The best DIY gerbil treats are simple: a few seeds, plain oats, small bits of safe vegetables and an occasional piece of fruit. Treats should stay under about 10 percent of your gerbil’s diet, with a good gerbil seed mix or lab block as the daily base.
Safe Homemade Treat Ideas
- Sunflower or pumpkin seeds: two or three at a time. They are fatty, so keep them rare.
- Plain rolled oats or uncooked whole-grain cereal with no added sugar
- Small bits of vegetables: carrot, cucumber, broccoli, sweet potato or kale, no bigger than a pea
- Tiny pieces of fruit: apple without seeds or a little banana, once or twice a week
- Dried mealworms: one or two as a protein treat
- Plain, cooked whole-wheat pasta or a pinch of plain cooked brown rice
Easy Oat and Banana Bites
- Mash a small piece of ripe banana (about a tablespoon).
- Stir in 2 tablespoons of plain rolled oats and a few chopped pumpkin seeds.
- Roll into pea-sized balls on a baking tray.
- Bake at 250 F (120 C) for about 20 minutes, until firm and dry. Let cool completely.
Store in the fridge and use within a few days. Don’t add sugar, salt, honey or butter.
Chew Treats
Gerbils need to gnaw. Give untreated apple wood sticks, plain cardboard tubes, or a handful of timothy hay. These help keep teeth worn down and keep your gerbil busy.
Foods to Avoid
- Chocolate, candy and sugary cereals
- Onion, garlic, rhubarb and raw potato
- Avocado, citrus and grapes or raisins
- Sticky foods such as peanut butter, which can cause choking
- Salty or fried snacks
Hand-Feeding Tips
Offering treats from your hand helps a shy gerbil learn to trust you. Sit quietly, hold the treat still, and let the gerbil come to you. Never grab. Be patient, and wash your hands first.
Bottom Line
Keep DIY gerbil treats plain, small and occasional. Use seeds sparingly, add tiny veggie and fruit pieces, offer gnawing treats, and skip anything sweet, salty, sticky or on the avoid list. If your gerbil seems ill after a new food, call an exotic-pet vet.
Related reading: a homemade gerbil food recipe, the Mongolian gerbil diet and top 3 DIY gerbil food recipes.
