Can gerbils eat green beans? Are they healthy?

Green beans are a staple food when it comes to eating healthy, there is no healthy diet that would not include this great vegetable.

It is widely used in kitchens around the world and is also grown in gardens and balconies in som many places around the world.

Being a very popular food it is normal to wonder if gerbils can eat them especially that gerbils need healthy fruits and vegetables to balance their diet and supplement it with the necessary nutrients seeds and hay might lack, so can gerbils eat green bean?

Gerbils can eat green beans, also known as string beans, or snap beans they are a great source of vitamins, fiber, and minerals, but they have a high water content -90%- and fairly high levels of Oxalate, so gerbils must consume green beans with moderation once a week and only as a healthy treat.

Choosing the best and healthiest fruits and vegetables to supplement your gerbil’s main diet and balance it is very important, but not as important as choosing a healthy diet for them.

That’s why we recommend feeding your gerbils the Oxbow Garden Select Fortified Food for Gerbils (check current price at Amazon) a great and healthy choice because it’s made of pellets and it’s always a better idea since gerbils tend to be picky when served separate seeds and would pick the fatty seeds over others.

Can baby gerbils eat green beans?

Baby gerbils from birth to the age of three weeks feed exclusively on their mom’s milk and can’t have any solid food.

So baby gerbils aged three weeks and younger can not eat green beans or any other food for that matter and will only feed on milk.

At the age of three weeks, gerbils open their eyes and have a set of fully developed teeth, and they can start to explore solid food.

Between three and five weeks gerbil pups will continue to feed on the mom’s milk but they can eat solid food in small quantities including green beans.

However, it is best to avoid feeding young gerbils water-rich fruits and vegetables that can cause them digestive trouble.

Baby gerbils are weaned at the age of five weeks and they can consume regular adult food from seeds to fruits to vegetables.

Are green beans safe for gerbils?

Green beans are not poisonous plants, they do not contain too much water and they are not very acidic so yes green beans are safe for gerbils.

However, the fact that they are safe does not mean that they can have an open buffet of green beans because they can cause problems if consumed in large quantities.

The water content in green beans is about 90% which does not make them water-rich vegetables but too much of it makes it hard to handle for the gerbil’s digestive system that is not used to watery plants.

Green beans are not as acidic as citrus fruits like lemons but they do contain traces of acid and would cause digestive trouble if consumed in large quantities.

All in all, green beans are safe for gerbils if consumed in reasonable quantities and not very often.

Do gerbils eat green beans in the wild?

Gerbils, also known as desert rats live in very dry and harsh climates, their natural habitat is the desert, where most of the vegetation has adapted and contains very little water and can tolerate high temperatures.

In the wild gerbils feeds on a variety of grasses seeds roots and other nuts and sometimes small insects but they rarely encounter any water-rich fruits or vegetables.

Green beans do not handle drought or high temperatures very well so it would be very rare for gerbils to feed on them in the wild.

However, even if they are not part of the gerbil’s natural diet they can consume them in moderate quantities and benefit from their healthy nutrients.

Do gerbils like green beans?

Your gerbils might or might not like the way green beans taste. Most gerbils appreciate the crunchy texture and the interesting flavor, but the best way to determine whether your gerbil likes green beans is to offer a nibble and wait for his reaction.

It is often a good idea to offer multiple vegetables together in very small portions to see what your gerbils like.

Are green beans good for gerbils?

Green beans are brimming with nutrients which makes them ideal treats for gerbils, there are more than 130 varieties of green beans but they are all good source of vitamins A, C, and K.

Green beans contain protein which is essential to a healthy immune system and healthy bones organs and muscles.

Green beans are a good source of minerals, especially manganese. This essential mineral supports the gerbil’s metabolism and has antioxidant abilities. It also supports bone health and promotes wound healing.

Green beans are a low FODMAP – undigested carbohydrates that are metabolized by bacteria in your gerbil’s gut leading to gas, belly pain, diarrhea, and constipation- and that makes them ideal for gerbils and their sensitive digestive system.

How much green beans can gerbils eat?

Fruits and vegetables are used as a supplement to the gerbil’s main diet and only make around 10% of his daily diet.

The ideal green beans portion for an adult gerbil is half a large bean, or about the size of the gerbil’s head.

This is more than enough and it will contain all the nutrients the gerbil needs, and you can either feed it to the gerbil at once or in smaller portions throughout the week.

How often can gerbils eat green beans?

How often you decide to feed your gerbil green beans or any fruits and vegetables you use to balance their diet will depend on the portion you’re feeding them.

You can either choose to feed your gerbil one or two vegetables or fruits a day in good quantity or you can feed him very small portions of many fruits and vegetables every day.

Although we tend to prefer that your gerbil gets one or to fruits a day, they are picky eaters and they can overeat one type of food over the others if given a choice.

Can gerbils eat other parts of the green beans?

Gerbils are desert species that have adapted to a very harsh climate where vegetation is not abundant so they’ve learned to make the most of what’s available, that’s why they are known to consume most parts of the vegetation they can get their teeth on.

However, plants that grow in the desert don’t necessarily have the same characteristics as those that grow in a moderate climate and don’t certainly have to repel insects that thrive in those climates, so they may be poisonous or produce toxins in some parts and that’s why they should be inspected before given to gerbils.

Can gerbils eat green beans roots?

The roots of green beans aren’t particularly poisonous so gerbils can eat them but they do not hold much nutritious value as the fruit itself.

There is also the fact that the roots are exposed to diseases and insect attacks that may affect the health of the plant and therefore your gerbil’s health.

Can gerbils eat green beans stem?

Green bean stems are edible and gerbils can feed on them but the tender tips of the stems are more appealing as they get older, they become too stingy to be enjoyable.

However, since the green beans are fed to gerbils as treats there is really no added value in feeding them the stems unless you have no choice or it’s all you have.

Can gerbils eat green beans flowers?

Gerbils can eat green bean flowers, they’re not toxic and can be consumed, in fact, they are used in some dishes around the world but as popular as the fruit itself.

Can gerbils eat green beans leaves?

Green bean leaves are not only edible but are wildly used in cuisines around the world, so if you have any, or you are growing some in your garden you can feed them to your gerbil.

Green bean leaves have some good nutrients and are fibrous so they are good for your gerbil’s digestive system, but again to be fed with moderation.

Green beans nutrition facts

Green beans are brimming with healthy nutrients that can be very beneficial to your gerbils, they are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals as well.

Vitamins Carbs Minerals Proteins and Aminoacids

Ways gerbils can eat green beans

Gerbils can eat green beans in many forms:

Can gerbils eat raw green beans?

Gerbils can eat raw green beans but we do not recommend it, like all beans, green beans contain lectins (a type of protein that binds to cell membranes).

An overindulgence in feeding gerbils green beans can lead to nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

To avoid that, it is recommended that you simply cook green beans at least a bit before giving them to your gerbil.

Can gerbils eat cooked green beans?

Green beans are safer served to gerbils cooked, however, they should not be cooked in spices or with any other foods that could be poisonous to gerbils.

Cooking the green beans may cause them to lose some nutrients, but it makes them easier to digest for your gerbil.

Can gerbils have steamed green beans?

Steamed green beans are even better than cooked, they lose fewer nutrients and contain a lot less water, so yes it is a good way to prepare green beans for your gerbil.

Can gerbils eat canned green beans?

No! canned green beans contain too much sodium and can cause serious digestive troubles to your gerbils.

Cannes green beans are considered unsafe for gerbils and it’s better to avoid them even after rinsing them.

Can gerbils eat frozen green beans?

Gerbils can eat frozen green beans once they have thawed, although it’s not always a good idea to feed your gerbil frozen vegetables and fruits.

You should also note that frozen green beans can cause gastric problems if not thawed properly that’s why using fresh food is always better.

Conclusion: can gerbils eat green beans

• Gerbils can eat green beans and they are healthy for them.
• Gerbils should eat green beans in small quantities as treats once or twice a week.
• Green bean leaves can also be served to gerbils.
• Green beans are better served cooked or steamed to reduce the levels of lectins.

Other fruits and vegetables gerbils can eat

• Bananas
• Apples (without seeds)
• Almonds (not bitter almonds)
• Peanuts
• Carrots
• Celery
• Broccoli
• Raspberries
• Mealworms
• Cheese
• Cheerios

References