Rabbits can eat water spinach or Ipomoea aquatic, also known as water morning glory, water convolvulus, river spinach, Chinese spinach, Chinese watercress, kangkong, Chinese convolvulus, swamp cabbage, ong choy in moderation. Make it part of the leafy greens you give them. It is safe for these pets.
Water spinach is a common vegetable in India, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Burma, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and other and other countries in Asia, especially in East, South, and Southeast Asia.
Also, it serves as animal fodder, may have potential use in the removal of nutrients from wastewater, but USDA considers it a noxious weed.
Finally, note that it doesn’t belong to the same family as spinach (family Amaranthaceae), i.e., it is an unrelated vegetable that grows in semi-aquatic conditions in the family Convolvulaceae (the morning glory or bindweed family) and shares genus with sweet potatoes.
Is it good for rabbits?
Yes. Water spinach is good for rabbits. It is a good source vitamin C, magnesium, iron, folate, and vitamin A. Also, it has riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium in smaller amounts.
Besides nutrients, it has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which will benefit your furry friend greatly. Antioxidants help in fighting free radicals and preventing chronic illnesses like cancer.
Finally, when buying it, ensure you get from an organic source since it tends to accumulate heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium, a reason why it serves as an aquatic habitat purifier. However, the edible parts have less concentration of these heavy metals.
Ensure correct diet
For optimum health, your bunny must have the right diet. Make water spinach part of the six veggies you feed to your furry friend. Usually, a cupful of this mix is enough for a two-pound bunny. Also, introduce it slowly to avoid stomach upsets.
Hay is a vital part of any diet given to rabbits. It should be about 80%. Limit the rest. Keep high fiber pellet amount as 5%, fresh foods at 10-15%, and treats at 0-5%.