Can Ferrets Eat Tangerines5 min read

Ferrets are strict meat-eater. That means they can’t eat anything that is not meat. They are obligate carnivores, and they need to eat meat-based products.

Tangerines are citrus fruits that come from a plant, and they contain a lot of sugar. Sugar is something ferrets do not need, and it can make them really sick, so your pet ferret should never be fed tangerines!

So the answer to your question is, NO! Ferrets should not eat tangerines.

What are tangerines?

Tangerines are juicy citrus fruits that are native to China. They look like miniature oranges. Tangerines have been cultivated for thousands of years in Asia, and they were brought to America in the 18th century.

Tangerines were first called “tangerine oranges” because they came from Tangiers, a port city located in Northern Africa. These days, tangerines are called just “tangerines.”

Is it healthy to feed tangerines to ferrets?

It is not healthy to feed tangerines because of the high sugar content.

And they will probably suffer from indigestion or diabetes because of all that sugar. It’s better to avoid tangerines altogether if you want your pet to stay healthy and happy.

If you feed your furry friend with too much sugar, it may develop a condition called Insulinoma. It is a cancer of the pancreatic cells – and is in almost all cases fatal!

Insulinoma can cause these insulin reactions: weak pulse, lethargy, breathlessness, seizures, and even death.

read.. can ferrets eat raisins

What we humans consider healthy food might not be the best for ferrets!

Will feeding tangerines to a ferret make it sick?

Yes, feeding your ferret tangerines will make it sick. In fact, all the citrus fruits are bad for ferrets because they contain high levels of sugar.

Additionally, ferrets can not digest fiber well. So the insoluble fiber can cause blockages in the bowels. They have a very sensitive digestive system that is “made” to digest animal-based products.

Good To Know: Avoid Fruits and Vegetables in your Ferrets Diet!

What Should my Ferret eat instead?

No products found.

(Note: If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we may receive a commission but at no extra cost to you)

As said above, ferrets are obligate carnivores (strict meat-eaters). They thrive on a meat-only diet.

Does that mean that you need to feed your furry friend with raw meat only? Not necessarily. Your ferret could live on a diet consisting of kibble and other commercial ferret foods.

read.. is popcorn ok for ferrets?

Benefits of Kibble:

• Keeps ferret’s teeth healthy
• More convenient than raw meat alone (foraging, transportation, preparation, etc.)
• Less smelly than fresh meat or fish
• Less expensive

Raw Diet for Ferrets

If you want to feed your ferret a diet that is closer to what it would eat in the wild, a meat-only diet is a way to go. This is also good for people concerned about commercial pet foods that may be unhealthy for their ferrets.

Ferrets are carnivores by nature and cannot digest plant material. Feeding a ferret a raw diet will also significantly reduce the odor of their poop.

Examples of meat that are good for your ferret:

• chicken
• chicken wings
• turkey
• turkey necks
• beef
• lamb
• organs (liver, …)
• game birds
• bones
• eggs (sometimes)
• tuna/fish (sometimes)
• …

Also, give them very meaty bones such as chicken wings, chicken thighs, turkey necks, and beef bones as a treat.

The Frankenprey Diet

The Frankenprey Diet is a diet where you feed your ferret parts of different animals. Let’s say chicken liver and beef, for example. The whole idea is to combine animal parts to resemble a whole prey as close as possible.

The ratio is often 80/10/10 – 80 percent meat, 10 percent bones, and 10 percent organs. Sometimes you can get away with a few extra bones or organs.

There are online stores that deliver a mixture of meats directly to your house. Nationwide. Here is a link: https://www.mypetcarnivore.com/

That way, you can provide a healthy mixture of meats and bones without going through the struggle of preparing it yourself.

Benefits of the Frankenprey Diet

One of the benefits of the Frankenprey Diet is that the ferret will get a lot of different nutrients and vitamins. Basically everything it needs for long and healthy life.

It lowers the risk of disease in the ferret and helps the ferret grow up healthy and strong.

read.. can ferrets eat strawberries?

In a healthy prey, the organs provide all necessary nutrients and vitamins for the body, including essential amino acids. In a healthy game, you can find over 30 different amino acids responsible for keeping your pet fit and healthy.

Of course, you can do this by simply buying one single piece of meat, but it’s harder to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients and that you’re not feeding your ferret too much or too little.

Feeder Mice

If you don’t mind storing dead mice in your fridge, you may also go with feeder mice or chicks from the beginning. Those are available in most pet stores that sell snakes and reptiles.

Feeder mice are mice that have been pre-killed and frozen, so they are already dead.

How Much do Ferrets Eat?

Ferrets eat around 8% of their body weight per day. Ferrets eat a lot more often than you think! A ferret can eat up to 6-7 times per day.

Due to their high energy level, ferrets need a constant supply of food. When ferrets grow, gestate, and reproduce, they will need more food.

read.. why dried foods are bad

Summary

Ferrets should not eat tangerines. That is because of the sugar and fiber tangerines contain. If you give tangerines to your ferret, it is possible to make it sick because of the sugar and fiber in the tangerine. Ferrets need meat, not sugar, to survive.

You could feed dry kibble that was made especially for ferrets. Kibble is an excellent option for owners who have a busy schedule. Additionally, kibble is easy to store and relatively cheap. But a diet based on fresh raw meat is considered to be the best diet for a ferret.