Can Rabbits eat Red Leaf Lettuce?

Red leaf lettuce a lettuce cultivars that have red leaves and they include “New Red Fire Lettuce”, “Red Sails Lettuce”, “Redina Lettuce”, “Galactic Lettuce”, and the “Benito Lettuce”.

So can rabbits eat red leaf lettuce at all?

Lets take a look at their nutritional data in particular their sugar, calcium, phosphorus, fat, fibre and sodium content?

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 68 kJ (16 kcal)
Carbohydrates
2.26 g
Sugars 0.48 g
Dietary fiber 0.9 g
Fat
0.22 g
Protein
1.33 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv.
beta-carotene
lutein zeaxanthin
(47%)375 μg
(42%)4495 μg
1724 μg
Thiamine (B1) (6%)0.064 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (6%)0.077 mg
Niacin (B3) (2%)0.321 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
(3%)0.144 mg
Vitamin B6 (8%)0.1 mg
Folate (B9) (9%)36 μg
Vitamin C (4%)3.7 mg
Vitamin E (1%)0.15 mg
Vitamin K (134%)140.3 μg
Trace metals
Calcium (3%)33 mg
Iron (9%)1.2 mg
Magnesium (3%)12 mg
Manganese (10%)0.203 mg
Phosphorus (4%)28 mg
Potassium (4%)187 mg
Sodium (2%)25 mg
Zinc (2%)0.2 mg

source wikipedia

As you can see red leaf lettuce contains a little phosphorus, a hint of sodium, and calcium however it is very acidic and so is not so good for rabbits to eat. So it is best to avoid as far as bunnies are concerned. They are fine to have a nibble at it, but nothing more than that.

Leave a Comment