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| Safe? | Yes, as a rare treat |
| How much | 1 cube about 2 cm (3/4 in) for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit |
| How often | Once a week at most |
| Best served | Fresh, ripe, peeled, stone removed |
| Watch out for | Stone, dried or tinned mango, soft droppings, weight gain |
Is mango safe for rabbits?
Yes, in tiny amounts. The House Rabbit Society (HRS) includes mango in its list of fruits rabbits can have. The catch is sugar. The Rabbit Welfare Association says fruits "are counted as treats as they are generally high in sugars", and the HRS warns that sugar and starch can upset a rabbit's gut bacteria. Ripe mango is sweeter than apple or pear, so we treat it like banana: a small, occasional extra. Our rabbit diet guide shows how treats fit around hay.
How much mango can a rabbit have?
The HRS puts the ceiling for all fruit at about 1 teaspoon per 900 g (2 lb) of body weight a day, which is about 2 teaspoons for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit. Animal Trust is stricter, suggesting a cube about 1 cm (1/2 in) across. The Rabbit Welfare Association suggests fruit only once or twice a week. Because mango is so sweet, we take the once-a-week end: one cube about 2 cm (3/4 in) across, which is under 2 teaspoons, for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit. Give a dwarf breed, or any rabbit trying mango for the first time, Animal Trust's 1 cm (1/2 in) cube. Count it as that week's fruit, not an extra on top.
How to prepare mango
- Pick a ripe one. Soft to a gentle press, not mushy or fizzy-smelling.
- Peel it. Cut the skin off; it is tough and may carry residue from the shop.
- Cut from the stone. Slice the flesh away from the large flat stone and bin the stone.
- Cut one cube. About 2 cm (3/4 in), and wrap or freeze the rest for yourself.
- Clear up. Take away anything left after an hour; sticky fruit draws flies.
Skin, stone, dried and tinned mango
| Part or form | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Fresh ripe flesh | Yes, tiny amounts |
| Skin | Remove it |
| Stone | No: the RSPCA lists fruit pits among foods to avoid |
| Dried mango | No: sugar is concentrated, often added |
| Tinned mango, mango juice, smoothies | No: syrup and added sugar |
| Mango leaves | Not on any charity list we read, so leave them out |
Who should skip mango?
Leave it out for rabbits under about 12 weeks, overweight rabbits, older rabbits that are less active, and any rabbit with soft droppings or a dirty bottom.
What to offer instead
Pineapple and kiwi are other tropical fruits on the HRS list, and both need the same tiny portions. Banana is just as sweet. For everyday food, see what rabbits can eat and our rabbit care guide.
Mango and rabbits: questions
Can rabbits eat mango skin?
We would peel it off. The skin is tough and waxy and may carry residue from growing and shipping. None of the charities we read lists mango skin as a food for rabbits, so the careful choice is to give only the peeled flesh.
Can rabbits eat dried mango?
No. Drying takes the water out and leaves the sugar, so a small piece of dried mango is much sweeter than the same piece fresh, and many brands add more sugar. Stick to a small cube of fresh mango once a week.
Can baby rabbits eat mango?
No. Rabbits under about 12 weeks have delicate guts and should have hay, their pellets and only slowly introduced greens. Fruit can wait until a rabbit is fully grown and settled on greens, and then only in tiny amounts.
My rabbit ate a lot of mango. What should I do?
Take away what is left, give hay and water, and watch the droppings. Soft or sticky droppings are common after too much fruit. Ring your vet the same day if your rabbit stops eating, stops passing droppings or seems quiet and hunched.
