Post by pepandmax on Jul 12, 2007 17:22:38 GMT -8
List replaced 15/12/21 by Lilyanddaisy's safe/unsafe food list.
The basis of a healthy gerbil diet should be a good staple mix (either your own or a commercial brand). Adult gerbils eat about one tablespoon (10-15 g) of food per day. For more information, please see: www.egerbil.com/diet.html
Like humans, gerbils should only eat treats in moderation, meaning about twice per week. Don't forget to remove uneaten fruit and vegetable matter from the habitat.
Remember: moderation is the key!
Fruits (In Small Amounts!):
Apple (no seeds)
Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Currants
Grapes
Pomegranates
PlumPeaches
Orange (one small sac of juice, if your gerbils will even touch it)
TomatoVegetables & Plants (In Small Amounts!):
Broccoli
Bell peppers
Brussels sprouts
CarrotsCauliflower leaves and stalks
Celery
Cucumber
Chickweed
Dandelion - (is a diuretic)
Green beans
Lettuce - small amounts occasionally - in excess it can cause liver problems
Parsley - a good tonic
Peas
SpinachStarches (In Small Amounts!):
Biscuits
Bread (fresh or stale)
Breakfast Cereals (low fat, no sugar added varieties)
Cooked potatoes
Corn
Kashi cereal
Pretzels –small amounts of low-sodium (salt) variety
Toast
Whole (rolled) oatsProteins (In Small Amounts!):
Alfalfa
Cheese (small amounts occasionally as fattening)
Crickets
Dog BiscuitsEgg (scrambled or boiled)
Kashi cereal
Sprouted beans/seeds, like aduki, alfalfa, chickpea, or mung bean sprouts (washed thoroughly, and avoid sprouted kidney beans)ealwormsWaxworms
Sweet Treats (In VERY Small Amounts!):
Dried apricots (unsulphured)
Dried berries (unsulphured)
Other dried fruits (unsulphured)
Raisins (unsulphured)
SultanasFattening Treats (In VERY Small Amounts!):
(Choose nuts that aren't salted, roasted, or have skins.)
Almonds
Brazil nuts
Cashews
Hazelnut
Peanuts
Pistachio nuts
Pine nuts
Sunflower SeedsPine nuts
Walnuts (slightly crack the shells and make the gerbils work to get at the meat!)
Watermelon seeds
Other:
Millet (good for shiny, healthy coats) See more at: www.egerbil.com/millet.html
Woods for gnawing: See www.egerbil.com/domestic5.html and www.egerbil.com/domestic6.html for a great list of safe woods and unsafe woods
This thread is based on the original "List of what's good and bad for gerbils to eat" thread (gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/1290/list-good-bad-gerbils-eat).
[edit] Note by Markpd, aware of invalid link. I'll see at some point if that thread made it to these forums]