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Yes, gerbils can eat a small piece of ripe red tomato now and then. The Gerbil Care welfare site says ripe tomato flesh is not toxic but is very watery, so feed it sparingly. Never give the leaves, stalks or green unripe tomatoes: Gerbil Care and Burgess both say those parts are poisonous. A thumbnail-sized piece every week or two is plenty.
| Safe? | Ripe red flesh only, sparingly |
| How much | A thumbnail-sized piece per gerbil |
| How often | Every week or two at most |
| Best served | Fresh, washed, stalk removed, raw |
| Watch out for | Leaves, stalks, green tomatoes, loose droppings |
Are tomatoes safe for gerbils?
The ripe fruit is, in small amounts. Gerbil Care lists ripe tomatoes as safe and explains the limit: red ripe tomatoes "are not toxic", but they hold a lot of water, so feed them sparingly. Gerbils are desert animals with digestion built for dry food, and Gerbil Care warns that too much fresh food can cause diarrhoea, which can be fatal in a gerbil.
The rest of the plant is a different story. Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family. Burgess lists tomato leaves among foods that are poisonous to gerbils, and Gerbil Care says the leaves, stems and green tomatoes are all toxic.
Which parts can gerbils eat?
| Part or form | OK? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ripe red flesh | Yes, a little | Watery, so keep it small |
| Seeds and skin of a ripe tomato | Yes | Fine as part of the small piece |
| Green or unripe tomato | No | Toxic, says Gerbil Care |
| Leaves and stalks (stems) | No | Poisonous, say Burgess and Gerbil Care |
| Sun-dried tomato | No | Often salted or in oil |
| Sauce, ketchup, soup, tinned | No | Salt, sugar, onion and garlic |
How much tomato, and how often?
A thumbnail-sized piece, about 1 cm (0.4 in) across, per gerbil, every week or two. That is a quarter of a cherry tomato or less. Gerbil Care's guide for fresh food overall is about one thumbnail-sized portion per gerbil around twice a week, and because tomato is so watery we would let it take only the odd one of those slots.
How to prepare tomato
- Choose a fully ripe one. Deep red all over, with no green patches.
- Wash it and pull off the stalk. Throw away every bit of green.
- Cut a small piece. PetMD suggests cutting fresh food into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Remove leftovers. PetMD says to throw away uneaten fresh food after 10 hours. Tomato goes soft quickly, so check the bedding sooner.
If your gerbil chews a tomato plant, leaf or green tomato, ring your vet for advice straight away. Watch for drooling, diarrhoea, weakness, wobbliness or refusing food.
Who should skip tomato?
Gerbils with loose droppings or a sensitive stomach, and young gerbils that are still getting used to fresh food. Start them on drier vegetables first.
What to offer instead
Drier choices suit gerbils better as everyday fresh food: a sliver of carrot or a small piece of sweet pepper. For something juicy, a thin slice of cucumber or a scrap of romaine lettuce works too. See our safe food list for gerbils, the gerbil diet guide and our complete gerbil care guide.
Tomato questions
Can gerbils eat cherry tomatoes?
Yes, the same rules apply. A cherry tomato is still far too big for one sitting, so cut a quarter or less, pull off the green stalk and give that piece to one gerbil. Make sure the tomato is fully red and ripe, not green or orange at the shoulders.
Can gerbils eat tomato leaves or stalks?
No. Burgess lists tomato leaves among poisonous foods, and the Gerbil Care welfare site says the leaves, stems and green tomatoes are toxic. Never grow tomatoes where a free-roaming gerbil could reach the plant, and pull every green stalk off before serving the fruit.
Can gerbils eat tomato sauce, ketchup or soup?
No. These are cooked down with salt, sugar, onion and garlic. Burgess lists onions and garlic as poisonous to gerbils, and sugar and salt do them no good either. Only fresh, plain, ripe tomato is suitable.
My gerbil ate part of a tomato plant. What should I do?
Take the plant away and note roughly how much was eaten. Ring your vet straight away for advice, even if your gerbil seems fine. Watch for drooling, diarrhoea, weakness, wobbliness or not eating, and tell the vet if you see any of these.
