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In this guide, we’ll explore exactly what gerbils should eat, which fruits and vegetables are safe, and how to balance their diet with natural treats and protein sources. You’ll also learn what foods to avoid, how often to feed them, and how to make mealtimes enriching and fun.
Let’s begin by understanding what a balanced gerbil diet really looks like.
Wild gerbils live in the dry grasslands and semi-deserts of Mongolia and northern China, where food can be scarce. They spend hours foraging for seeds, grains, herbs, roots and even small insects. This naturally varied diet keeps them lean and active, and it’s important to replicate this as closely as possible in captivity. A healthy gerbil diet should include the following key components:
| Food Type | Description | Feeding Frequency |
| Base Diet | High-quality commercial gerbil mix or pellets providing essential nutrients, minerals and fibre. | Daily |
| Hay | Essential for digestion, teeth wear, and foraging enrichment. Timothy, meadow or orchard hay is best. | Constant access |
| Fruit & Vegetables | Small pieces of safe fruit and veg for variety and hydration. | 2–3 times a week |
| Protein | Occasional animal or plant protein such as mealworms, egg or pulses. | Once or twice a week |
| Treats | Pumpkin, sunflower or flax seeds in moderation. | Weekly |
Avoid muesli-style seed mixes that allow selective feeding. Gerbils are clever foragers, and they’ll pick out the tastiest bits (usually the fattiest or sweetest) and ignore the rest, leading to nutritional imbalance.
Vegetables are an excellent way to add fibre, vitamins and variety to your gerbil’s diet. Fresh produce helps mimic the diversity they’d encounter in the wild. Here are some safe vegetables for gerbils:
| Safe Vegetables | Benefits |
| Carrot | Crunchy, promotes dental health, rich in vitamin A |
| Broccoli | High in fibre and antioxidants |
| Cabbage (in moderation) | Adds variety but can cause gas if overfed |
| Cauliflower | Gentle on the stomach, low in sugar |
| Chicory | A good source of fibre |
| Spinach | Packed with iron and vitamins |
| Sweet pepper | Colourful, full of vitamin C |
| Cucumber | Hydrating and refreshing |
| Courgette | Light and easy to digest |
| Fennel | Supports digestion |
| Pumpkin | Rich in nutrients and a fun seasonal option |
| Herbs (parsley, basil, coriander, sage) | Flavourful and stimulating |
Avoid onions, leeks, garlic, rhubarb, iceberg lettuce and potatoes, as these can be harmful or offer little nutrition.
Fruit can be a delightful treat for gerbils, but moderation is key. While it offers natural vitamins and antioxidants, it’s also high in sugar, which can lead to obesity or dental problems if overfed.
Safe fruits for gerbils include:
Offer a thumbnail-sized portion once or twice a week at most. Avoid giving fruit on consecutive days to allow their digestive system to stay balanced.
Toxic or unsuitable fruits include:
These can cause stomach upset or toxicity. A good rule of thumb, if it’s acidic or sticky it’s best avoided.
Yes, cucumber is one of the safest vegetables you can offer your gerbil. It’s light, hydrating and easy to nibble on, especially during warmer months. However, cucumber is mostly water, so it should be given in small amounts. Too much can upset your gerbil’s stomach and cause diarrhoea. A thin slice once or twice a week is plenty. Always wash cucumber thoroughly and remove any waxy skin if it’s not organic.
Yes, pumpkin seeds are an excellent treat when given in moderation. They’re packed with healthy fats, magnesium and zinc, which can support your gerbil’s coat and energy levels.
However, they’re calorie-dense, so think of them as a once-a-week reward rather than a regular snack. Offering one or two seeds per gerbil per week is plenty. For an extra bit of enrichment, scatter the seeds through your gerbil’s hay or substrate. This encourages natural foraging behaviour, turning treat time into playtime.
No, grapes are toxic to gerbils and should never be fed under any circumstances. Grapes (and raisins) can cause kidney failure in many small animals, including rodents. Even a small piece could make your gerbil ill.
Yes, gerbils can eat apples but with a few precautions. Apples are one of the most popular and safest fruits to offer, but you must remove all the seeds first, as apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide and are toxic to rodents. Cut the apple into a small cube or thin slice and offer it as an occasional treat. Too much apple can upset their stomach because of its sugar and moisture content. Once or twice a week is ideal.
Absolutely. Carrots are one of the best vegetables for gerbils, offering fibre, beta-carotene and a satisfying crunch that helps keep teeth healthy. You can serve carrots raw, thinly sliced or grated. Avoid cooked carrots, as these have a higher water and sugar content. A small sliver of raw carrot a few times a week is perfect.
Yes, blueberries are safe and nutritious for gerbils, providing antioxidants and a little sweetness. However, as with all fruit, moderation is crucial. Limit to one blueberry per gerbil once a week. Too many can cause soft stools due to the sugar and moisture content. Always wash them thoroughly before feeding. Frozen blueberries (defrosted first) can also be offered occasionally, especially in summer, as a cooling snack.
Although gerbils mainly eat plants and seeds, they’re actually omnivores, meaning they can benefit from small amounts of animal protein. In the wild, they occasionally eat insects or larvae, which provide essential amino acids for muscle and coat health. Protein can be introduced in several safe ways:
Offer protein no more than once or twice a week. Avoid feeding cheese or dairy products, as gerbils are lactose intolerant.
Gerbils get much of their moisture from fresh vegetables, but they still need constant access to clean, fresh water. A water bottle with a metal sipping tube is best, as it prevents contamination from bedding. Check daily for leaks or blockages, and clean the bottle weekly to stop bacterial growth. If your tap water is heavily chlorinated, consider filtered or bottled water.
Gerbils naturally hoard food, so it can be tricky to tell how much they’ve eaten. A typical adult gerbil eats about 5–6 grams of dry food a day. Here’s a simple feeding frequency guide:
| Food Type | Frequency | Portion Size |
| Pellets / Commercial Mix | Daily | 1 teaspoon per gerbil |
| Hay (Timothy / Meadow) | Always available | Unlimited |
| Fresh Vegetables | 2–3 times a week | Small slice or cube |
| Fruit (e.g. apple, berry) | Once or twice a week | Thumbnail size |
| Seeds & Nuts | Once a week | 1–2 pieces |
| Protein Treats (insects/egg) | Once or twice a week | Tiny pinch |
Many new gerbil owners overlook the importance of hay quality, but not all hay is created equal. Inferior hay can be brown, dusty or brittle, which is not only unappetising but potentially harmful to sensitive respiratory systems. Happy Hay’s fresh, green, sweet-smelling hay is cut and dried with specialist techniques that lock in nutrients while staying soft and dust-free.
