Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
Yes, guinea pigs can eat blackberries as an occasional treat. Pasadena Humane lists blackberries among safe fruits for guinea pigs, and PDSA and Burgess say fruit is fine in small amounts because it is high in sugar. Penny & Wild rescue suggests 1 to 2 teaspoons of fruit no more than once a week. One or two washed blackberries, about once a week, is plenty.
| Safe? | Yes, as a treat |
|---|---|
| How much | One or two berries (1 to 2 teaspoons) |
| How often | About once a week |
| Best served | Fresh, ripe, washed |
| Watch out for | Too much fruit; unwashed wild berries; jam and dried fruit |
Are blackberries good for guinea pigs?
As a treat, yes. Blackberries are on Pasadena Humane's guinea pig safe fruits list, alongside blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Like all fruit, they are sweet, so they sit at the edge of the diet. Hay or grass should be at least 80% of what a guinea pig eats, according to SPCA New Zealand.
How many blackberries can a guinea pig have?
| Source | Fruit advice for guinea pigs |
|---|---|
| PDSA | Fresh fruit, but in very small amounts because fruit is high in sugar |
| Burgess | Small amounts as an occasional treat |
| Penny & Wild rescue | 1 to 2 teaspoons of fruit, no more than once a week in total; remove seeds and pits |
Putting that together: one or two blackberries, about 1 to 2 teaspoons, about once a week. Guinea Lynx says high sugar contributes to obesity and can affect the gut's bacterial balance, which is why fruit is a treat.
Fresh, wild, frozen and dried blackberries
| Form | OK? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh shop blackberries | Yes, a treat | Wash first |
| Wild blackberries | Careful | Only from places free of weed killer, pesticides and dogs, as PDSA advises for foraging; wash well |
| Frozen blackberries, thawed | A little | Plain, with nothing added; serve at room temperature |
| Dried blackberries, jam, pie | No | Concentrated or added sugar; Guinea Lynx says avoid dried fruit |
What about bramble leaves?
PDSA lists bramble and blackberry leaves as safe forage for rabbits, but we found no guinea pig welfare source covering them. Until one does, we would stick to the berries for guinea pigs.
How to give blackberries
- Wash them. Rinse and pat dry.
- Portion one or two. Halve big berries to share between a pair.
- Keep it to treat day. Do not add other fruit that week.
Blackberry juice stains. Serve them on a small dish rather than on light-coloured bedding or a fleece liner.
Who should skip them?
Overweight guinea pigs, pigs with soft droppings, and young guinea pigs still getting used to fresh food. Introduce any new food gradually, as SPCA New Zealand advises.
Other berries
See raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. See our guinea pig food list, the guinea pig diet guide and the guinea pig care hub.
Questions owners ask
Can guinea pigs eat blackberries every day?
No. Fruit is high in sugar. Penny & Wild rescue suggests fruit no more than once a week, and PDSA says only very small amounts.
Can guinea pigs eat wild blackberries?
Only from places you know are free of weed killer, pesticides and dogs, and wash them well. Shop berries are the simpler choice.
Can guinea pigs eat blackberry leaves?
PDSA lists bramble leaves as safe for rabbits, but we found no guinea pig welfare source on them, so we would stick to the berries.
Can guinea pigs eat frozen blackberries?
A thawed plain berry is fine as a treat. Let it come to room temperature first, and skip any with added sugar.
