Can alpacas eat… · Yes

Can Alpacas Eat Celery?

A quick, vet-informed answer on feeding celery to alpacas, with serving sizes, nutrition data and safer alternatives.

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Yes — alpacas can eat celery.

Low-calorie and hydrating. Stringy fibers can be hard to swallow, so cut it short.

Verdict
Yes
Serving size
1-2 stalks
Preparation
Cut into short pieces to avoid stringy fibers wrapping.
Food group
Vegetable
Sugar per 100 g
1.3 g

Risks to know

  • Choke (esophageal obstruction) — alpacas gulp treats; cut into thin strips or small pieces

Benefits

  • Very low sugar
  • Hydrating

How to feed celery safely

  1. Cut into short pieces to avoid stringy fibers wrapping.
  2. Offer by hand or spread out in a shallow pan so greedy eaters don't gulp — 1-2 stalks.
  3. Keep all treats under about 5% of the daily diet; hay or pasture and a camelid mineral come first.
  4. Introduce anything new gradually and watch droppings for the next day.

Nutrition facts (per 100 g)

NutrientAmountWhat it means for alpacas
Water95.4 gHydrating
Energy14 kcalLow calorie
Sugars1.3 gLow sugar
Fiber1.6 gLow fiber
Protein0.7 g
Fat0.2 g
Calcium40 mg
Phosphorus24 mg
Vitamin C3.1 mgNot required — camelids make their own

Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy — “Celery, raw” (FDC ID 169988).

Sugar compared with other treats

Celery1.3 gCucumber1.7 gPumpkin2.8 gGreen Beans3.3 gCarrots4.7 gStrawberries4.9 gWatermelon6.2 gApples10 gBananas12.2 gGrapes15.5 g

Grams of sugar per 100 g. Lower-sugar treats are kinder to the fore-stomach microbes and waistline.

Other good treats

Frequently asked questions

Can alpacas eat celery?
Yes — alpacas can eat celery. Low-calorie and hydrating. Stringy fibers can be hard to swallow, so cut it short.
How much celery can I give my alpaca?
1-2 stalks. Treats should stay under about 5% of the diet.
How should I prepare celery for alpacas?
Cut into short pieces to avoid stringy fibers wrapping.
How much sugar is in celery?
About 1.3 g of sugar per 100 g (USDA FoodData Central).
Can baby alpacas (crias) eat it?
Crias should get milk, then hay and pasture. Hold off on treats until they are weaned and eating forage well, and always use tiny pieces.

See the complete list of foods alpacas can and can't eat, our feeding guide and the toxic plant checker.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.