Can Rats Eat Coconut? What You Need To Know

Figuring out what foods are okay for rats, and which ones are on the black list could be considered a full-time job. Well, at least it feels like that sometimes. Feeding your rat less-than-ideal foods once or twice doesn’t have to be harmful, but in the long run, you’ll definitely want to get a good understanding of which foods to rely on. Now maybe you’re thinking about serving your rat some coconut, and you’re wondering if that’s ok or not? In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know!

At Manolopets.com we’ve covered the benefits and risks to rats of many food items before. Our articles are meant to guide the reader, giving a neutral view of the real-world effects of different food items. For example, we’ve covered onion, garlic, and rice. Check out these articles, if you need more guidance.

Can Rats Eat Coconut?

Yes, Rats can eat coconut. In fact, coconut contains healthy fats and micronutrients that are crucial to keeping your rat healthy. You can safely include coconut as a part of your rat’s diet. As long as it is appropriate amounts, coconut is completely fine for rats.

While coconut shouldn’t be the main part of your pet rat’s diet, it is beneficial in reasonable amounts. You can safely mix some coconut meat with your rat’s food occasionally, as long as you don’t overdo it. Many rats love the taste of coconut, so you can use it as a way to “spice up” other food too.

The health benefits of coconuts are well-documented. For example, studies have shown that coconut oil can help prevent heart disease. Furthermore, a study on rats with diabetes showed that proteins from coconut meat improved multiple health factors like blood sugar & insulin. Coconut surely is a superfood, and the health effects it might bring should not be overlooked.

Another benefit of coconut is its high fiber contents. As I’m sure you already know, fiber helps with congestion, contributing to healthy bowel movements. Further, it promotes healthy cholesterol levels, and can even reduce inflammation.

Compared to other foods, coconut contains relatively large amounts of fiber. 9 grams of fiber per 100 grams of coconut, to be precise. Green beans, for example, contain only 3,4 grams of fiber per 100 grams and are still considered a high-fiber food. Furthermore, a food item like pasta contains on average 1,2 grams of fiber per 100 grams. The difference is striking!

One thing to keep in mind is that rats should not eat too much fat. Experts suggest that fats should make up only about 4-6% of a rat’s diet. This means that too much coconut can quickly throw the dietary proportions way off, as it contains unusually large amounts of fat. About 25% of coconut meat, and 95% of coconut oil, is made up of fat. 

This means that it would be wise to strictly limit the amount of coconut oil a rat eats to make sure the diet is well-balanced. Giving your rat coconut is beneficial in most cases, but make sure not to go overboard on the amount of oil.

Can Rats Open Coconuts?

No, they definitely cannot. They are just not nearly strong enough, meaning that they would never be able to bite, scratch or beat their way through the thick and hard coconut shell. Even humans struggle to get the rock-solid shells open, so imagine how hard it would be for a little rat. Sure, rats are stronger than they look, but they stand no chance of getting a coconut open.

This might not be the case with all rats, however. Interesting finds are coming out of the Solomon Islands, a chain of six islands in Oceania. Scientists have recently discovered a new species of rats, close to half a meter long (~20 inches), and with teeth big enough to open a coconut. While this species is newly discovered, the species is already believed to be endangered.

This rat species, known as ‘Vika’ to locals, live in trees, and due to logging. The rainforest, where the Vika species live, is being cut down at an alarming rate, meaning this rat might not be around for too much longer. Tragic, as we’ve still not even been able to photograph the animal. All we have are drawings of the animal, as we’ve yet to capture it on foto.

What food is toxic to rats?

Alright, so by now you know that you can incorporate both coconut meat, and coconut oil into a rat’s diet. You might be wondering what foods are toxic to rats. These are things you should avoid feeding rats at all costs, as they can be harmful. Below is a list of two things that rats should absolutely not consume.

Chocolate

We all know chocolate, while very tasty, contains a lot of sugar. Large amounts of sugary foods often lead to obesity, and should not make up a large amount of a rat’s diet. While small amounts of chocolate occasionally won’t do much damage, avoid making it part of your pet rat’s regular diet.

Caffeine

Humans often consume a lot of caffeine, to help us stay alert throughout the day. It is typically safe for us in normal amounts, but this is not the case for rats. A study on mice has shown caffeine causes anxious behavior. Another study showed caffeine can have negative effects on motor functions. Find links to both studies here.

Want to learn more? Check out our article about pasta for rats!

Conclusion

All-in-all, coconut meat, and oil are healthy for rats in the right amounts. Coconut contains healthy fats and micronutrients essential to a healthy rat diet. It should not be fed in large amounts, though, as the high caloric density risk making the small animals obese. If you want, you can safely incorporate coconut as a small portion of your pet rat’s diet. Keep in mind, though, that the main part should be made up of vegetables and fruits like zucchini, carbohydrates like pasta, and knibble.