FREE FOOD SAMPLE ON FIRST ORDER £10+ • FREE DELIVERY OVER £25

What Do Gerbils Eat?

A Guide to a Healthy Gerbil Diet, Safe Foods and Treats

GERBIL CARE HUB

9/2/20255 min read

What Do Gerbils Eat?

Pet gerbils should eat a balanced diet based primarily on a nutritionally complete gerbil food, with small amounts of suitable vegetables, occasional fruit and appropriate protein-rich treats. Fresh, clean water should always be available.

Looking for suitable options? Explore our natural Gerbil Treats range, including forage, chews and enrichment for your gerbils

In this guide, we'll cover what gerbils should eat every day, the best foods for gerbils, safe fruits and vegetables, healthy treats, foods to avoid and how often different foods can be offered.

What Should You Feed a Gerbil?

A gerbil's main diet should be a high-quality, nutritionally complete food specifically formulated for gerbils such as Bunny Nature Dream Expert Gerbil. This should make up the majority of their daily diet.

Core Diet

Food Safe? How often?

Gerbil food Yes Daily

Cucumber Yes Occasionally

Banana Yes Occasionally

Apple Yes Occasionally

Mango Yes Occasionally

Strawberries Yes Occasionally

Watermelon Yes Occasionally

Grapes No Avoid

Chocolate No Never

When choosing a gerbil food, look for:

High-quality gerbil pellets
Gerbil lab blocks
Species-specific gerbil food mixes

I generally recommend avoiding muesli-style mixes. Many gerbils selectively feed, picking out the sugary or fatty ingredients while leaving behind more nutritious components. This can lead to an unbalanced diet over time.

Gerbil Food and Treats

Gerbils naturally enjoy a variety of seeds, grains, forage and other foods. These can provide variety and enrichment when offered appropriately alongside a balanced main diet.

Seeds and Grains

Suitable options include:

Millet
Oats
Forage blends
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds

Pumpkin seeds can make an excellent treat, but like sunflower seeds, they should only be offered in moderation.

Safe Fruits and Vegetables for Gerbils

Fresh foods can provide enrichment, hydration and dietary variety when offered in appropriate amounts.

At Treats 4 Squeaks, we recommend introducing new foods gradually and observing your gerbil for any digestive upset.

Safe Fruits

Gerbils can enjoy small portions of:

Apple, without seeds
Pear
Banana
Strawberry
Mango
Melon

As fruit contains natural sugars, it should only be offered occasionally as a treat.

Safe Vegetables

Good vegetable choices include:

Carrot
Cucumber
Fennel
Pumpkin
Broccoli
Sweet potato

Whenever introducing a new food, start with a small amount and monitor your gerbil for any digestive upset.

What Treats Can Gerbils Eat?

Treats should complement a balanced gerbil diet rather than replace their main food.

Suitable treats include seeds, forage, small amounts of fruit and occasional sources of protein.

Protein Treats for Gerbils

Gerbils are omnivores and can benefit from occasional sources of protein.

Suitable protein treats include:

Boiled egg
Plain scrambled egg
Dried mealworms
Crickets
Small amounts of lean cooked chicken
Lentils
Peas
Chickpeas

Protein treats should be offered occasionally rather than daily.

Foods Gerbils Should Never Eat

Some foods can be harmful or potentially toxic to gerbils.

Avoid feeding:

Grapes
Rhubarb
Chocolate
Alcohol
Caffeinated drinks
Sugary processed foods
Salty snacks

If you're ever unsure whether a food is suitable for your gerbil, it's best to leave it out and check with a qualified veterinary professional.

Fresh Water Is Essential

Fresh, clean water should always be available.

A water bottle with a metal sipper tube is usually a good option because it helps keep water clean and prevents contamination from bedding.

Check the bottle daily for:

Leaks
Blockages
Proper water flow

Encourage Natural Foraging Behaviour

In the wild, gerbils spend much of their time searching for food. Recreating this behaviour in captivity can provide valuable mental stimulation and enrichment.

Instead of placing all food in a bowl, try:

Scattering food throughout the enclosure
Hiding food within safe substrates
Using forage mixes
Offering safe chewable enrichment

This encourages natural behaviours and can help prevent boredom.

Frequently Asked Questions -

What Do Gerbils Eat Every Day?

A gerbil's daily diet should consist primarily of a high-quality food formulated specifically for gerbils, such as a suitable pellet or lab block.

Fresh water should always be available, while vegetables, herbs and treats can be offered throughout the week in moderation.

For suitable gerbil food options, see our Gerbil Geographical range.

Can Gerbils Eat Fruit?

Yes, gerbils can eat certain fruits as occasional treats.

Suitable fruits include apple without seeds, pear, banana, strawberry, mango and melon.

As fruit contains natural sugars, it should only be offered in small amounts especially dried fruit, and as an occasional treat.

Can Gerbils Eat Vegetables?

Yes. Fresh vegetables can provide enrichment and variety when fed alongside a balanced gerbil diet.

Suitable vegetables include carrot, cucumber, broccoli, fennel, pumpkin, peas and sweet potato.

Can Gerbils Eat Bananas?

Yes, gerbils can eat bananas when offered in small quantities.

Due to their natural sugar content, bananas should be considered an occasional treat rather than a regular part of a gerbil's diet.

Treats 4 Squeaks Banana Bites are a natural treat option for gerbils

Can Gerbils Eat Strawberries?

Yes. Gerbils can eat strawberries as an occasional treat.

Feed small pieces and remove any uneaten fruit to prevent spoilage.

Treats 4 Squeaks Strawberry Slices are a natural treat option

Can Gerbils Eat Apples?

Yes, gerbils can eat apples provided the seeds are removed.

Apples should be fed in moderation as part of a varied diet.

Treats 4 Squeaks Apple Slices are a natural treat option

Can Gerbils Eat Mango?

Yes. Gerbils can eat mango in small amounts as an occasional treat.

Like other fruits, mango contains natural sugar, so it should not be fed regularly or in large quantities.

Treats 4 Squeaks Mango is a natural treat option

Can Gerbils Eat Grapes?

Grapes should be avoided as a food for gerbils.

There are many other fruits that can be offered as occasional treats instead.

Can Gerbils Eat Mealworms?

Yes. Gerbils can eat mealworms, which are a popular protein-rich treat.

As omnivores, gerbils can benefit from occasional protein sources, but mealworms should only be fed in moderation.

Treats 4 Squeaks provides natural dried mealworms as a protein-rich treat

Can Gerbils Eat Cucumber?

Yes, gerbils can eat cucumber as an occasional treat.

Because cucumber contains a high amount of water, it should only be offered in small pieces. Remove any uneaten cucumber promptly to help keep the enclosure clean.