Can gerbils eat rabbit or guinea pig food?

It is better to use a mix formulated specifically for gerbils. Rabbits and guinea pigs are herbivores with different nutritional needs to the omnivorous gerbil, so a mix built for them will not be properly balanced for a gerbil's diet.

How often should gerbils be fed?

A small daily amount of complete mix is the usual approach, adjusted to what your gerbil actually eats rather than a fixed measure, since gerbils vary in size and activity level. If you are unsure how much is right for your gerbils, your vet or an exotic pet specialist can advise.

Why is my gerbil hiding its food?

Hoarding is completely normal gerbil behaviour rooted in their wild burrowing instincts, not a sign of a problem. Check their bedding occasionally for stashed food rather than assuming an empty bowl means they are hungry.

Can gerbils eat fruit?

A very small piece occasionally is fine for most gerbils, but fruit is higher in sugar than their usual diet and should stay an occasional extra rather than a regular addition. The complete mix should remain the main part of what they eat.

Gerbil food

A gerbil's diet is built around a complete dry mix formulated for small omnivores, topped up with a little hay and the occasional small piece of fresh vegetable — the range below covers the complete mixes, along with the bedding and accessories a gerbil's setup needs alongside its food.

What a complete mix should cover

A complete gerbil mix is formulated to cover the balance of protein, fibre and fat a gerbil needs without you having to work it out ingredient by ingredient. Look for one specifically labelled for gerbils or small omnivores rather than a generic small-animal mix, since gerbils have a somewhat different balance of needs to a rabbit or guinea pig, which are herbivores rather than omnivores.

Muesli-style mixes with visible seeds, grains and pellets are common, and most gerbils will happily eat the mix as intended rather than picking out favourite pieces and leaving the rest, though it is worth watching for selective eating if you notice certain bits building up in the bowl.

What to add alongside the mix

A small amount of hay gives gerbils something to forage through and chew, which suits their natural digging and burrowing behaviour as much as it supports their digestion. It does not need to make up the bulk of the diet the way it does for a rabbit, but it is a worthwhile addition to a gerbil's daily routine.

Small pieces of fresh vegetable can be offered occasionally as a treat and enrichment, but should stay a small part of the diet rather than a regular substitute for the complete mix, which is formulated to be nutritionally complete on its own.

Feeding and storage tips

Gerbils are natural hoarders and will often stash food around their cage rather than eating everything straight away, so do not assume an empty-looking bowl means they need more — checking their bedding for hidden stashes gives a truer picture of how much they are actually getting through.

Store dry mix in a sealed container away from damp, and check it periodically for any sign of mould or pests, particularly if you buy in larger bags. A fresh, dry mix keeps its nutritional value far better than one left open to the air.

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Common questions

Can gerbils eat rabbit or guinea pig food?: It is better to use a mix formulated specifically for gerbils. Rabbits and guinea pigs are herbivores with different nutritional needs to the omnivorous gerbil, so a mix built for them will not be properly balanced for a gerbil's diet.
How often should gerbils be fed?: A small daily amount of complete mix is the usual approach, adjusted to what your gerbil actually eats rather than a fixed measure, since gerbils vary in size and activity level. If you are unsure how much is right for your gerbils, your vet or an exotic pet specialist can advise.
Why is my gerbil hiding its food?: Hoarding is completely normal gerbil behaviour rooted in their wild burrowing instincts, not a sign of a problem. Check their bedding occasionally for stashed food rather than assuming an empty bowl means they are hungry.
Can gerbils eat fruit?: A very small piece occasionally is fine for most gerbils, but fruit is higher in sugar than their usual diet and should stay an occasional extra rather than a regular addition. The complete mix should remain the main part of what they eat.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.