t worth going out of your way to feed them to them.
Can guinea pigs eat white mushrooms?
Again, there isn’t much good about them for the guinea pig. But yes they wont necessarily hurt them
Can guinea pigs eat portabello mushrooms?
Yes, they could do. But again, there isn’t much good about them and they are not the best for guinea pigs.
Can guinea pigs eat mushroom soup?
No, don’t try it as the only liquid they should have is water. Also, store-bought soups are often highly salted and seasoned and so will be bad for the guinea pig.
Can guinea pigs eat mushroom risotto?
No, any cooked food is bad for guinea pigs, plus it will be seasoned and additionally bad for them.
Can guinea pigs eat Chinese mushrooms?
Chinese mushrooms are a broad term for a group of mushrooms commonly used in Chinese and oriental cookery. The range includes enokitake, jew’s ear, pine mushrooms, oyster (shimeji) mushrooms, shitake and straw mushrooms. (source. BBC)
Becuase they are low in vitamin c and other elements that are beneficial to guinea pigs, they provide no value to them, not to mention high zinc and magnesium content. So it is best to avoid.
Can guinea pigs eat Morel mushrooms
Morels are wild mushrooms across the British Isles. They have a creamy white stem and conical cap they grow in dry, sandy areas so it is important to wash them well to get rid of any grit. The Morel has a distinctive mushroom has a pitted honeycomb-like fruit body and is hollow inside. It can only be found in the wild and is highly prized. (souce. BBC)
Because of their wild nature, stear clear of morel’s for your guinea pigs.
Can guinea pigs eat Oyster mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms are an ear-like silvery grey or greyish-brown mushroom that grows in clumps or clusters. It is now cultivated so is more readily available and found in most supermarkets. They have a subtle flavour and are often used in Oriental cookery but they cook down to virtually nothing and are quite expensive. (souce. BBC)
They can, but as with other types of mushrooms they should be considered with caution and if in doubt, do avoid.
There are other types of mushrooms such as Bay Boletes, Chantelle Mushrooms, Chestnut mushrooms, and Straw mushrooms that should be considered in a similar cautionary way. If in doubt over their suitability then do not give them to your guinea pigs.