Children learning how to care for pets will find these adorable, social and funny rodents a great companion. To ensure a happy, long-lived, healthy life, it is important to provide your Gerbil the right nutrition.
Different Options to Feed Your Pet Gerbil
Seed mixes: These are loosely mixed mixtures of seeds with some dried fruits or vegetables added. These will most likely be nutritionally balanced, but only if your pet eats all of the ingredients. Many gerbils will choose their favorites and leave the rest in their bowl. This can cause a nutritional imbalance, especially if they are not accustomed to certain ingredients. This is especially true if the mixture contains large quantities of sunflower seeds. These are favored foods by gerbils but can be very fatty and do not provide a balanced diet. Loose seed mixtures aren't ideal for gerbils as they don't provide a balanced diet. Gerbils can't eat all the contents.
Pellets and Lab Blocks: This gerbil diet has the advantage of being balanced nutritionally. Lab blocks are larger pieces of food that look like small biscuits, while pellets are small pellets. Although both are acceptable options, some believe lab blocks are better because of the scientific research that has been done. The gerbils cannot choose the components of their diet, unlike loose mixtures. Therefore, blocks and pellets provide a balanced diet for every bite. This type of food is not rich in variety or enrichment. For mental health, it is recommended to eat pellets and lab blocks.
What Is Gerbil Food Best?
A combination of foods can help pet gerbils overcome the limitations of various diets. Pellets or lab blocks can be used as the base diet for your pet gerbil. Other treats, such as loose seeds and other treats, will provide variety and interest. To reap the nutritional benefits of pellets and lab blocks, ensure your Gerbil is getting enough before you give them any seed mixtures or treats. You can train your pet gerbil by avoiding any mixtures that contain sunflower seed.
Treats for Gerbils
Many gerbils love fruits and vegetables. Start by offering small amounts of fresh vegetables or fruits to prevent diarrhea from eating too much at once. Make sure all vegetables and fruits are well washed and pesticide-free. You can try items such as carrots, broccoli, dandelion greens, apples, and berries. Avoid raw kidney beans, raw potato, onion, potato leaves, and rhubarb leaves.
Nuts can be offered but do so sparingly since they are high in fat.
Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds can be offered sparingly since they are high in fat.
Whole grain bread can be offered either plain or toasted.
Unsweetened breakfast cereal often becomes a favorite treat for gerbils.
Give them raisins and currants.
Serve them small bits of cheese.
Small amounts of egg, either scrambled or boiled, can be offered.
On occasion, try offering mealworms to your Gerbil.
Some gerbils enjoy chewing on small dog biscuits (without meat) to help keep their teeth filed (because, just like a hamster, their teeth are continuously growing).
How to Feed Your Gerbil
Our heavy ceramic crock is the best choice for feeding your gerbils. They can't chew or tip over. Place the lab blocks and pellet diet. If you like, add some seed mixture (about one teaspoon) to the dish. You are welcome to ask. Once you know how much your Gerbil eats, start feeding it. About the amount, they'll finish in 24hrs (but not too). Remove any food that is not used immediately and dispose of it before giving them back to you. It is dirty or damp. Set up a routine that your gerbils eat Each day at the same hour (the evening is a good option).
After a few minutes, place any treat items in a separate bowl. You could also keep the food fresh for hours if you don't want to spoil it. Alternatively, you can also feed Hand-feed your gerbils. This is a great method to gain your Gerbil's trust. These people provide training and enrichment.
Do Gerbils Need Fresh Water?
Because they are from Mongolia, where the climate is dry, gerbils do well. Not everyone needs to drink lots of water. However, you shouldn't drink too much water. It is important to think water is irrelevant. You must ensure that your Gerbil has water at all times. You can get fresh, clean water in a sipper container.