Can gerbils have sunflower seeds?

In moderation, yes, but sunflower seeds are high in fat and very appealing, so gerbils will often pick them out of a mix and ignore the rest. It is worth checking the whole mix is being eaten rather than just the sunflower seeds.

What vegetables can gerbils eat?

Small pieces of carrot, broccoli, cucumber or apple a few times a week are a good addition to a gerbil's diet. Offer amounts a gerbil can finish in one go, and introduce anything new gradually.

How often should gerbils be fed fresh food?

A few times a week is plenty alongside their everyday mix. Fresh food is a useful addition to a gerbil's diet rather than a daily staple, and too much too suddenly can upset digestion.

Do gerbils need something to chew?

Yes, gerbils' teeth grow continuously, so a wooden chew or hard treat gives them something appropriate to gnaw on alongside their normal food. This helps keep teeth at a manageable length.

Why has my gerbil stopped eating?

A gerbil that goes off its food or seems unusually quiet should be seen by a vet, since small rodents can deteriorate quickly. It is worth checking the water bottle is working properly too, as gerbils can go downhill fast without water.

What do gerbils eat?

Gerbils are easy to feed well once you know the basics: a commercial gerbil or small-rodent mix as the everyday food, small amounts of fresh vegetables a few times a week, and something to gnaw on to keep their constantly growing teeth in check. Overfeeding fatty seeds and treats is the most common way this simple diet goes wrong.

A good everyday mix

A commercial gerbil mix, or a mix formulated for mice and gerbils together, gives a good spread of seeds, grains and pellets suited to a gerbil's needs. Most gerbils will pick out their favourite bits first if given the chance, so it is worth checking that the whole mix gets eaten over a few days rather than just the sunflower seeds and nuts.

Sunflower seeds in particular are high in fat and very appealing to gerbils, which makes them easy to overfeed. A mix that is unusually heavy in sunflower seed, or a gerbil that is clearly picking them out and leaving the rest, is worth addressing by offering a smaller amount or switching to a more balanced mix.

Fresh food and treats

Small pieces of carrot, broccoli, cucumber or apple make a good addition a few times a week, offered in small amounts a gerbil can finish in a sitting so nothing is left to rot in the bedding. Fresh food should always be introduced gradually if it is new to a gerbil, since a sudden change can upset digestion.

Occasional treats such as a small piece of plain cooked egg or a mealworm can be given, and most gerbils enjoy the variety, but these should stay occasional rather than a regular part of meals. A wooden chew or hard treat also gives a gerbil something to gnaw that is not simply food.

Water and getting the basics right

Fresh water should be available at all times, usually from a bottle attached to the cage, and checked daily to make sure it has not become blocked or empty. Gerbils are naturally efficient with water and do not drink a great deal, but that makes it easy to miss a bottle that has stopped working.

A gerbil that stops eating, loses weight, or seems unusually quiet is worth a vet check, since small rodents can decline quickly once something is wrong. Keeping food fresh and the cage clean also helps avoid the digestive upsets that a gerbil's small system is prone to.

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Common questions

Can gerbils have sunflower seeds?: In moderation, yes, but sunflower seeds are high in fat and very appealing, so gerbils will often pick them out of a mix and ignore the rest. It is worth checking the whole mix is being eaten rather than just the sunflower seeds.
What vegetables can gerbils eat?: Small pieces of carrot, broccoli, cucumber or apple a few times a week are a good addition to a gerbil's diet. Offer amounts a gerbil can finish in one go, and introduce anything new gradually.
How often should gerbils be fed fresh food?: A few times a week is plenty alongside their everyday mix. Fresh food is a useful addition to a gerbil's diet rather than a daily staple, and too much too suddenly can upset digestion.
Do gerbils need something to chew?: Yes, gerbils' teeth grow continuously, so a wooden chew or hard treat gives them something appropriate to gnaw on alongside their normal food. This helps keep teeth at a manageable length.
Why has my gerbil stopped eating?: A gerbil that goes off its food or seems unusually quiet should be seen by a vet, since small rodents can deteriorate quickly. It is worth checking the water bottle is working properly too, as gerbils can go downhill fast without water.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

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.