What do gerbils eat?
In their natural habitat gerbils eat a selection of wind blown seeds, grain and grasses. Gerbils are often mistaken as herbivores, but they are omnivores and do need a small amount of protein in their diet to keep them healthy. In the wild they would satisfy this need by eating grubs and insects. They also have continuously-growing teeth so they need to gnaw to help wear them down. What to feed your gerbil? Gerbils need feeding every day. A good quality, heavy, earthenware food bowl is essential to keep the food dry and clean, and prevent the gerbil from tipping the food on to the floor of the cage. Their bowls must be cleaned after every use.
Gerri Gerbil is a complete diet specially formulated for gerbils. It is a mix of ingredients, including alfalfa, wheat, naked oats, carrots, peas with raisins and pumpkin seeds, as well as soy biscuits for a healthy, low fat source of protein. Gerri Gerbil does not contain any sunflower seeds because although gerbils love them, they are high in fat and should not be part of the main diet. However, the variety of ingredients included encourages foraging which is natural for gerbils and keeps them occupied and interested. Treats Treats are so called because thats just what they should be a treat. If fed correctly they are not detrimental to a gerbil and they will love to get them. However, treats are designed to be an extremely small element of the animals diet, and overfeeding may lead to health problems such as obesity, dental problems and heart disease. Specially prepared Treats will provide a tasty surprise for your pet. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and peanuts are favorites of most gerbils, though they have individual preferences and too many sunflower seeds may result in illness. They also enjoy fruit peels such as orange and banana. In fact, gerbils will eat almost anything; dog biscuits and chews; rat food; rabbit food; guinea pig food; oats; various "special" treats from pet shops, which in fact were not appreciated nearly as much as some parsnip cores. Most weeds dubbed as safe for grazing animals like rabbits or guinea pigs can be eaten by gerbils as well. Pet gerbils will especially enjoy live crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts as food, tearing the insect apart and eating the juicy insides. It is good for you to feed your gerbil vegetables such as celery or carrots or an apple. A variation in diet is good for everyone, gerbil or human. Changing your gerbils diet If you are not currently feeding Gerri Gerbil food would like to try it, you must introduce it gradually into your gerbils diet. Mix about one quarter of the new food with three quarters of the old food on the first day and then gradually increase the new food and decrease the old food over a 10-day period. This should make sure that your gerbil has no tummy upsets. You should try to ensure that your gerbil eats all his food from a very young age by calculating the correct daily requirement and dividing it into two meals, one fed in the morning and one in the evening. However, if you notice that your gerbil tends to leave some of the ingredients in coarse mixes, reduce the amount you give him until he is eating all of it. Then slowly increase the amount again to the recommended daily allowance. |
