Yes — alpacas can eat cucumber.
Cucumber is one of the best low-sugar treats: hydrating, crunchy and gentle.
- Verdict
- Yes
- Serving size
- Half a cucumber, sliced
- Preparation
- Slice into rounds or sticks.
- Food group
- Vegetable
- Sugar per 100 g
- 1.7 g
Benefits
- Very low sugar
- Hydrating
How to feed cucumber safely
- Slice into rounds or sticks.
- Offer by hand or spread out in a shallow pan so greedy eaters don't gulp — half a cucumber, sliced.
- Keep all treats under about 5% of the daily diet; hay or pasture and a camelid mineral come first.
- Introduce anything new gradually and watch droppings for the next day.
Nutrition facts (per 100 g)
| Nutrient | Amount | What it means for alpacas |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 95.2 g | Hydrating |
| Energy | 15 kcal | Low calorie |
| Sugars | 1.7 g | Low sugar |
| Fiber | 0.5 g | Low fiber |
| Protein | 0.7 g | |
| Fat | 0.1 g | |
| Calcium | 16 mg | |
| Phosphorus | 24 mg | |
| Vitamin C | 2.8 mg | Not required — camelids make their own |
Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy — “Cucumber, with peel, raw” (FDC ID 168409).
Sugar compared with other treats
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 cucumber?
Yes — alpacas can eat cucumber. Cucumber is one of the best low-sugar treats: hydrating, crunchy and gentle.
How much cucumber can I give my alpaca?
Half a cucumber, sliced. Treats should stay under about 5% of the diet.
How should I prepare cucumber for alpacas?
Slice into rounds or sticks.
How much sugar is in cucumber?
About 1.7 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.