You can mix a simple homemade gerbil food from plain grains, a few seeds, and herbs, but it is hard to make it nutritionally complete. The safest approach is to use a store-bought gerbil mix as the base and add homemade extras on top.
Why Start with a Complete Food
Gerbils need balanced protein, fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Home mixes tend to drift toward fatty seeds that gerbils love, which can lead to weight gain. A commercial gerbil food is formulated to cover the basics, so treat your homemade mix as a boost rather than a replacement.
A Simple Homemade Add-In Mix
Combine small amounts of the following, plain and unsalted, and stir into the regular food:
- Rolled or whole oats
- Plain puffed rice or plain puffed wheat (no sugar coating)
- Millet and canary seed
- A few pumpkin seeds (sunflower seeds only sparingly, as they are high in fat)
- Dried dandelion leaf, chamomile, or other gerbil-safe dried herbs
- A few dried mealworms for protein
Keep the mix dry and store it in an airtight container in a cool place. Mix only as much as you will use in a few weeks.
Fresh Extras
Add thumbnail-sized pieces of carrot, cucumber, or broccoli a couple of times a week and remove leftovers the same day. Plain wholemeal bread or a little plain cooked egg is fine as an occasional treat.
What to Leave Out
- Sugary cereal, candy, chocolate, and anything salted or seasoned
- Sticky foods such as peanut butter
- Citrus, onion, garlic, avocado, and raw potato
- Large amounts of dried fruit, which is very sugary
How Much to Feed
About one tablespoon of dry mix per gerbil per day is a common starting point. Adjust if your gerbil gains or loses weight, and change foods gradually over a week to avoid stomach upset.
Bottom Line
A homemade mix works best as an add-on to a quality commercial food, not as the whole diet. Keep it plain, low in sugar and fat, and introduce changes slowly. If you notice weight changes or loose stools, check in with your vet.
General information only, not veterinary advice.
See also: What Can I Feed Gerbils?, Best Gerbil Food, and Tiny Friends Farm Gerbil Food Review.
