Gerbils do best on a good-quality gerbil seed and pellet mix as their daily staple, with a few small extras like fresh vegetables, hay and the occasional protein treat. Plenty of fresh water and a regular feeding routine round out a healthy diet.
The Daily Staple
A complete gerbil mix (or a mix of seeds and pellets made for gerbils) should make up most of what your gerbils eat. A common guideline is about one tablespoon of dry mix per gerbil per day, but check the package and adjust to your gerbils’ weight and activity. Gerbils like to hoard, so a bowl that looks empty may just have been carried off to the nest. Look for a mix with a variety of grains and seeds rather than mostly sunflower seeds and peanuts, which are high in fat.
If your gerbils pick out only their favorite seeds and leave the rest, try a pellet-based food, or mix pellets into the seed mix so they cannot sort as easily.
Fresh Foods and Extras
Fresh foods should be small treats, not the main meal. Offer a piece about the size of your thumbnail, a couple of times a week, and take away leftovers before they spoil.
- Vegetables: carrot, cucumber, broccoli, kale, and bits of bell pepper are common choices.
- Fruit (rarely): a small slice of apple (no seeds) or a piece of strawberry now and then, since fruit is sugary.
- Hay and herbs: good-quality hay is useful for chewing and nesting, and dried herbs such as dandelion leaf can be a nice extra.
- Protein treats: a dried mealworm or a small piece of plain cooked egg once in a while.
Introduce any new food slowly. Watery or sudden new foods can cause loose stools.
Foods to Avoid
- Chocolate, candy, and anything sugary or salty.
- Sticky foods such as peanut butter, which can get stuck in the cheeks.
- Citrus fruit, onion, garlic, and raw potato.
- Avocado and rhubarb.
- Breakfast cereal and processed human snacks.
When in doubt, leave it out, and ask your vet about any food you are unsure of.
Water and Feeding Routine
Gerbils come from dry regions and do not drink a lot, but they still need fresh water every day. A bottle with a metal sipper tube works well. Feed once a day at a regular time so you can spot changes in appetite early.
Bottom Line
Build the diet around a quality gerbil mix, add small portions of fresh vegetables and the occasional protein treat, and keep sugary and sticky foods out. If your gerbil stops eating, loses weight, or has loose stools that last more than a day, call your vet.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk to an exotics-savvy vet about your pet’s diet and any health concerns.
Related reading: Best Gerbil Food: Seed Mixes vs. Pellets, Homemade Gerbil Food Recipe, and Hamster and Gerbil Food: How to Choose.
