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What do gerbils eat?
Gerbils eat mostly seeds and grains, with some greens and a little animal protein. They are omnivores. The RSPCA describes wild gerbils living on the seeds of grasses, bulbs, leaves and herbs, and Wood Green says pet gerbils need a balance of seeds, grains, pulses and meat sources. At home, a food made for gerbils covers that balance, and PetMD keeps every extra together at no more than 10 percent of the daily diet.
That is why most of this page is about small amounts. Gerbils come from dry grassland and are built to get by on very little water, so large helpings of watery veg or sugary fruit are more likely to cause soft droppings than to do good. Our gerbil diet guide covers the daily food, amounts and which brands meet the protein and fat targets.
What veg can gerbils eat?
Most everyday vegetables are fine in small pieces. Gerbil Care UK gives a thumbnail-sized portion per gerbil, no more than twice a week, and Burgess warns that too much green food can cause diarrhoea. Wash it, cut it into bite-sized cubes and take away anything uneaten within 10 hours, as PetMD advises.
| Vegetable | Safe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrot | Yes | Named by the RSPCA, Burgess and Gerbil Care UK. A small cube or a thin coin. |
| Cucumber | Yes | RSPCA and Burgess. Very watery, so a sliver. |
| Broccoli | Yes | Burgess and Gerbil Care UK, including tender stem heads. |
| Cauliflower | Yes, small | Burgess. A single small floret. |
| Cabbage and kale | Yes, small | Burgess and Gerbil Care UK. Brussels sprouts too. |
| Spinach | Sometimes | Listed by Burgess; we'd keep it occasional. |
| Sweet pepper (bell pepper) | Yes | Burgess and Gerbil Care UK. Red or green, seeds removed. |
| Courgette (zucchini) | Yes | Burgess and Supreme Petfoods. |
| Pumpkin and squash | Yes | RSPCA, Burgess and Gerbil Care UK. The seeds make a good treat. |
| Fennel | Yes | RSPCA and Burgess. |
| Peas and sweetcorn (corn) | Yes, small | Gerbil Care UK. Fresh or frozen and thawed, plain. |
| Asparagus | Yes, small | Gerbil Care UK. |
| Celery | Sometimes | Supreme Petfoods lists it. Cut across the strings into thin slices. |
| Lettuce | Romaine, a little; iceberg, no | Gerbil Care UK lists iceberg as unsafe. |
| Tomato | Ripe red flesh only, rarely | Leaves, stems and green tomatoes are unsafe, per Gerbil Care UK. |
| Potato | No | Burgess and Gerbil Care UK list it as poisonous. |
| Onion, garlic, leek, chives, shallot | No | Burgess and Gerbil Care UK. |
| Kidney beans and soya beans | No | Gerbil Care UK. |
Burgess also names chicory and cress, and herbs gerbils enjoy: basil, sage, parsley and coriander (cilantro).
What fruit can gerbils eat?
Most fruit is safe as a small treat once or twice a week. PetMD limits fruit more than veg because of its sugar, and Burgess warns too much can lead to obesity. A piece the size of your little fingernail is plenty.
| Fruit | Safe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | Yes, as a treat | No pips or core: Gerbil Care UK lists apple seeds as unsafe. |
| Pear | Yes, as a treat | RSPCA, Burgess and PetMD. |
| Strawberries | Yes, as a treat | Burgess, PetMD and Gerbil Care UK. |
| Blueberries | Yes, as a treat | Half a berry is a good size. |
| Raspberries | Yes, as a treat | Burgess names berries generally. |
| Banana | Yes, rarely | Gerbil Care UK and PetMD. Very sugary, so a thin slice. |
| Melon and watermelon | Flesh only, rarely | Gerbil Care UK lists watermelon rind as unsafe. |
| Kiwi and peach | Yes, rarely | PetMD names kiwi; Burgess names peach. Remove the stone. |
| Orange and other citrus | Sources split; we'd skip | The RSPCA lists orange as suitable, but Burgess and Gerbil Care UK say avoid citrus. |
| Grapes and raisins | No | The RSPCA and Burgess say poisonous to rodents. |
| Rhubarb | No | Poisonous, per the RSPCA and Burgess. |
| Avocado, dates, pineapple | No | All on Gerbil Care UK's unsafe list. |
Dried fruit counts as fruit, but stronger. Gerbil Care UK uses only unsweetened dried apple, pear, blueberry or a goji berry, one or two pieces at a time. Never dried grapes, which are raisins, sultanas and currants.
Protein: insects and meat
Gerbils need some animal protein, and a few insects once or twice a week is the easy way to give it. Gerbil Care UK uses live or dried mealworms, dried crickets and freeze-dried plain chicken. Plain cooked chicken with nothing added fits the same slot. Keep it to a mealworm or two per gerbil at a time.
Seeds, nuts, grains and other treats
- Pumpkin seeds. The RSPCA calls them a healthy treat, and Burgess prefers them to sunflower seeds.
- Sunflower seeds. Safe but fatty. The RSPCA warns too many cause obesity.
- Other seeds. Gerbil Care UK lists chia, millet, flaxseed (linseed), sesame and squash seeds, once a week at most.
- Nuts. Unsalted hazelnut, walnut, pecan or pine nut, a crumb at a time, once a week at most.
- Grains. Plain porridge oats, plain popcorn with nothing on it, and a millet spray.
- Chews. Untreated apple, pear, willow, hazel or birch twigs, which wear down teeth. The RSPCA warns ivy, yew and holly are poisonous.
Human foods: what gerbils should not eat
Most of what is on our plates is wrong for a gerbil: too salty, fatty, sugary or seasoned. Burgess lists high-carb bread, pasta, crackers and biscuits to avoid, and calls chocolate and dairy especially dangerous. PetMD adds caffeine, alcohol, sugary foods and high-fat treats.
Never feed chocolate, sweets, crisps (chips), salted or flavoured nuts, anything with onion or garlic, alcohol or caffeine. If your gerbil has eaten any of these, or any food on the "no" lists above, ring a vet that sees small mammals straight away and say what it was and roughly how much. The RSPCA says a gerbil that eats or drinks less than usual, or has wet droppings, needs a vet straight away.
A few human foods are where sources split. Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic allows a little sugarless cereal, wholemeal bread, pasta and cheese in moderation; Burgess and Gerbil Care UK put bread, pasta and dairy on the avoid list. We'd take the careful side: no dairy, and plain oats in place of bread. Our can gerbils eat cheese page explains why.
How to give new foods safely
- Check the list first. If a food is not on a safe list here, leave it out until you have checked.
- Start tiny. One new food, a piece smaller than your little fingernail, per gerbil.
- Wait a day. Check the droppings stay small, dry and firm. The RSPCA warns sudden changes upset a gerbil's stomach.
- Build up slowly. If all is well, it can join the rotation at the usual thumbnail-sized portion.
- Clear leftovers. Remove uneaten fresh food within 10 hours, as PetMD advises, and check stashes daily.
What do gerbils need in their cage?
A glass tank of at least 100 × 50 × 50 cm (39 × 20 × 20 in) for two, about 25 cm (10 in) of bedding to dig in, a nest box, a solid wheel, a sand bath, two water sources and things to gnaw. Food belongs there too, scattered rather than in a bowl. The gerbil cage setup guide walks through it step by step, and our complete gerbil care guide puts it all together.
Gerbil food questions
What do gerbils eat in the wild?
Mostly seeds. The RSPCA says wild gerbils eat the seeds of various grasses, bulbs, and a range of leaves and herbs, and Wood Green adds that they need some meat sources too, such as insects. They also hoard: the RSPCA notes a single wild store can hold up to 1.5 kg of grain.
What veg can gerbils eat every day?
None needs to be daily. Gerbil Care UK gives fresh food no more than twice a week, a thumbnail-sized piece per gerbil, because gerbils are desert animals and too much wet food can loosen droppings. Carrot, cucumber, broccoli and sweet pepper are good picks. The everyday food is the gerbil pellet or mix.
Can gerbils eat bread?
Only a crumb, rarely. Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic allows a little wholemeal bread in moderation, while Burgess and Gerbil Care UK put high-carb bread, pasta, crackers and biscuits on the avoid list. White bread offers nothing a gerbil needs, so we'd skip it and give a few plain porridge oats instead.
Can gerbils eat nuts?
A tiny amount, once a week at most. Gerbil Care UK lists unsalted hazelnut, walnut, pecan, pine nut and monkey nut as occasional treats, and Burgess warns nuts and sunflower seeds are high in fat. Never give salted, roasted, flavoured or coated nuts. Half a pumpkin seed is a lower-fat treat.
Can gerbils eat lettuce?
Romaine and other darker lettuce in a small piece, yes; iceberg, no. Gerbil Care UK lists iceberg as unsafe and Supreme Petfoods includes lettuce among vegetables to give in small amounts. Lettuce is mostly water, so keep it to a leaf-tip sized piece. Our can gerbils eat lettuce page has the detail.
What should I do if my gerbil ate something toxic?
Take the rest away, note what it was and roughly how much, and ring a vet that sees small mammals straight away. Watch for drooling, a hunched posture, not eating, soft droppings or wobbliness. Gerbils are small, so even a little of a toxic food matters. Do not wait for signs before calling.
