Gerbils are one of the famous animals that are being adopted by many. The probable owner should have adequate information regarding the necessary grooming and well-being of the creature. That is how the owner would be able to keep the creature in good health.
Contents
10 Best Gerbil Foods
Now we are suggesting a few foods that would be best suitable for the gerbil.
1. Kaytee Forti-Diet pro health mouse, rat, and hamster food
The name may sound confusing but this food would be appropriate for your pet gerbil. It comes without any synthetic flavor and only natural essence. This food is nutritionally balanced and the gerbils which eat selectively should be given this food. As per the vets, this food will solve the problem of selective eating and thus will make the pet healthy and nourished.
The food does not contain any preservatives. It is naturally preserved and thus, your pet gerbil would not suffer from sickness by consuming any artificial preservatives. Not only essential nutrients but also this food contains probiotics and prebiotics, so the overall immunity system stays intact. The pet does not fall sick and the gut health also remains in good condition. The taste of the food is quite liked by most pets, and thus you do not have to worry about the unfinished food.
Pros:
- Healthy for pets
- Tastes good
- No preservative
- No additional flavor
Cons:
- Chunks are larger than pellets
2. Wild Harvest Nutrition diet and advanced nutrition diet for Hamsters and Gerbils
The food comes in a flip-top container which means you do not have to worry about keeping the food fresh. The container is easy to handle and you can daily take food from there without spoiling it for long. The food comes in a great combination of nutrients and the taste of this one is too tasty for the gerbils to refuse. The food will offer them the feeling of a natural diet and they would be rather lively and active while you will give them this food.
The packet of the food contains all the necessary information regarding the ingredients of the food, and thus you can trust this brand for offering you just the right kind of food. This one is quite moderately priced in comparison to other gerbil foods.
Also, it does not get spoiled for a long time and it will keep your gerbil healthy and hearty for the rest of its life. If your pet gerbil is picky and fussy about the diet, then you can offer this food to it, and hopefully, the taste will be liked by the pet.
Pros:
- Naturally preserved
- Comes in container
- Yummy taste
Cons:
- Contains soybean meal, so some gerbils may get an allergy
3. Oxbow Essentials hamster food and gerbil food
This food contains all the necessary nutrients to keep the gerbil healthy and lively. There are antioxidants and prebiotics present in this food which will keep the gerbil immune to allergies and various other diseases. Its overall health will remain perfect.
This is a fortified food that ensures that the gerbil would have the best combination of nutrients from it. As gerbils are picky eaters, they can have the best health benefits from this food as this is a whole yummy, and tasty food which does not contain any synthetic or additive elements.
This food can be given to gerbils of any age and health condition. According to vets, you can provide this food to your young, senior, or even pregnant gerbils. This food does not contain peanuts so the gerbils which are allergenic to nuts can safely have it.
The protein quotient of this food is just perfect as it will not lead to excess protein consumption and thus the body weight will remain in check. However, do not offer too much food to the gerbil as that will not help the gerbil to become fit
Pros:
- Healthy and nutritious
- Contains no additives
- Contains antioxidants and prebiotics
Cons:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables should be given with this food
4. Sun Seed Vita Prima Hamster and Gerbil food
This food is fortified with essential vitamins like A, D, and E. The formula does not contain any artificial color or flavor. Thus you can be assured that your gerbil would not consume any artificial or chemical ingredients while having this food.
The food encourages the gerbil to continue with their natural foraging habit. Thus it will live a healthy life while getting engaged in such natural activities. The company claims to make the food with nutrient-rich grains and there are multiple grains to balance the blend.
The texture of the food is crunchy which helps the gerbils to keep their teeth in shape. They also greatly enjoy the crunchiness of this food. The gerbil owners claim that this food offers all the natural goodness of the necessary items that the gerbil should eat.
The gerbils which have picky and fussy eating habits like to eat this food, so you can trust this food to be tasty and quite tempting for the pets. Some owners prefer to add some mealworms to this food so the food stays well-balanced in terms of protein, fat, and vitamins.
Pros:
- Tasty
- The right combination of all the natural foods
- Loved by the gerbils
Cons:
- The seeds and nuts are picked by the gerbils from the mix
5. Higgins 2-pack Sunburst Gourmet Hamster & Gerbil food
This food is designed to keep the gerbil healthy in all seasons and in all ages. This food contains a mix of all the necessary fruits and seeds along with grains and nuts. Even legumes are added to this food so the protein intake of the gerbil does stay intact. The owners of the picky gerbils suggest that this food will surely be liked by your pet. It is tasty and smells natural so the pet cannot resist this food.
Some owners prefer to add some rodent food to keep the nutritional balance intact. But even if you only feed this food to your gerbil along with some occasional fruits and vegetables then also it would be quite healthy for the pets. It will keep the immunity system intact and there would be less sickness in your pet gerbil.
The food amount should be decided by the vet, but your pet would not suffer from obesity even if you provide them with this food for months. The food does not contain any ingredient which may contain allergy or toxicity to your pet gerbil.
Pros:
- Healthy mix
- Contains all nutrients
- Tasty
Cons:
- Some gerbils leave the millet seeds out
6. Kaytee Fiesta Hamster Gerbil food
Yes, we are repeating this brand in our list, due to the various choices of food that it offers for your pets. This one is rather different than the one mentioned earlier in this guide. These ones come in pellet form and thus, these are easy to offer to the pet gerbil.
Also, you can control the quality as the portions would be a few pellets at a time. This is a rather new addition to the list of products from this well-known brand. But this one is getting rather popular due to its nutrient content and balanced diet.
You can give this food to your obese gerbil as you will be able to control the amount and give only a few pellets for a day’s meal. Vets have approved of this food as it contains necessary nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
Gerbils need regular amounts of such nutrients to live healthily and thus, offering them the vitamins in limited amounts through their meal is required. When you will give these pellets to your pet, you do not have to provide it with any extra supplement. This food will cover the nutritional need of your pet gerbil.
Pros:
- Wholesome food
- Contains nutrients
- Comes in pellet form
Cons:
- Not always available online
7. Supreme Tiny Friends Farm Hazel Hamster Tasty Mix
The name suggests that this is a hamster food but it has been tried and tested on many gerbils and this is quite safe and nutritious food for them as well. The food comes in seed form and thus, your gerbil would love to nibble on these seed mixes.
This mix has been created by keeping the nutrition quotient intact. There is no added sugar or additives so the natural taste of the food is maintained. Also it will not allow the gerbils to have any artificial sweetener or color while having this food.
Vitamins are added to this food to keep it healthy and proportionally nutritious. If your gerbil is suffering from any nourishment-related problem or vitamin deficiency then this food will be the right thing to feed your pet. This food is also suitable for all life stages, thus you can give it to the pet gerbils even if it is a baby, senior, or in under any medical condition.
Pros:
- Contains nutrients
- Contains vitamins
- No added sugar
Cons:
- Some gerbils can leave some seeds out
8. Vitakraft Mini Slims with carrot Hamster and small animal nibble stick treat
As the name suggests, this one is not actually a meal but it can be given to the pets when they are in need of a treat. The food though is mentioned to be given to the hamsters; you can safely give it to the gerbils as their nutritional requirement would be fulfilled by it. Carrot is counted as a healthy vegetable for gerbils and this one is suitable for them too.
These sticks are highly nutritious and would be sufficient to provide some enjoyment when the gerbils need something to munch on. There is no added preservative, flavor, or color in this snack so it will not cause them any harm. This is a delicious snack and can be given to gerbils of all ages.
Pros:
- Contains carrot
- No preservatives
- No added flavor
Cons:
- Giving too much can cause diarrhea
9. Oxbow animal health organic meadow hay
This is a dry form of munching hay for the gerbils. It can be given to them as snacking item. They would like something to chew on and thus, you can keep some amount of this hay inside the cage of your pet gerbil. This hay is grown organically on the farm. It does not contain any chemicals or pesticides. The packaged hay is hand sorted and packed so you will get only premium-quality hay for your pet gerbil.
Hay is high in fiber and it does not contain many calories, nor does it contain sugar or fat. So your gerbil will not gain weight when it will have this hay. Also, there would not be much chance of weight gain after you start giving this snack to your pet.
Pros:
- All-natural products
- Organically grown
- Hand-sorted and packed
Cons:
- Too much fiber can cause stomach problems
10. Vitakraft Crunch Sticks Hamster treat
These are flavored crunch sticks that will be loved by your gerbil at any time. These sticks come with the flavor of apple and honey, which sounds as well as tastes delicious. These ones are made in the healthiest way so there is no chance that gerbil would fall sick after eating them.
The treatment will last longer and you can just give them one and the gerbil will continue to chew it for a long time. So that way it is a pocket-friendly treat. You do not have to buy the item frequently. This one is available online so you can order it anytime you need it.
Most of the gerbil owners are satisfied with this treat and they claim that their pets remain busy for long hours with this treat. This treat also helps the teeth growth of the gerbils which is random and continuous among the gerbils. The stick will also keep a check on the dental health of your pet and it will not perish the teeth as it does not contain artificial sweetener. After the food, part is finished the gerbils the stick as a toy and they keep playing with it.
Pros:
- Delicious apple and honey flavor
- Good for teeth
- Pocket friendly
Cons:
- Do not overfeed
FAQs
What should be the diet for gerbils?
As gerbils are omnivore creatures, they can have greens, vegetables, fruits, and insects. They are mostly given the commercially available pellets as those ones contain the perfect combination of nutrients that is necessary for your pets.
Apart from giving them food to satiate their hunger, you should also give them something to chew, as gerbils prefer to be busy all the time. They would stay active and that is why they need some munchies during the whole wake hours.
The owners who choose to give their gerbils commercial food should make sure that the brand they choose, should have the required amount of protein, preferably 14%, and fat around 6% to 8%. Gerbils gain weight when they are overfed and thus, their food should contain a limited amount of fat. If their food does not contain the required amount of protein then you need to give it an additional supplement which is not a healthy option for the pets.
Seed mixes are often given to gerbils as snacking options or for munching. But seeds like the sunflower contain a high amount of fat and feeding that regularly would be severe for the body weight of your gerbil. When you give the seed mix to your gerbil, choose options like pumpkin seeds, which are low in fat content. Thus you will be able to control the fat consumption of your pet.
Are commercial diets good for gerbils?
Not all commercial diet options are safe for pet gerbils. You need to check the ingredients list and then you need to check the food with the vet. Taking the vet’s suggestion for choosing commercial food and supplement is the best thing to maintain a healthy diet for your pet.
There are some commercial supplements available for pet gerbils that can be given sparingly. Along with that, you should also check the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Too much fruit may make its tummy full and then it would not be able to eat other much necessary food.
Thus its health will be compromised. Also, the sugar content of the fruits will make them obese. It can get diabetic due to the sugar present in the fruit. The high fiber also can make the gerbil sick as its stomach will be upset.
What kind of food is suitable for the gerbils?
Gerbils love variety in their diet, so you should provide them with different kinds of food. Offering them only commercial food is not great as they would not like to have similar kinds of food every day. Provide them with some amount of fruits or vegetables.
While talking about vegetables, you cannot offer any and every vegetable to your pet. Stick to safe ones like cucumber, pumpkin, or carrot. Fennel is also sometimes offered to the gerbils by their owners. These ones are usually tested and trusted vegetables for pet gerbils.
Coming to fruits, there are a few safe options like apples, pears, oranges, and melons. These fruits must be cut into small pieces before giving to the pets. The serving of the fruit and vegetable should be decided by the vet, as the size, age, and the type of health the gerbil should be a concern with while giving them these items.
What kind of treats can you give to your gerbil?
Other than a regular meal, gerbils also need some amount of treats. They are quite energetic in nature and need to stay busy while they are awake. Thus offering them something to munch on is a serious duty of the owners. They would also love the fun part of having the treat from your hand, as that will also build the bond between you and your pet.
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seed mix are all the items that one owner gives to his or her gerbil as snacks or treats. Try to give them some crunchy food that will keep their ever-growing teeth in control and shape.
When it comes to giving fruits as their treats, they are allowed to have one teaspoon of vegetables or fruit only twice a week. The more fruit or vegetable you would give to your pet, the less space would remain in their tummy to have the actual and main meal. Thus their nutrition will remain incomplete.
Some owners prefer to give unsweetened cereals to their pet gerbils as treats or snacks. The whole-meal bread pieces are also good options for snacking. But remember that these snacks or treats can lead to unnecessary weight gain for your pet. This will not be a suitable thing and you need to keep that weight in check.
Can you give a banana to your gerbil?
Banana is such a tasty fruit that any pet would love to have a piece of it. You can give bananas to gerbils, while the amount will be moderate. You can provide the green under-ripe one or the ripe yellow one to the pet. Banana is full of necessary nutrients which will keep the brain health of your pet in good condition. Along with that, you should see how your pet becomes energetic when you give it some banana pieces as a snack.
The weak and underweight gerbils can be given bananas to boost their energy level. This fruit is also great in providing good fat and maintaining the protein level. Do not give too much banana as this sweet fruit will increase the sugar level in the pet’s body.
Can you give broccoli to your pet gerbil?
As we have mentioned, gerbils need variations in their diet. Thus other than offering the above-mentioned vegetables you should also try some different ones like broccoli. It contains a lot of nutrients like vitamin K, protein, calcium, potassium, fiber, and magnesium.
These nutrients enrich the gerbil’s brain and also overall health is protected. The good amount of protein present in broccoli is just great for pets. gerbils need a high amount of protein and broccoli provides that right.
