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Post by horselover on Feb 15, 2015 8:09:25 GMT -8
I'm thinking of scatter feeding my gerbils. I would like to add a more natural element to feeding for them, and they always bury their food dish anyway! I am concerned though with knowing how much to feed them. They seem to eat different amounts on different days, sometimes emptying their dish quickly, and other times not. I don't want to underfeed them, but I also don't want a lot to go to waste! Any tips? Thanks!
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Post by elliriyanna on Feb 15, 2015 12:30:30 GMT -8
The general rule seems to be 1 tablespoon per gerbil
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Post by crittercrazy on Feb 15, 2015 19:51:10 GMT -8
That's the reason I avoid scatter-feeding, you don't know if you're giving them enough and there's also opportunity for them to only eat what they want. Could you maybe put their food dish on top of something? I know its not that "natural" but I don't think its too big a problem.
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Post by Thelodar on Feb 16, 2015 17:11:59 GMT -8
If they're not losing weight, they're good. Food will only go to waste if there is something they refuse to eat. I scatter feed and when I clean out my tank there is never food on the bottom. Whatever they don't eat during the initial feeding they eat later in the day (or if I miss a feeding). I usually do a handful of seed mix in the morning and handful of pellets in the evening for my three boys. They always eat right away but don't finish all of it right away. But I assume they do before the next feeding because they seem very excited for the next meal.
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Post by horselover on Feb 16, 2015 20:25:25 GMT -8
Thanks for the feedback everyone!
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Post by the_gerbilpetsworld on Mar 4, 2015 12:01:35 GMT -8
Hi, I just want to add that I do scatter feed my gerbils and I also fill their bowl as well because I don't want to under feed them so I do both. It's a great way to encourage natural behaviour. Another way to do it is to scatter feed them as much as you would feed them in their bowl If that makes sense Hope I helped PetMad15
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Post by qtoffer on Mar 4, 2015 17:11:03 GMT -8
I scatter feed on a shelf in the cage topper. I glued sides on the shelf so the gerbils don't scatter the food all over my floors. One of my gerbils prefers a bowl, so I use a large cereal bowl on the topper shelf. She likes to sit in the bowl and eat!
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper -------------------------------------------------------------- RIP Maire 11/6/2008 - 4/6/2011; Eithne 11/6/2008 - 10/10/2011 Lori 5/2/2011 - 7/24/2013; Mo 5/2/2011 - 1/14/2014; Carly 5/2/2011 - 5/21/2014 Arwen 11/12/2011 - 2/8/2015
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