gerbils' favourite fruit/vegetable?

[queenofthenile]

What are your gerbils' favourite fruits and vegetables. Mine absolutely *love* peaches and nectarines. These are the only fruit that all of them will eat. Another favourite is blueberries.

What about your gerbils?

[gerbilicious]

I haven't exposed my gerbils to any fruits or vegetables quite yet...but I have been meaning to for a while.

[Ritzie/Admin]

My gerbil sometimes eat apple, cumcumber and (dried) banana! And they like leaves of the Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) from the garden.

[sweetie]

My 2 of my gerbils (males) love broccoli and carrots. They all like apples and corn on the cob dried an out of our garden!!

I never thought to try bananna's. Dried or fresh?

[queenofthenile]

I used the fresh bananas. My gerbils seem to like the fruits much better than the vegetables.

[sweetie]

I have been concerned about giving them fruit as the water content is higher with fruits than with some vegitables. One of my gerbils, Cowboy, loves veggies and fruit but the next day tends to have loose BM's (bowl movements). I really need to watch him and Bubba the other male since they will gorge themselves on the fresh foods!!

I will try fruits other than apples. The info I got through the books and stores suggest carrots, apples, or broccoli. I think the little ones will benefit from the change in diet.

Have you ever tried yogurt? They don't like the seed treats or puffs I get them from the stores. I am tired of wasting money.
Like my cat with his toys. he never plays with the things I buy. He prefers milk tops and pen caps.

[andrea]

ours like pine nuts .. they also lover Tiger watermelon although i wouldn't advise giving it too often.

ours like grapes..


The cheesmans will not eat anything that is not gerri gerbil . fussy buggers .. I keep all the food in big tupperware boxes and the cheesmans will still know if its not gerri gerbil, which is a pain when gerri gerbil is the hardest food to obtain..

[queenofthenile]

sweetie - I only give them the tiniest little slices - about 1 cm X 1 cm X 5 mm. I haven't seen any problems with that.

[j]

Those nasty tomatoes that come in salads..



Corn on the cobb.. ;D


carrots they pick at..don't really care about.
They love the vines from grapes.
Raw spinach they'll eat.
Never tried anything else.

[gerbilicious]

Today I finally gave my gerbils fruit! I gave them each a small blueberry. I think they ate them. Yippee!

[sweetie]

Never though about blueberries!! I think I'll give it a try today.
How many times a week should we feed them fresh stuff (fruits/veggies)?

The other day when I let them out, I put a small lid on the floor with some plain yogurt. They loved it!!

[queenofthenile]

I think once every two days is fine. Always keep the portions small (the size of a blueberry or smaller) and you shouldn't have problems. Watch your gerbils' stool to make sure it hasn't gotten too soft with the addition of fruit. If it is a bit watery, just cut back until you find a workable amount.

[floppy]

I have seen it recommended on most sites to only give them a small portion of fresh fruit/veg once or twice a week. This will prevent 'loose' bowel movements.

[sweetie]

Thanks. It seems that Cowboy's stoole is loose many times after fresh food. I also think that he tends to hoard!! It is hard to try to control portions with these guys. Any suggestions?

[queenofthenile]

I usually just hand feed them. That way, each gerbil gets a slice.