Feeding Your Gerbils

There are a lot of small animal food mixes on the market. Most seed mixes meant for hamsters and/or gerbils are usually appropriate. Gerbils require a mix that contains a variety of small and large seeds, compressed food pellets, a high protein content, and a low fat content.

As with any small pet, their diet can be supplemented with fresh foods. An important thing to remember when feeding your gerbil perishable fresh foods is to remove any uneaten bits to prevent rot.

Pinky and Lemmiwinks enjoy some treats.

Here is a list of a listing of acceptable foodstuffs:

Fruits and veggies. However, ones that contain too much water (such as cucumber, watermelon, lettuce leaves or citrus fruits) can give them diarrhea.

Unsweetened grain cereals such as Cheerios, Chex or Rice Crispies.

Sunflower seeds and peanuts. These make excellent treats (and are also useful in luring a gerbil to your hand to be picked up). They are high in fat, so don't give them too often.

Pumpkin seeds are a good alternative to the fatty sunflower seeds and peanuts.

Fresh dandelion leaves and clovers are also suitable treats.

Live insects. Gerbils are omnivores, so they can safely digest these protein-rich treats. Meal worms are available in most pet stores, and you can also feed them live grasshoppers, moths or crickets that you catch in your back yard.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws