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Post by gerbilpower on Jun 15, 2021 16:16:37 GMT -8
Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum,
i have 2 females gerbils and i was wondering if anyone knew about feeding herbs and flowers. I looked on the internet and i couldn't find any useful information. I'm also trying to figure out what types of herbs they can eat and where to buy them. Does anyone have any information that can help?
Thanks, Megan
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Post by betty on Jun 15, 2021 16:39:33 GMT -8
There are plenty of 'safe food' lists on here and online - but research it - and then research each thing again. As you may have seen, grapes are always said to be toxic to gerbils on online lists (including the RSPCA) but they aren't (in regular small infrequent doses - like all fresh foods).
So, have a look at a few lists online and narrow it down to those that are listed everywhere, then go onto a group or forum like this and search individually for those herbs or flowers until you read som cooments from actual people who have gerbil and who have or haven't fed those exact things (plants can have more than one name - for example I only feed 'pot marigolds' not 'french marigolds').
Some easy-to-find starters I have fed my own gerbils would include: marigold flower heads, sunflower petals, raspberry and blackcurrant leaves and stems, ribwort and giant plantain leaves and stems, daisy flowers and stalks, dandelion flowers and stalks, parsley plant, chamomile flowers and stems, dried mints, lemon balm, nasturtium flowers and stalks, courgette flowers, shepherds purse whole stem and basil leaves.
Rosewood, Pillow Wad, PAH, Zooplus and RatRations do plenty of dried plant mixes between them - but ALWAYS read the label for safe foods (see cherry leaves thread). Often as well, their first or second ingredients (the biggest two things in that product) are something already in your main foods or other treats you already have - so don't pay for something you already have elsewhere.
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Post by gerbilpower on Jun 15, 2021 17:22:45 GMT -8
Thanks for that information and great tips Betty. If I didn't go on vacation and my sunflowers didn't die, I could give them some... By the way I love your gerbil picture on your avatar.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jun 16, 2021 4:38:32 GMT -8
In addition to those betty mentioned, I also feed rose petals, strawberry leaves, coriander, oregano (very small amounts as it's quite strong), dandelion leaves, lemon thyme (I would assume normal thyme is fine too). Most popular with my gerbils are the lemon thyme, lemon balm, parsley, rose petals, and oregano.
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Post by gerbilpower on Jun 16, 2021 7:54:56 GMT -8
Thanks guys!
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Post by betty on Jun 16, 2021 15:26:06 GMT -8
Love your avatar too - what a great nose!
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Post by Markpd on Jul 2, 2021 11:51:31 GMT -8
Thanks for that information and great tips Betty. If I didn't go on vacation and my sunflowers didn't die, I could give them some... By the way I love your gerbil picture on your avatar. Gerbils love chewing sunflower stalks and will also eat some of the pith, don't bin those dead sunflowers!
Oh and welcome to the forum!
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