Tomatoes are one plant that is commonly mistaken as a vegetable, and this might be because the US supreme court ruled that tomatoes are vegetables for customs regulation. Botanically, tomatoes are fruits, and it’s related to eggplants, and they belong to the Nightshade vegetables.
Can Parrots Eat Tomatoes?
No, parrots can’t eat tomatoes and the reason is that tomatoes are acidic fruits that could cause ulcers to any parrot, and this is more likely to happen when tomatoes are served fresh. Accidental slices of tomatoes are mostly ok for parrots.
However, there is no guarantee that the bird will handle the accidental slice of tomatoes, and it all depends on the level of tolerance the bird has and the quantity it consumed.
Why Tomatoes Are Bad For Parrots
As stated earlier, tomatoes are acidic fruits that may cause the parrot to suffer from ulcers, which is bad for parrots and may lead them to refuse eating food for a few days until they heal.
Apart from that, tomatoes belong to the Nightshades family, which comprises potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. These veggies are Botanically fruits as well, they contain a toxin that may be harmful and sometimes deadly to parrots. Yet, the toxin is probably absent in the fruit itself but exists in the other part of the nightshades family.
So, the danger of feeding tomatoes to parrots comes in 2 ways, the acidic nature of it, the toxin that might exist in the fruit itself, or the leave that is still on the fruits.
In short, answer avoid serving tomatoes to your parrot unless you want to risk the health of your feathery pal.
How To React When Your Parrot Eat Fresh Tomato
Well, it depends on the amount your parrot has consumed. Sometimes when we prepare dinner, the parrot might come and snatch a piece of tomato, and in this case, nothing is probably going to happen. But the issue is when the parrot got himself a whole fruit to feast on.
So, if your parrot got a whole fruit, you need to discard what’s left with him, and then put the bird back in the cage and provide water. And call the vet, especially if the bird is from a small breed. Some smaller breeds of parrot will require a visit to the vet because of the amount they consumed and the low tolerance they have.
So, the smaller the bird and higher the risk, and the opposite is true as well, the bigger the parrot, the smaller the risk.
Are There Any alternatives?
Yes, you can serve dried tomatoes to your parrot as it is safer than the fresh fruit, and without the acidic components that may harm the bird’s stomach. Dried tomatoes will provide wonderful benefits to the bird, and these benefits include:
Vitamins
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B9 (folate)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
Minerals
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
However, these nutrients will exist in dried tomatoes at lower levels. Yet, dried tomatoes have something to offer, like maintaining heart function and boosting the immune system.
Yet, serving dried tomatoes without knowing what are ingredients used to dry is risky. Dry the tomatoes on your own or look for organic dried tomatoes that have no ingredients like salt or vinegar.
Conclsuion
In conclusion, tomatoes are not the natural food for parrots, and because of their acidic nature, the parrot may be exposed to ulcers and might require avian vet service, at least if the bird consumed a lot of tomatoes. Apart from that, tomatoes belong to the nightshades vegetable family which contains a toxin called Solanine the exists in every part of the plant except the ripe fruit which has lower levels of it.
However, organic dried tomatoes are safer for parrots to consume. They won’t get the full benefits as if it was fresh fruits, but they will get a tasty and delicious snack.
And yes, that’s about it. I hope you found this article informative and easy to digest. Thank you for reading…
Hello, my name is sadeq and I am obsessed about parrot And I am here to share everything about raising pet parrots and how to be good owners to your bird.
