Can Guinea Pigs Eat Radicchio? (How Much is Safe?)
Characterized by its red color, white veins, and bitter taste, radicchio is a relatively uncommon leafy vegetable. It’s frequently used in Italian dishes where the slightly spicy flavor blends well.
This leafy veggie boasts some great health benefits, especially when eaten raw. But how healthy is it for guinea pigs? Do they even like this uniquely flavored vegetable?
Generally speaking, guinea pigs can eat 1-2 radicchio leaves a few times a week. The natural acidity may cause stomach cramps or diarrhea in some piggies, so introduce it into the diet gradually.
Throughout the article below, I’ll cover everything you need to know about how to feed radicchio to your guinea pig, including its benefits, risks, and so much more.
*Important Note: The quantity of radicchio shown in the photos is for visual purposes only and not indicative of the correct amount to feed your guinea pig in one serving.
Nutritional Value of Radicchio for Guinea Pigs
Radicchio contains a range of vitamins and antioxidants for humans and guinea pigs alike. Below is a table outlining the nutritional data of radicchio per 100 grams:
| Nutrient | Amount (per 100g) |
| Calories | 23 kcal |
| Protein | 1.43 g |
| Fat | 0.25 g |
| Carbohydrate | 4.48 g |
| Fiber | 0.9 g |
| Sugar | 0.6 g |
| Vitamin C | 8 mg |
| Calcium | 19 mg |
| Phosphorus | 40 mg |
| Magnesium | 13 mg |
| Potassium | 302 mg |
| Iron | 0.57 mg |
| Folate | 60 µg |
| Vitamin K | 255 µg |
Benefits of Feeding Radicchio to Guinea Pigs
Radicchio looks like a cross between lettuce and a mini cabbage. However, it is completely unrelated to both. Radicchio is a type of chicory that comes from the Asteraceae family along with dandelions and endive.
Radicchio is High in Vitamins and Minerals
Radicchio is an excellent source of potassium and Vitamin K1 for your guinea pig. Potassium is crucial for regulating fluid in the body and flushing out excess sodium. It can also reduce the chances of your piggy developing kidney stones. Vitamin K1 is essential for blood clotting and it also helps contribute to good bone health.
Radicchio is also a good source of copper and zinc, two minerals that can be hard to come by in many foods.
Copper is crucial for many functions in the body, including maintenance of the immune and nervous systems, brain development, energy production, and more.
Zinc is beneficial for taste buds, wound healing, and helping the immune system fight off infections.
In addition to that, radicchio contains smaller trace amounts of iron, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6.
Radicchio also contains some fiber, which promotes a healthy digestive tract.
Radicchio is Great for Stone-Prone Guinea Pigs
Radicchio is quite low in calcium, containing only 19mg per 100 grams, or 1.52mg of calcium per leaf. This is even lower than romaine lettuce, which contains 33mg of calcium per 100 grams.
This makes it a great choice for guinea pigs with white calcium deposits in their urine or piggies that have been diagnosed with bladder stones or sludge in the past.
Radicchio is also high in water. Adequate hydration can help to flush out excess minerals in the body and keep them from binding together into stones.
Veggies high in water are also great for keeping your piggies well-hydrated during hot summer weather.
Common Vegetables and Calcium Content (per 100 grams)
| Tomatoes | 10mg |
| Cucumber | 16mg |
| Radicchio | 19mg |
| Romaine Lettuce | 33mg |
| Carrots | 33mg |
| Spinach | 67mg |
| Parsley | 138mg |
Radicchio is High in Cancer-Fighting Antioxidants
Radicchio is abundant in many great antioxidants that target and neutralize free radicals in the body. These free radicals attack cells and increase the risk of oxidative stress, which compounds the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more. Oxidative stress also causes the body to age faster.
Many of these risks can be decreased by feeding your guinea pig a variety of vegetables that are rich in antioxidants.
One type of antioxidant found in radicchio is anthocyanins, which are responsible for giving this veggie its vibrant purplish-red color.
Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that can help repair cell damage, prevent certain types of cancer, and reduce inflammation.
Risks of Feeding Your Guinea Pig Radicchio
Natural Acidity in Radicchio
There are very few risks to feeding radicchio to guinea pigs regularly.
With that said, radicchio does have a bitter taste and is a little acidic. This can lead to stomach pain or diarrhea in some guinea pigs.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to introduce this veggie gradually into your guinea pig’s diet in small amounts.
Increase the quantity slowly over time, and try to avoid feeding it at the same time as other acidic foods, such as tomatoes or cherries
Keep an eye on your piggy the first few times they try radicchio and watch for any signs of discomfort or digestive upset.
Radicchio Can Be Somewhat Expensive
Another downside to feeding radicchio is the price point.
Radicchio is generally one of the most expensive vegetables in the grocery aisle. Where I live, a tiny head of radicchio costs $3.49.
Compared to a lettuce head which costs $2 and is twice the size, it can get prohibitively expensive to be feeding radicchio all the time.
However, if your guinea pigs really love it, radicchio makes a great treat for bonding with your guinea pig.
Potential Allergic Reactions
Like other foods, there is always a chance that your guinea pig is allergic or has a bad reaction to radicchio. This is rare, but it’s always important to introduce new foods gradually and keep an eye on your guinea pig in case they have an adverse reaction.
How Much Radicchio Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
Guinea pigs can eat a leaf or two of radicchio 3-4 times a week.
You can feed up to half a leaf daily at most if your guinea pig absolutely loves it and shows no signs of stomach problems from the slight levels of acidity.
There are no major concerns about feeding it regularly, but it’s crucial to provide a balanced diet with a variety of healthy vegetables.
Radicchio is pretty low in Vitamin C, so be sure to feed it along with plenty of high Vitamin C foods.
Do Guinea Pigs Like Radicchio?
Guinea pigs LOVE radicchio! All 13 of my piggies go nuts over the stuff and took to it almost immediately.
Radicchio is easily one of their favorite foods, along with lettuce, endive, and carrots. Most piggies love the leafy texture and they’re usually drawn to nibbling on it right off the bat.
Radicchio tends to have a very bitter flavor, so it may not be at the top of your guinea pig’s favorites list if they have more of a sweet tooth. In that case, they may prefer foods like strawberries, apples, or blueberries.
Guinea pigs that love radicchio usually also love other types of leafy greens like arugula, swiss chard, and collard greens.
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Radicchio?
Weaned baby guinea pigs over 3 weeks of age can eat radicchio. Be sure to introduce it slowly in small amounts to ensure that it doesn’t cause any digestive upsets in their sensitive young bodies.
Offer a small piece of leaf or a few nibbles the first few times and keep an eye on their behavior to ensure they are acting normally in the hours after.
As long as they show no signs of discomfort or diarrhea, you can gradually increase the amount.
Radicchio is not high in Vitamin C or calcium, which are essential nutrients for growing piggies.
For this reason, it’s best to feed radicchio as a treat to baby guinea pigs and prioritize high-calcium foods that are also high in Vitamin C, such as kale and parsley.
How to Prepare and Feed Radicchio to Your Guinea Pig
To feed radicchio to your guinea pig, start by selecting a healthy head that is brightly colored and vibrant.
Peel off a leaf or two that is not rotting or overly wilted. Be sure to rinse it thoroughly under cool water to remove any traces of pesticides or germs.
Store any leftover radicchio in your fridge’s vegetable drawer to keep it fresh. I find that placing it in a large open ziplock bag in the crisper helps to maintain the freshness for up to a couple of weeks.
Always feed your guinea pig raw, uncooked radicchio. Cooked vegetables lose many of their nutrients and are also more challenging for guinea pigs to digest than raw.
How to Introduce A New Food For The First Time
If your guinea pig has never tried radicchio, introduce it in small amounts. Offer about half a leaf at first to see if they like it. Most guinea pigs will start nibbling on radicchio leaves pretty quickly, but sometimes you’ll need to leave it in the cage for a while to give them a chance to try it at their own pace.
Sometimes guinea pigs take a bit of time to adapt and try a new type of food, so if they don’t eat it right away, try it for a few more days.
It often helps to give the new veggie separately from their regular vegetables (i.e., new veggie in the morning, regular veggies at night.) Guinea pigs are often more willing to try something if they have fewer options.
Keep an eye on your guinea pig for several hours after they try the new food to ensure that they are acting normal and have no signs of diarrhea or stomach discomfort.
As long as there’s no diarrhea or odd behavior, you can gradually increase the amount of radicchio next time.
It’s also a good idea to introduce no more than one new food at a time. This way, you can easily identify which new food is causing problems if you notice any unusual behavior from your piggy.
Fun Facts About Radicchio
- Radicchio is from the Asteraceae family and a subspecies of chicory
- Like radicchio, all species of chicory have a bitter taste
- Radicchio originated in Chioggia, Italy, in the 16th century
- Italy is one of the biggest growers of radicchio today
- Radicchio typically ranges in size from a baseball to a softball
- Radicchio normally takes 75-90 days to grow from seed to harvest
- Radicchio is a perennial plant that is normally cultivated as an annual
More Fruits and Vegetables That Guinea Pigs Can Eat
Did you know that guinea pigs can also eat kohlrabi, green beans, and eggplant?
These foods all contain various nutrients that can boost your guinea pig’s health in numerous ways. They can also eat bananas, mango, pineapple, asparagus, and so much more.
For a complete list of all the fruits and vegetables that guinea pigs can eat, check out our article, Complete List of Safe Foods for Guinea Pigs.
