Do your gerbils eat split peas?

[Jess]

So one of the mixes I've been using for a while now has those hard, green split peas in it.

None of my gerbils are crazy about them but I have quite a few gerbils that do eat them, I've seen them eating them. 1 tank in particular picks everything else out of their dish and that's all that's left..they pretty much starve themselves rather than eat it. Seriously, they stalk me. Whenever they know I'm around, they hear the door open or the light go on..they're jumping up and down. I've tried ignoring them because it's like they have me trained, they don't eat them and jump up and down.. they get good food. But at one point they lost a lot of weight. So I don't know.

Another tank leaves them but will eat them when there's nothing else.


Yep..this is one of the reasons I like dishes. I can see who is eating what and who isn't. ;D

[Jess]

Oh and I know they're a good source of protein without the extra fat from the nuts/seeds.. so that's one reason I try and wait them out untill they get eaten.

[RitzieAnn]

Personally, as a person... I don't like them... so I've never thought of giving it to my gerbies. Interesting thought though! Hehe! Some of my cages have dishes too... I have to put them high up so they don't bet burried... like on the house, or zip tied to the wire in the cage toppers!

[caz]

My mix has got whole dried peas in it - and they do seem do disappear!
Caroline

[meganb52]

I use a mix that has some f those alfalfa pellets in i--the gerbs don't really dig it. You could try supplementing with rodent block that's nutritionally balanced with a smaller amount of seed mix. That way, they'll get a more balanced diet.

-Megan

[doomgerbiluk]

I have been told that rodent food manufacturers buy the cheap winter alfalfa for the pellets which are bitter. Apparently the horse alfalfa pellets are much sweeter and rodents love them!!
If any you have horses maybe you could check that out?

[christine]

I know Gerri Gerbil has split peas but it is to expensive for me to order. I don't think the mix I am using right now has it so I wouldn't know if they ate them or not. Sorry I can't be of help

[Jess]

lmao..

The 2 gerbils in particular who leave it in their dish for days and rather starve.. actually ate 1/2 of what was left in the dish last night.

The dish was nothing but peas for at least a day. I was going to feed them last night but I rearranged their tank and they were really busy fixing that the way they wanted and one was running on the wheel a lot... I figured if they had enough energy to do that, they can't be too hungry and if anything.. all that excercise would make them hungry.

hahahah the suckers ate it. Maybe it is possible to get them trained like my other gerbils who serioiusly seem to make the connection that they get more food when the dish is empty..
because they wait by it and 1 sits in it. Then of course there's the excitement when they're hungry and I come in the room.