Rabbits are herbivores, which means they live on plants for their survival. Their primary diet consists of eating grass, veggies, hay, and commercial foods.
They do not eat bugs willingly. When they are in the wild, they live together with different types of bugs and insects. Bugs or insects also live on grass or leaves. Some bugs are so small that the rabbit cannot notice them. And, thus, they eat bugs by mistake.
Moreover, rabbits do not have the instincts or skills to prey on other species for food. They only need fiber to survive and thrive, which they obtain from greenery. Bugs do not contain such nutrition. Bugs such as beetles or cockroaches contain protein sources, but rabbits don’t need this nutrition.
Do Rabbits Eat Caterpillars?
No, they generally don’t eat caterpillars. As they are herbivores, they mostly live on plant matter. Their common diet includes grass, hay, commercial rabbit food, fresh vegetables, and sometimes fruits as a treat.
For their survival, they need fiber, which they get from these sources. So they do not need to eat caterpillars. Besides, caterpillars might carry harmful parasites that they may transfer from the caterpillar to the rabbit through ingestion.
It could be dangerous for the rabbits. So it’s better not to let them eat caterpillars.
Do Rabbits Eat Spiders?
The answer to this question is a resounding ‘no.’ As rabbits are herbivores, they don’t need to eat spiders or other insects.
But there is only one way for the rabbit to eat spiders. That is, when rabbits are eating their plant-based diets, they may eat spiders without knowing their presence.
Since insects or bugs don’t add any nutritional value to your pet rabbit, you shouldn’t feed her any type of insects. Additionally, it is the safest way to prevent your pet from eating spiders or other insects.
The reason is that when your rabbit comes into contact with a poisonous spider, your pet may get harmed. On the other hand, if your rabbit ingests a non-poisonous spider, it will not harm your pet.
Unless the rabbits do not bother the spiders, spiders do not bite them. And rabbits don’t have the instinct to hurt spiders or other insects. So rest easy.
Do Rabbits Eat Grasshoppers?
This is also a no. There are two reasons for this. One is that rabbits are herbivores which means they only plant-based matter for their nutrition and growth.
And grasshoppers do not contain fiber, which is the primary nutrition for rabbits. So, there is no need to eat grasshoppers as they do not add any nutritional value to the rabbit.
Another reason is rabbits are predators, which means they are not willing to hunt down and kill grasshoppers. But remember, grasshoppers can harm your rabbit. Some grasshoppers may carry parasites that are dangerous for your pet. Additionally, they have insecticides that can also harm the rabbit.
Do Rabbits Eat Earthworms?
Rabbits generally do not consume earthworms. But while they are feeding on grass, they can accidentally eat it. You may be surprised to know that eating a small quantity of earthworms can be beneficial for your rabbit.
Because earthworms improve the rabbit’s digestibility by 5%. But at the same time, your rabbit can get worm infections as well. Below are a few diseases caused by earthworms.
Pinworms
Rabbits are frequently infected by pinworm infections. It’s a kind of parasitic worm that causes redness, skin irritation, and itching to your rabbit.
When you are sure that your pet is infected with these infections, immediately go to the vet to examine whether the pinworm eggs are in the rabbit’s intestine or not.
Remember, pinworm infections are not easily curable. To treat the condition, your vet may prescribe some anti-parasitic medicine. Make sure to prevent further damage by taking care of your rabbit’s cleanliness.
Tapeworms
Your pet can have a tapeworm infection by ingesting Cittotaenia Variabilis when she is consuming the infected hay. Take your pet to the vet to ensure proper medication.
Do Rabbits Eat Insects?
Yes, rabbits can eat some insects that do not contain parasites, pesticides, or poisonous chemicals. But they do not eat insects intentionally because they are herbivores in nature. That means they live on fibrous foods that come from grass, plants, hay, etc.
Insects are a great source of protein but cannot meet the rabbit’s fibrous needs. So, there is no point in feeding them insects.
Additionally, distinguishing between poisonous and non-poisonous insects is a challenging task. If you are unable to distinguish them, don’t allow your pet to eat the insects, as poisonous insects cause several health issues in rabbits.
Apart from being herbivores, they are also predators in nature. That means they do not possess any natural skills to attack and kill insects.
Moreover, insects move at high speed, and it’s difficult for the rabbit to catch them. That’s why rabbits are not willing to waste effort chasing after insects.
What Insects Can Rabbits Eat?
Usually, rabbits do not eat insects. But that does not necessarily mean that they never eat insects. They may eat insects or any other living thing by mistake.
Crickets are another insect that your pet rabbit may consume inadvertently. When your rabbit is hungry, it may consume something larger, like crickets. Crickets are not tiny creatures. The largest cricket is about 2 inches in length, which is big enough for the rabbit to notice. Nevertheless, they eat them to satisfy their hunger.
Similarly, a caterpillar that is attached to the leaf could become an unplanned snack for the rabbits.
It is also possible for the rabbit to eat ants because they live in the grass or mound underground. And rabbits have the instinct to burrow and live underground. Ant bites are one of the most painful attacks for rabbits, as they possess low pain thresholds. So, when they feel a bite from the ant, they may intentionally eat the ant for self-defense.
Final Thoughts
As rabbits are herbivores in nature, they do not intentionally eat bugs. They don’t like their taste as well. And being predators, they don’t possess any natural skills to hunt down, attack, or kill insects.
However, remember that some insects are harmful to your pet as they carry poisonous infections and parasites and also have a self-defense mechanism.
So, ensure your rabbit cannot come into contact with these harmful insects. Be cautious not to allow your rabbit to go to places where poisonous insects may be hiding. And if your pet shows any kind of illness symptoms after ingesting those poisonous insects, take her to the vet as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Are the Risks of Your Rabbit Eating Insects?
The risks may include the following –
- When your pet rabbit eats a small number of bugs, it’s not a problem. But when she ingests poisonous insects like centipedes, spiders, and scorpions, it may be life-threatening for rabbits. If it happens, take her to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Insects contain parasites. When rabbits ingest them, though by mistake, parasites pass from the pest insects to the rabbit through ingestion.
- Another possible risk of ingesting insects is diarrhea. As rabbits are herbivores by nature, they cannot digest these insects.
2. What to Do to Stop Your Rabbit from Eating Insects?
You can go for the following steps –
- Be sure to cover the hiding spots or holes where insects can hide. Prevent your bunnies from going to those places.
- Use physical barriers to limit the access of insects to the places where your pet wanders.
- Ensure to buy quality food from a trusted seller or brand for your pet. Because low-quality food is dangerous for your pet as it may contain dirt and insects.
- And finally, make sure to give your rabbit a clean environment since it may eat everything that comes its way.
3. What Do Rabbits Eat Daily?
Rabbits are herbivores, no matter where they live. They only eat plant-based materials such as –
- The primary diet of rabbits is hay, which contains long-stemmed fiber. Different types of grass hay are orchard grass, timothy, oat hay, and brome. Alfalfa hay is a good choice for rabbits under 1 year of age. As they grow older, switch them to grass hay.
- You could feed your rabbit Timothy hay pellets in small portions. ¼ cup of hay pellets is enough for an adult rabbit whose size is between 6-10 pounds. For rabbits that are under 5 pounds, give them ⅛ cup. If your rabbit is more than 10 pounds, feed her a quarter cup daily.
- Rabbit’s favorite food is vegetables and herbs. Feed only two cups of fresh vegetables daily to an adult rabbit. 1 cup is enough for rabbits under 5 pounds and Dwarf breeds.
Vegetables that you can feed your rabbit daily – carrot tops, bell peppers, cucumber, bok choy, okra leaves, brussels sprouts, escarole, radish tops, sprouts like radish, alfalfa, clover; herbs like mint, basil, parsley, sage, oregano, dill, sage, rosemary, and thyme; lettuces such as the green leaf, romaine, red leaf, butter, arugula, Boston bibb, etc.
Occasional vegetables and plants that you can feed once or twice – carrot, clover, broccoli (leaves and stems), spinach, kale, collard greens, pesticide-free dandelion greens; flowers such as daylily, English daisy, rose, chamomile, calendula, dianthus, hibiscus, pansy, marigold, honeysuckle, and nasturtium.
Fruits to give your rabbit once or twice a week – banana, apple (no seeds), cherries (no seeds), melon, grapes, orange, nectarine, peach, papaya, pear, plum, pineapple, watermelon.
The perfect serving for every 5 pounds of body weight is 1 or 2 tablespoons of either mixture of fruits or 1 kind.
Austin completed his studies at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine of Tufts University. He holds a high amount of empathy and kindness towards people, nature and most importantly animals. Expressing his feelings in powerful words is one of his best qualities.
Like all of us, he is also an animal lover. He owns and adopted half a dozen of cats in his home. Adopting animals instead of buying them is always heavily encouraged by him.
Austin is also an animal activist. We are really happy to incorporate his ideas with our Author team and he’s also happy to join us and help with the things he knows so well.