- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Herbs and flowers
- Cereals and nuts
- Pellets. Pellets are fine and many of the gerbil mixes have seeds mixed into the pellets. ...
- Meat and insects. It is good to include a small amount of protein in your gerbil diet.
- Grass and hay. Gerbils don’t need hay to survive since they are getting most of their energy from pellet food and other items you feed them.
- Chewing snacks. Try to avoid snack mixes that have too many dried fruits and nuts that can be too fatty or high in natural sugars.
- Wood snacks. Edible wood that gerbils like includes a long list that is perfectly fine for them to chew. Can Gerbils eat other pet foods?
Can gerbils eat fruits and vegetables?
Fruit (pear, melon, apple, oranges) and vegetables (cucumber, carrot, pumpkin and fennel) can be used to supplement your gerbils ration. Do not give your pets¿ grapes or rhubarb as these are poisonous to rodents. To avoid excessive amounts of certain seeds (e.g. sunflower) as they are fatty and can cause obesity.
What is the best gerbil food mix?
Gerbil food mix should be the majority of your gerbil’s diet. It’s designed to contain everything a gerbil needs. These mixes don’t just contain seeds, but seeds, beans, grains, dried vegetables, and general fiber.
How much to feed a gerbil a day?
Give your gerbil food mix every day. The amount of food you feed your gerbil can vary widely, although most gerbils eat about a tablespoon every day. As you get used to feeding the gerbil you will get used to how much the animal will eat every day. [5]
What do Mongolian gerbils eat?
Mongolian gerbils, the most common pet gerbil, are no exception. Gerbils feed on the seeds of grasses, roots, bulbs, and leaves in the wild. In captivity, a high-quality and well-balanced gerbil mix should be given. Occasionally treats such as sunflower seeds, fruit, and vegetables can be given.
What is a gerbils favorite food?
Gerbils will enjoy small amounts of dried banana, pumpkin seeds, nuts, millet (the kind sold for budgies and other birds), crispy vegetables such as raw broccoli and carrot, small amounts of fruit, such as apples and grapes (but break the skin so the gerbil can easily see the moist interior), alfalfa, and hay.
How often should you feed gerbils?
dailyGerbils need to be fed daily to keep them sustained. You should, however, be wary of feeding them foods with high fat or sugar contents (such as fruit, nuts and seeds) every day, Gerbils can swiftly become obese. You might also find that your gerbils like to hoard their food.
What can a gerbil not eat?
Some foods can cause serious health problems for gerbilsCabbage.Cakes.Candy.Chocolate.Citrus Fruits.Cookies.French fries.Lettuce.More items...
What are gerbils favorite snacks?
Vegetable treats include broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, peas, pumpkin, and tomatoes. Other nutritious snacks gerbils enjoy include popcorn, unflavored cereal, cheese, chestnuts, insects, nuts, seeds, eggs, hay, and wholemeal bread.
Can gerbils eat banana?
Gerbils can eat fresh bananas and both green (under-ripe) and black (over-ripe) bananas. But they're high in carbs and low in protein and fat. The minerals found in bananas include magnesium, copper, and manganese.
Can gerbils eat scrambled eggs?
You might be surprised to hear that eggs are perfectly safe for gerbils, and while some seem to turn their nose up at the opportunity, others will squeak with delight. The egg should of course be cooked; a tiny little bit of warm scrambled egg in a tiny bowl is about as good as it gets for some gerbils!
Can gerbils eat carrots?
Give them plenty of variety - fruit (such as pear, melon, apple, oranges) and vegetables (such as cucumber, carrot, pumpkin and fennel) can be used to supplement your gerbils' food pellets. Pumpkin seeds are a healthy treat. Gerbils like to sit up and hold pieces of food to gnaw.
Can gerbils have lettuce?
Lettuce is safe for gerbils to eat. It contains nutrients such as folate, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins K and A. Red and green leaf lettuce, butterhead lettuce, and romaine lettuce are good choices. Gerbils shouldn't eat iceberg lettuce as its water content is too high.
Do gerbils recognize their owners?
Gerbils can remember their owners and things they deem important, but precisely what they can recall is unclear. Gerbils remember their owners based on scent and appearance. They can recall gerbil cage mates, learn tricks, and know their names. Gerbils won't forget if you're unkind to them, e.g., you hit them.
Can gerbils have Cheerios?
Plain cheerios are fine for gerbils to eat. They arent likely to make your gerbil fat. Cheerios are part of my gerbils staple diet, and they always eat their cheerios.
What kind of toys do gerbils like?
Gerbils love to chew. A cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll or paper towel roll is one of a gerbil's favorite things. Some people have expressed concern about the types of glue used in these—and now colorful safe (and a bit more sturdy and long-lasting) cardboard tubes are made for pets to play with.
Do gerbils like to be held?
One of the nicest things about having pets is cuddling, stroking, and holding them close to you. But because gerbils get easily nervous and scared, they may not seem to be as affectionate. Most gerbils enjoy petting or sitting in your hand. Some gerbils will allow you to cuddle or hug them once trust is established.
How much do you feed a gerbil a day?
However often you feed them, you should give them the same amount of food. So, for example, gerbils require around 1tbsp of food each per day. If you have four gerbils, leave 4 tbsp of food in their enclosure each morning.
Can you overfeed a gerbil?
“Do not overfeed your gerbils,” warns Anastasi. “They may regulate the total amount of food they eat, but not the kind of food. In fact, if they're being overfed they will search for and eat the high-fat goodies and leave the uneaten high-protein, low-fat pellets and grains.”
Should I cover my gerbils cage at night?
Unlike covering a bird cage, covering a gerbil cage at night won't help your gerbil sleep. Gerbils are active throughout the day and night, so darkness doesn't act as a sleep cue. However, covering the gerbilarium can help to muffle any noise coming from within. This may make it easier for you to sleep.
Do gerbils like to be petted?
Like a lot of small pets, gerbils can be nervous about being picked up. Often, they'll prefer to be petted or given treats in their cage. If you would like a small pet that loves human attention, think about getting rats or a ferrets instead.
What is the best diet for gerbils?
Treats. Chewing and Gnawing. Foods to Avoid. Water. Feeding Routine. Gerbils are omnivores who enjoy a wide variety of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and insects. Commercial pellet mixes provide your gerbils with the nutrients they need.
How to keep gerbils healthy?
Rather than keeping a specific food dish in your gerbil's habitat, you can instead sprinkle the food onto the floor of their cage and let them hunt for it. They'll be more engaged and will be more likely to eat a larger variety of food, letting them get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Pagination. 1. 2.
How long does a gerbil need to be in water?
An alternative to a filtration system is to use bottled drinking water or tap water that has sat in an open container for at least 24 hours. Like any other pet, your gerbil should have a feeding routine. The specific mix you feed them will have serving instructions and proper portion sizes.
What can gerbils not process?
Cardboard from food packaging. Coconut shells. Untreated softwood. Hay cubes. Foods to Avoid. As with many animals, gerbils cannot process certain types of food. Avoid feeding these foods to your gerbil, as they are dangerous or toxic: Rhubarb.
How much protein is in a gerbil mix?
It’s recommended that the mix contains around 14% protein. Anything less than that will likely need to be supplemented with other sources of protein, such as insects. Some sources recommend more or less protein. If you’re unsure, consult your vet about your gerbil’s needs.
What is the fat content of a gerbil?
Seed mixes, while a good source of protein, can also be high in fat. Make sure your mix has a fat content between 6% and 8% so your gerbil doesn’t put on excess weight. Certain seeds, like sunflower seeds, are high in fat content but are also tasty, so your gerbil may pick these out first.
Do gerbils bury food?
Your gerbil will hoard food for later. They often bury food in the nooks and crannies of their cage or under the shredded paper on the floor, but they won't remember where it is after a few hours. The food will rot after a period of time if you don't realize it was hidden.
What is a good diet for gerbils?
A good quality, balanced diet especially for gerbils, containing all the nutrients and minerals they need. This may be a compound pelleted ration or a mixture of different seeds; commercial rations are formulated to meet their biological needs.
What do gerbils need?
Gerbils need: Fresh, clean drinking water constantly available, in a drinking bottle with a metal sipper tube. Check the water bottle daily for leaks and/or blockages. Gerbils must always have access to clean fresh water. Their water changed regularly and the bottle and nozzle cleaned properly. A good quality, balanced diet especially ...
How much grain do gerbils hoard?
Gerbils love to hoard food in large stores. In the wild, gerbils may hoard up to 1.5kg of grain in one store! To avoid sudden dietary changes, or food that has been allowed to become stale, as they can upset their stomachs. Monitoring daily to see how much they eat and drink.
What is the best food for gerbils?
The best food for gerbils is a specially formulated gerbil mix. It contains nuts, seeds, corn flakes, and dried vegetables. Healthy gerbil foods also include fruit and vegetables, but only as a treat. There are foods to avoid that may poison gerbils, like grapes and rhubarb.
What is gerbil food?
Far better than a general seed mix intended for ‘rodents’ is one that’s tailored to the needs of gerbils. Gerbil food mix should be the majority of your gerbil’s diet. It’s designed to contain everything a gerbil needs. These mixes don’t just contain seeds, but seeds, beans, grains, dried vegetables, and general fiber.
How long does gerbil food last?
If you are feeding your gerbils food mix, this will stay fresh for longer than two days. But feed them fruit and vegetables this way and they may go bad. So, remove stale gerbil food from your pet’s gerbilarium regularly.
How much fat do gerbils need?
What’s easier to get wrong is the amount of protein and fat a gerbil eats. Gerbils require somewhere between 2 and 20 percent fat in their diet. Not enough research has been done to determine exactly how much is required. However, studies indicate that gerbils can survive when fed as little as 2% fat.
Why do gerbils need carbohydrates?
They need carbohydrates for energy, protein for muscle growth, and fat for their fat stores. But if fed these things in the wrong amounts, that’s bad for them. The majority of a gerbil’s diet should be made up of carbohydrates. What’s easier to get wrong is the amount of protein and fat a gerbil eats.
Do gerbils eat fresh food?
Given that you want to feed your gerbil healthy gerbil foods, this is likely your first idea. However, there’s no need for a gerbil to eat lots of fresh food.
Can gerbils eat the same food?
Gerbils require a high-quality and balanced diet. They can’t eat the same food day in, day out unless you buy a specially formulated and gerbil-specific food mix. This balanced diet should be fed consistently and without significant changes. If you change your gerbil’s diet, you risk giving them upset stomachs.
What to feed a gerbil?
Unsweetened breakfast cereal often becomes a favorite treat for gerbils. Give them raisins and currants. Serve them small bits of cheese. Small amounts of egg, either scrambled or boiled, can be offered. On occasion, try offering mealworms to your gerbil.
What do gerbils eat?
A pelleted or lab block diet can form the balanced base of your gerbil's diet, while a loose seed mix and other treats add interest and variety. Make sure your gerbil eats enough of the pellets or lab blocks to get those nutritional benefits before giving them the seed mixture or other treats. Avoiding seed mixtures that contain sunflower seeds ...
How long does it take for a gerbil to finish eating?
Once you have a feel for how much your gerbil eats, try to feed approximately the amount they will finish in 24 hours (but not too little), and remove any uneaten food before feeding them again in case it is damp or soiled.
What to feed gerbils to stop diarrhea?
Many gerbils love fruits and vegetables. Start by offering small amounts of fresh vegetables or fruits to prevent diarrhea from eating too much at once. Make sure all vegetables and fruits are well washed and pesticide-free. You can try items such as carrots, broccoli, dandelion greens, apples, and berries.
Do gerbils need water?
Because gerbils come from Mongolia where there is a dry climate, they do not need a lot of water. Despite this, don't make the mistake of thinking water is not important. Make sure your gerbil always has a supply of fresh, clean water in a sipper bottle. Read More.
Can gerbils eat sunflower seeds?
Seed Mixes: These are loose mixtures of seeds, sometimes with pellets or dried vegetables and fruits added. Most of these will be nutritionally balanced but only if your gerbil eats everything in the mix. Unfortunately, many gerbils will pick out their favorite items and leave the rest of the mixture in their bowl, which can lead to a dietary imbalance if there are components your gerbils consistently avoid. This may be especially true if there are large amounts of sunflower seeds in the mixture (which are often favored by gerbils, but are quite fatty), and alone are not a balanced diet. Because loose seed mixtures don't ensure a complete and balanced diet without eating all of the contents, they are not ideal for use as your gerbil's sole food.
What do gerbils eat?
Gerbils will enjoy small amounts of dried banana, pumpkin seeds, nuts, millet (the kind sold for budgies and other birds), crispy vegetables such as raw broccoli and carrot, small amounts of fruit, such as apples and grapes (but break the skin so the gerbil can easily see the moist interior), alfalfa, and hay.
Do gerbils eat apples?
Gerbils, being naturally omnivorous, will try most foods you offer them, but they will thrive on a diet based largely on mixed gerbil food from the pet store. Small portions of extras such as vegetables and slices of apple will keep them and their tastebuds stimulated, though.
Do gerbils drink water?
Although gerbils drink hardly any fresh water in the wild, and very little in captivity, getting most of the water they need from their diet, they should always have access to water. A fresh supply is as essential as fresh food. Elderly, pregnant or nursing gerbils need plenty. Use a water bottle, as gerbils tend to bury their water bowls!
What is the best food for gerbils?
For a good staple food, most gerbil owners will choose between: lab blocks or pellet food. commercial or homemade seed mixes.
What supplements are good for gerbils?
Other vitamins and minerals aren’t nutritional but help to keep your gerbils healthy. Vitamin and mineral supplements are available in different forms, such as powder, but are in most cases, already available in sufficient amounts in the special gerbil mixes.
What percentage of gerbils need protein?
A balanced gerbil diet should contain: protein: a percentage between 12 and 16 percent is required for gerbils.
What do Mongolian gerbils eat?
Mongolian gerbils, the most common pet gerbil, are no exception. Gerbils feed on the seeds of grasses, roots, bulbs, and leaves in the wild. In captivity, a high-quality and well-balanced gerbil mix should be given. Occasionally treats such as sunflower seeds, fruit, and vegetables can be given.
How much water should I give my gerbils?
But in captivity, it’s advised to give your gerbils access to fresh water at all times. A single gerbil will drink up to 150 ml per month (around 5 ml daily) depending on the age, temperature and exercise levels. You have two options to give water to your gerbils: a water bottle or a water dish.
How much protein should gerbils eat?
You need to consider that gerbils will need to be fed a main diet that is low in fiber content, contains between 12 and 16 percent protein, and between 6 and 9 percent fat. Older gerbils will need a diet with less protein and fat.
Where can I give gerbils snacks?
As I already mentioned, you can give healthy snacks to your gerbils found in nature or supermarkets. If you’re looking for ready-to-go snacks for your gerbils, I would recommend the following snacks:
