Feeding quetion

[Vixen]

I got a bag of Gerri Gerbil, it says it has, 17% protein, 6% oils, 5% fibre, 5% ash and 12% moisture.

Although I know these's foods are made to be complete, I wondered if I needed to supplement anything, I know that high animal protein is very inportant for ferrets, is there anything thats very inportant for gerbils.

[doomgerbiluk]

Gerri is pretty good.
A small quantity if fresh fruit and veg once a week is good (wet foods should not be given more often).
Pregnant, nursing and growing gerbils need higher protein, dry catfood is ideal.

[ashgerbil]

i always have a little mineral stone in the tank too, which helps keep their teeth in good condition and gives them extra vitamins ;D

[maxthegerbil]

Hi doomgerbiluk. I just came across this post and though I would join the conversation on Gerri Gerbil food! I too feed this is as my base mix (can be pricey at £1.70p for a 1kg bag) and wondered how much everyone feeds on a daily basis?

I tend to put two teaspoonfulls of Gerri into a shallow dish, making sure there are two or three of each biscuit in each dish (I have two tanks with two gerbils in each). I then add a small amount of dry porridge oats, a few pumpkin seeds, a few sunflower seeds and a small handful of Kallo puffed rice to each dish.

I occassionally add a few raisins and a broken up small piece of dried banana on top! So very spoiled gerbils!

Does this sound okay to you? Or do you think I should just feed the Gerri on it`s own daily and add the extras on top just a few times a week? I like to give a good variety to my boys and sometimes add in some Burgess hamster mix aswell, but not always.

Thanks in advance. Hope I`m not spoiling them too much! They are exactly 10 months old by the way.

[doomgerbiluk]

At 10 months they are adults and that diet may be alittle too fatty so reduce the sunflower and pumpkin seeds to once or twice a week yes.
Make sure the dried banana does not have added sugar or a honey coating.
Otherwise it looks fine to me.
I no longer buy Gerri but now buy rasberry hamster which my gerbs love or country mix (ditto).
but I still feel Gerri is best tbh
Try and find a supplier who can sell it by the sack and you greatly reduce your costs btw.

[maxthegerbil]

Hi. Thanks for replying doomgerbil. That`s great. I will indeed reduce the sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Three of my boys are well bodied gerbils, while Dibble has always been thin and wirey! I call him `The Squirrel` because if he had a bushy tail, he`s the same colour as a grey squirrel and just as cheeky! An adoreable little character.

I do have a good pet food supplier and I`m sure he would be able to get me a larger sack of Gerri Gerbil if I ordered it and it may well work out cheaper as you say, so I`ll definately look into that.

Thanks again for the advice.

[Ritzie/Admin]

Gerri Gerbil is indeed a very good gerbil food. I use is also frequently.