Feed your gerbil a complete gerbil food (a quality seed mix, pellet or lab block) as the daily base, then add hay, a few small pieces of fresh vegetable, and the occasional protein treat. Fresh water should always be available.
The daily base: mix, pellet or block
A gerbil-specific seed mix or pellet should make up most of the diet. A common starting point is about a tablespoon of dry food per gerbil per day, then adjust based on how much is left uneaten. Gerbils hoard, so check their food stores in the tunnels or hides once a week and cut back if the stash is piling up.
Seed mixes let gerbils forage, but they tend to pick out the fatty seeds and leave the healthy pieces. Pellets and lab blocks are less exciting but more balanced because every bite is the same. Many owners use a pellet base with a small scoop of seed mix on top. See our guide to the best gerbil food for how the options compare.
Hay, water and chewing
Offer a handful of clean timothy or meadow hay for fiber and nesting. Provide water in a sipper bottle and check the spout daily. Gerbils also need things to gnaw, such as untreated apple or willow sticks and plain cardboard tubes, to keep their teeth worn down.
Fresh foods and treats
Fresh vegetables are a small extra, not a meal. Try a piece of carrot, cucumber, broccoli or leafy greens two or three times a week, and remove leftovers after a few hours so they do not spoil. Our list of vegetables for gerbils covers the safe choices.
- Protein treats: a dried mealworm or a bit of plain cooked egg once or twice a week (see mealworms for gerbils).
- Seeds: a sunflower seed or two as a treat, since they are high in fat.
- Fruit: a tiny piece now and then; it is high in sugar.
More ideas are in our gerbil treats post.
Foods to avoid
- Chocolate, candy and sugary yogurt drops
- Onion, garlic, raw potato and rhubarb
- Avocado and apple seeds
- Sticky foods such as peanut butter, which can cause choking
- Dyed or honey-coated “treat sticks” and salted snacks
When in doubt, check before feeding. Our safe foods for gerbils page is a quick reference.
Changing foods
Switch foods slowly over a week by mixing a little of the new food into the old. A sudden change can upset a gerbil’s stomach.
Bottom Line
A balanced gerbil mix or pellet, hay, fresh water and a few vegetables keep a gerbil healthy. Treats should stay small and occasional.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your gerbil stops eating, has loose droppings or loses weight, contact an exotic-pet vet.
