If you have a gerbil, you may wonder what you should feed it. Gerbils enjoy a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, wood, insects, and eggs. The first week of the diet change should include a quarter of the new diet, followed by three-quarters. Then you can gradually increase the variety of foods. Once the gerbils start to become accustomed to the new diet, you can switch to a full-time diet for your pet.
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Fruits
Bananas are great for gerbils, though they are not a natural food for them. Although a gerbil’s diet is mostly composed of carbohydrates, it is okay to give your gerbils bananas in moderation. Bananas also contain very little fat and are high in carbohydrates. Bananas should be limited to a treat, and you should always wash them before feeding them.
Another healthy snack for your gerbils are fresh fruit and vegetables. Gerbils can eat very small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables. They will even enjoy bits of cheese. Try giving your gerbils some fresh fruits and vegetables each day. If you have a gerbil friend, you can also give him treats when you handle them! But remember, don’t give him citrus fruits.
Strawberries are a great source of fiber, manganese, and carbohydrates. Even the leaves are edible for your gerbil. Just be sure to wash the leaves thoroughly before feeding them to your gerbil. While strawberries are healthy for gerbils, they should not be fed in large amounts to avoid choking risks. In addition to fruit, gerbils can also eat bananas.
Insects
If you want to feed your gerbil insect food, mealworms are the perfect choice. Mealworms, also known as Tenebrio, are the larvae of a black beetle. These tiny insects are dark brown or black in color and rarely fly. While mealworms are not considered harmful, they should not be the sole source of food for your gerbil. Mealworms will go through a transformation stage called “Pupae” in which they remain motionless. Only when they are disturbed will they move their tail. If you do decide to feed your gerbil mealworms, make sure to do so immediately.
As with most animals, gerbils do not mind eating plants. However, vegetables and fruits can pose a choking hazard. Always remove uneaten food from your gerbil’s cage. Gerbils can survive for up to two days without food if they have plenty of water. The good news is that gerbils are remarkably efficient at hoarding food. In fact, they can go a whole day without a meal, as long as they are not deprived of water.
Eggs
While gerbils can be fed whole eggs, they should not be given fried ones, as the fat content will cause them to become overweight. Gerbils can also enjoy hard-boiled eggs, but you shouldn’t give them fried ones as the yolk contains valuable nutrients. Gerbils need a variety of foods, so you should supplement their diet with pellets or a mix of fruits and vegetables.
Eggs have many benefits for gerbils. Eggs are high in fat and protein, which are essential for growing animals. The lack of carbohydrates and other nutrients in a diet can cause gerbils to put on weight. However, eggshells are not ideal for your gerbils. For this reason, you should only feed them small pieces of hard-boiled eggs twice a week. Otherwise, they will get bored of them and eventually become sour and vomit-like.
Wood
While wood is an excellent source of calcium and other nutrients, it’s also highly toxic for your gerbil. To ensure your gerbil’s safety, avoid giving him wood that has been treated with chemicals. Wood should be free of contaminants, and you should avoid giving him bark, leaves, or parts of trees that might contain toxic materials. Also, don’t give your gerbil any unidentified wood.
As mentioned before, gerbils enjoy chewing on wood and straw, which can also be offered as a meal. However, it’s not recommended to offer your gerbil human foods, because many of them are high in fat and sugar. However, unsugared cereals are fine. Wood is also a great source of calcium, so gerbils can thrive on these. They don’t need to eat a full meal every day, but they do need access to water.
