What foods are toxic to small pets?

Some foods are dangerous across the board: chocolate is toxic and should never be fed to any small pet; grapes, raisins and rhubarb are toxic to rodents (rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters); onion is unsafe; and citrus and walnuts should be avoided for rats. Milk and dairy cause digestive upset (especially for hedgehogs and ferrets), and raw meat and raw egg carry a salmonella risk. When a food isn’t on the safe list, the safe default is to leave it out.

Why do guinea pigs need vitamin C every day?

Guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C, so a fresh daily source (vitamin-C-rich vegetables plus fresh grass-based pellets) is essential — without it they get scurvy. Vitamin C degrades in air and water, so give a fresh portion daily rather than relying on drops added to the water bottle.

What should a rabbit or guinea pig eat as the base of its diet?

For grazing herbivores like rabbits and guinea pigs, unlimited good-quality hay and/or grass is the majority of the diet (around 80–90%) and should always be available, alongside a daily variety of washed leafy greens and herbs and a small measured amount of grass-based pellets. Avoid muesli-style mixes, which cause dental and gut disease, and introduce any new food gradually.

Can ferrets eat fruit or sugary treats?

No. Ferrets are carnivores that need a meat-based food high in protein and fat and very low in carbohydrate. Fruit, raisins, honey and sugary foods should be avoided because sugar can worsen insulinoma, and dairy and carbohydrate-rich foods aren’t suitable either. Treats should be meat, egg or freeze-dried meat, kept to no more than about 5% of intake.

What can my small pet eat? Safe-food checker

African Pygmy Dormouse · Omnivore rodent

⚠️ Insect-forward: they strongly prefer insects (mealworms, crickets, waxworms) and need a higher-protein diet, alongside fruit and seeds — not a seed-only mix.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full african pygmy dormouse diet guide →

Campbell’s Hamster · Omnivore rodent

⚠️ The most diabetes-prone pet hamster — no sugary fruit or treats, and a strict low-sugar diet with weight kept down.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full campbell’s hamster diet guide →

Chinchilla · Herbivore grazer

⚠️ A chinchilla’s gut is delicate and sensitive to sugar — keep sweet foods to an absolute minimum. Treats are tiny amounts of dried herbs or plantain, and only sparingly a little dried fruit or root veg.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

Unlimited good-quality hay and/or grass — the majority of the diet (around 80–90%), always available

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

A daily variety of washed leafy greens and herbs (e.g. kale, parsley, mint, dandelion)
A small, measured daily amount of grass-based species pellets

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small amounts of root vegetable or fruit (e.g. carrot, apple) — occasional treats only

🚫 Avoid

Muesli-style mixes (they cause dental and gut disease)
Sudden diet changes (introduce anything new gradually)
Grapes and rhubarb (toxic to rodents), and lawnmower clippings

Full chinchilla diet guide →

Chinese Hamster · Omnivore rodent

A dwarf-type, so keep sugar low: avoid sugary muesli mixes and limit fruit.

Cheek-pouches and hoards food — a nest stash is normal.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full chinese hamster diet guide →

Chipmunk · Omnivore rodent

Cereals make up around half the diet, plus unsalted seeds/nuts and a little fresh fruit and veg. A seed-based rodent mix is not suitable. Remove stones from peaches/plums (poisonous), and offer a cuttlefish bone for calcium.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full chipmunk diet guide →

Degu · Herbivore grazer

⚠️ No sugar, ever. Degus are highly prone to diabetes: no fruit at all, nuggets must be molasses-free, and only tiny occasional pieces of low-sugar vegetables. Rabbit, hamster and gerbil foods, and chinchilla mixes with dried fruit, are not suitable.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

Unlimited good-quality hay and/or grass — the majority of the diet (around 80–90%), always available

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

A daily variety of washed leafy greens and herbs (e.g. kale, parsley, mint, dandelion)
A small, measured daily amount of grass-based species pellets

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small amounts of root vegetable or fruit (e.g. carrot, apple) — occasional treats only

🚫 Avoid

Muesli-style mixes (they cause dental and gut disease)
Sudden diet changes (introduce anything new gradually)
Grapes and rhubarb (toxic to rodents), and lawnmower clippings

Full degu diet guide →

Fat-Tailed Gerbil · Omnivore rodent

⚠️ Not a Mongolian gerbil — the duprasi is insectivore-leaning and needs insects/protein (aim ~18% protein), not just a seed mix. Keep watery vegetables limited (a desert species — too much moisture causes diarrhoea).

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full fat-tailed gerbil diet guide →

Ferret · Ferret (obligate carnivore)

Ferrets have a fast metabolism and short gut, so food should be available at all times; change diets only gradually.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A commercial ferret food — meat-based, high in protein and fat, very low in carbohydrate — available at all times

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Meat, egg, or freeze-dried meat treats — no more than about 5% of intake

🚫 Avoid

Fruit, raisins, honey and sugary foods (sugar can worsen insulinoma)
Dairy and carbohydrate-rich foods
Dog food, and cat food as a long-term diet

Full ferret diet guide →

Flying Squirrel · Omnivore rodent

⚠️ Calcium balance is critical — a nut/seed/corn-heavy diet is low-calcium/high-phosphorus and causes metabolic bone disease. Include insects for protein, and give a vet-guided calcium + vitamin-D3 supplement.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full flying squirrel diet guide →

Gerbil · Omnivore rodent

Limit fatty seeds like sunflower, which cause obesity.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full gerbil diet guide →

Guinea Pig · Herbivore grazer

⚠️ Vitamin C is the make-or-break nutrient: guinea pigs can’t make their own, so a fresh daily source (vitamin-C-rich vegetables + fresh grass-based pellets) is essential — without it they get scurvy. It degrades in air and water, so give a fresh portion daily and don’t rely on drops in the bottle.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

Unlimited good-quality hay and/or grass — the majority of the diet (around 80–90%), always available

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

A daily variety of washed leafy greens and herbs (e.g. kale, parsley, mint, dandelion)
A small, measured daily amount of grass-based species pellets

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small amounts of root vegetable or fruit (e.g. carrot, apple) — occasional treats only

🚫 Avoid

Muesli-style mixes (they cause dental and gut disease)
Sudden diet changes (introduce anything new gradually)
Grapes and rhubarb (toxic to rodents), and lawnmower clippings

Full guinea pig diet guide →

Hamster · Omnivore rodent

Hamsters cheek-pouch and hoard food, so expect a stash in the nest — that’s normal.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full hamster diet guide →

Hedgehog · Hedgehog (insectivore)

Hedgehogs are slow to accept new foods, so introduce changes gradually; hiding insects in the bedding encourages natural foraging.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A commercial hedgehog/insectivore food (or a high-quality weight-management cat/dog food), rationed to prevent obesity

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Gut-loaded or calcium-dusted insects (mealworms, crickets), plus a little cooked meat or egg
A small amount of vegetables/fruit

🚫 Avoid

Raw meat and raw egg (salmonella risk)
Milk (it causes diarrhoea)
Too many fatty treats (hedgehogs get obese easily)

Full hedgehog diet guide →

Mouse · Omnivore rodent

Beyond the general rodent list, also avoid lettuce (it causes diarrhoea in mice).

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full mouse diet guide →

Prairie Dog · Herbivore grazer

⚠️ Grass hay is the foundation — cut rich alfalfa hay after 1 year of age, and keep pellets to just 1–2 blocks a week. Never feed iceberg lettuce, nuts, animal protein, dog/cat food or table scraps. Diet disease is their #1 health problem.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

Unlimited good-quality hay and/or grass — the majority of the diet (around 80–90%), always available

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

A daily variety of washed leafy greens and herbs (e.g. kale, parsley, mint, dandelion)
A small, measured daily amount of grass-based species pellets

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small amounts of root vegetable or fruit (e.g. carrot, apple) — occasional treats only

🚫 Avoid

Muesli-style mixes (they cause dental and gut disease)
Sudden diet changes (introduce anything new gradually)
Grapes and rhubarb (toxic to rodents), and lawnmower clippings

Full prairie dog diet guide →

Rabbit · Herbivore grazer

Rabbits make their own vitamins by eating their soft caecotroph droppings — no supplements needed on a hay-based diet.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

Unlimited good-quality hay and/or grass — the majority of the diet (around 80–90%), always available

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

A daily variety of washed leafy greens and herbs (e.g. kale, parsley, mint, dandelion)
A small, measured daily amount of grass-based species pellets

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small amounts of root vegetable or fruit (e.g. carrot, apple) — occasional treats only

🚫 Avoid

Muesli-style mixes (they cause dental and gut disease)
Sudden diet changes (introduce anything new gradually)
Grapes and rhubarb (toxic to rodents), and lawnmower clippings

Full rabbit diet guide →

Rat · Omnivore rodent

Beyond the general rodent list, also avoid onion, citrus, walnuts and chocolate.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full rat diet guide →

Roborovski Hamster · Omnivore rodent

Robos hoard food — a nest stash is normal.

Avoid sugary muesli-style mixes and excess fruit as a sensible dwarf precaution.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full roborovski hamster diet guide →

Short-Tailed Opossum · Marsupial insectivore

⚠️ An insect/protein-based diet with careful calcium balance prevents metabolic bone disease — gut-load or dust feeder insects, and let an exotic vet set the calcium/vitamin plan.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

An insect / animal-protein-based diet — in captivity a complete pelleted insectivore diet (as used in research colonies)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Gut-loaded or calcium-dusted feeder insects (e.g. crickets, mealworms)
A small amount of appropriate fruit

🚫 Avoid

A fruit-heavy or calcium-poor diet (it risks metabolic bone disease)
Over-supplementing calcium (let an exotic vet set the balance)
Assuming rodent food suits them — they’re insectivorous marsupials, not rodents

Full short-tailed opossum diet guide →

Spiny Mouse · Omnivore rodent

Keep fat and sugar modest — spiny mice are prone to obesity and diabetes, so go easy on sunflower seeds and sugary foods.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full spiny mouse diet guide →

Sugar Glider · Sugar glider (marsupial)

⚠️ A glider’s diet is genuinely hard to get right — have a vet experienced with sugar gliders set the exact recipe, portions and calcium/D3 supplement schedule.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

About half the diet as an artificial nectar (a formulated Leadbeater’s / BML mix)
A commercial glider pellet plus gut-loaded, calcium-dusted insects for protein

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

A small amount of fruit and vegetables — together under about 10% of the diet

🚫 Avoid

A fruit-heavy, low-calcium diet (it causes fatal metabolic bone disease)
Skipping calcium with vitamin D3
Sugary, soft foods (they cause dental disease)

Full sugar glider diet guide →

Syrian Hamster · Omnivore rodent

Syrians cheek-pouch and hoard food, so expect a nest stash — that’s normal.

Not diabetes-prone like the Russian dwarves, but still keep sugary and fatty treats to a minimum.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full syrian hamster diet guide →

Winter White Hamster · Omnivore rodent

⚠️ Diabetes-prone — no sugary fruit or treats. Feed a low-sugar pellet/mix and avoid selective “muesli” mixes that let it pick out the sweet bits.

🥗 Staple — the base of the diet

A complete food made specifically for this species (a proper pellet or seed mix)

🍽️ Every day, in the right amount

Small amounts of fresh vegetables as part of the daily ration, ideally scattered to forage

🍓 Treats — occasional only

Small pieces of fruit, cooked egg or seeds — as part of the ration, not on top of it

🚫 Avoid

Grapes, raisins and rhubarb (toxic to rodents)
Sugary and fatty foods in excess
Another species’ food (it lacks the right nutrients)

Full winter white hamster diet guide →

Food	Why
Chocolate	toxic — never feed any small pet
Grapes & raisins	toxic to rodents (rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters) and best avoided across the board
Rhubarb	toxic to rodents
Onion	unsafe — a known no for rats, avoid for all
Citrus & walnuts	avoid for rats (and generally)
Lettuce	causes diarrhoea in mice
Muesli-style mixes	cause dental & gut disease in rabbits and guinea pigs
Fruit & sugary treats	dangerous for degus (diabetes) and ferrets (insulinoma)
Milk & dairy	cause digestive upset — avoid for hedgehogs and ferrets especially
Raw meat & raw egg	salmonella risk — never for hedgehogs