Diet Variety

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Gerbils - Nutrition

Diet Variety

A good daily diet for your gerbil doesn't need to be fancy - a mixture of pellets, grains and vegetables will give your pet a full complement of essential nutrients. But if you want to be a bit creative, here's a list of the different kinds of food you can easily "mix and match" to make balanced, yet varied, gerbil meals.

Pellets: Commercial brands of pellet food are specially formulated to provide the proper balanced nutrition with the ideal daily dosage of vitamins and minerals, plus all the other essential nutrients. Choose pellets that have been veterinarian tested and approved.

Grains: This is a primary food for gerbils - the best source of protein and carbohydrates. Grains can come in prepared gerbil mixtures, bird foods and oats.

Vegetables: Fresh, organically grown greens are the best. Romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, carrot tops, broccoli spears, spinach, artichokes and any other dark, green veggies, eaten daily, provide the all-important vitamins and minerals beneficial to your gerbil's health. Remember to wash them thoroughly to remove traces of harmful pesticides.

Fruits and Nuts: Gerbils love apples, pears, strawberries and bananas. Fruits should be given in moderation, though, as a supplement to the regular diet. Refrain from giving fruits with high acidic levels (oranges, grapefruit, pineapple) because gerbils cannot digest these foods. When giving nuts, steer away from the fatty ones, like peanuts and sunflower seeds, because they can promote obesity.

Meats and Dairy: These can be given occasionally because they do help provide the protein your gerbil needs. Some ideas are dog biscuits, mealworms, cooked chicken and yogurt.

Chewables: Hay, branches and twigs are great gnawing foods - they help keep your gerbil's teeth in good condition.