Gerbils refusing to eat any fresh food? Is this normal?

[TJ's Rodent Ranch]

Hi there, I have a small problem. 

My gerbils (I currently have six) are all refusing to eat any kind of fresh food whatsoever, even fruits. 
I got my three boys when they were a little older, so I naturally assumed they had probably never been fed anything like it and just aren't used to it, but my two girls are the same way and I've had them since they were about five weeks old. 
I have one un-sexed pup, who I haven't tried to feed any fresh food yet, as he/she is orphaned, and currently being weened, so I figured her/his diet was already hectic enough. 
Should I be giving the pup the proper greens at a young age? 

I figured I should just slowly try to get them to eat it, but none of them seem to think of it as food, do I perhaps have the wrong vegetable? I've tried almost any I can think of that I know is safe, and still haven't gotten them to even try it. 

Any advice is welcome. 

[LilyandDaisy]

This is a common problem as gerbils can be hesitant to try new foods.

I would keep offering fresh food as sometimes they just randomly decide to try it, and then realise it's edible after all. Favourite vegetables tend to be peas and sweetcorn so you could start with those. Broccoli is popular with mine as well.

[betty]

Yes I agree - broccoli usually goes down well - as does mini sweetcorn.

Stick with it - and they should come round.


Maybe try some dried veg - mixed in with their normal food - like camoflage...

[TJ's Rodent Ranch]

I tried for a few months, and they continued to refuse, so eventually I gave up.
Thank you for the veggie recommendations, I'll try those and stick with it for a much longer time.

[betty]

Hmm, does seem strange for sure. I have had some that are fussy - but none refused veg entirely.

[TJ's Rodent Ranch]

I understand that giving them veggies greatly improves their health, so I would like to get them to eat it if I can.
I'm wondering if there are any tasty treats I could make them that could disguise it a bit, and possibly get them used to it over time?
Or maybe any gerbil-safe fresh food at all that I could use to get them used to anything but regular dried gerbil food, also ending in getting them open to veggies.

They've been pretty picky about pretty much everything I've offered them and I haven't been able to get them to eat anything but their main staple - just the regular food you would buy at a pet store. The only thing new thing I've gotten them to eat is half a small green bean, which they refused after a few rounds of nibbling. I'm beginning to feel as if I'm trying to get real children to eat vegetables.

My main concern at this point, is that eating absolutely no veggies (or anything but their main food for that matter) is decreasing their health considerably.

[betty]

Maybe try to offer 'plants' instead of veg?

Things like apple/pear/strawberry/hawthorn blossom (plenty about now here - but avoid anything from cherry trees); strawberry/raspberry/anyberry leaves; apple/pear twigs; thick blade of grass/dandelion/shepherds purse/common violet/plantain; daisy/dandelion flowers.

Most of these things can be found in gardens in the UK - not sure on things if you are elsewhere - until we find out where you are!!!

[TJ's Rodent Ranch]

Hi there!
I apologize, I haven't been on the forum in a day or two and didn't realize the post had been updated.

I'm in the US, I have dandelion, pear, and apricot in my backyard. Would the leaves or fruit, or even both work with those?
Not a whole lot grows very easily around my location, but I could get those very easily.
I'll see if I can get any of the others, and will try sweetcorn, peas, and broccoli as well. Also, thank you for the tip on Cherry trees, I wasn't aware they were poisonous to gerbils, and will definitely stay away from them!

Thank you again, all the advice is really appreciated.

[LilyandDaisy]

Gerbils can eat dandelion plants (all parts) and pear (fruit or leaves). They can also chew pear wood. Apricot fruit is ok but avoid giving the pit, leaves or wood.

[TJ's Rodent Ranch]

Hi there, quick update.
Firstly, thank you for the clarification on the apricot, dandelion, and pear. I've always been concerned when it comes to food poisoning for gerbils, so that'll help a lot.
Secondly, so I went shopping for a food that would have dried veg in it, and possibly some fruit as well.
I'm happy to say my search was successful, and they seem to be warming up to it and figuring out it's edible after all! I think because it came in with the rest of their food, and has the same general scent on it, their less hesitant to try it out.
I'll keep trying to get them to eat fresher food and will see what they think of apricot, dandelion, and pear, but I think this is a promising start to get them more adapted to it.
Thank you for all the help, it means a lot.

[betty]

Yay - let's hope this is the start of a new phase for them. Great work with the persistance!