Can gerbils eat raspberries? Must read!

Having a pet gerbil is fun, watching them trying new foods is always adorable and entertaining, but aside from their natural food of seeds, hay, and some grass pellets, you have to always be checking if they can actually eat them.

Gerbils are often given fruits and vegetables to supplement their regular diet and provide the nutrients their diet might lack.

Raspberries are the fruit of a plant in the rose family, and there are many types of raspberries black, golden, and purple, but the red raspberry is the most common.

Can gerbils eat raspberries? yes, gerbils can eat raspberries in small quantities, they’re absolutely brimming with vitamin C, they’re not terribly watery, and they’re fairly low in sugar and contain plenty of fiber which your gerbil needs.

Looking for safe and healthy fruits and vegetables to balance your gerbil’s diet is important but not as important as his primary food and the one e recommend is the Oxbow Garden Select Fortified Food for Gerbils (check the current price at Amazon) it consists of pellets and it’s much better for gerbils that tend to be picky when served separate seeds.

Can baby gerbils eat raspberries?

From birth to the age of three weeks baby gerbils feed exclusively on their mom’s milk, and usually they open their eyes at the age of 17 to 19 days.

So at this age baby gerbils can not eat adult food including raspberries, and they are still fragile so it is best to avoid touching them anyway.

Between the ages of 3 to 5 weeks, gerbil pups start to gnaw on solid food as their teeth are fully developed, but they still rely on their mom’s milk for nutrition.

At this age, baby gerbils start exploring new solid food and can eat fruits and vegetables but only ones that are not water-rich, and raspberries are safe if fed to them in small quantities.

Gerbil babies are weaned at the age of five weeks and are considered adult gerbils and can feed on anything you feed their parents and other adult gerbils including raspberries.

Are raspberries safe for gerbils?

The raspberry fruit is considered nontoxic, so yes it is safe for gerbils to consume raspberries, of course, any fruit is to be consumed in moderation to avoid any gastric disturbances.

If not used to eating raspberries you should introduce it to your gerbils in very small quantities, and that’s not just for raspberries.

Gerbils are very sensitive to sudden changes in their diet and they are very susceptible to having diarrhea after any change in their diet.

Usually, when you buy new pet gerbils at a pet store or from a professional breeder, they’ll give you some of their food to phase out on it slowly not to disturb their diet.

All in all, raspberries are safe for gerbils if eaten in moderation, they contain no toxins and their water content is relatively moderate.

Do gerbils eat raspberries in the wild?

Gerbils are opportunistic food hoarders and in the wild their diet changes according to the seasons and where in the world they are, but typically they feed on seeds, roots, stalks grasses, and even some small insects.

Gerbils in some parts of the world can encounter many species of wild berries, but not raspberries in particular because they grow in areas and climates that gerbils are not known to live in.

However, most berries are fairly similar in their composition, so raspberries can be to a certain degree be classified as natural food for gerbils.

Do gerbils like raspberries?

In general gerbils like fatty seeds, crunchy foods they can gnaw on, and sweet fruits, so they really like raspberries.

If given a choice gerbils would choose raspberries over other fruits and that’s why you should only give your gerbils a reasonable amount.

How many raspberries can gerbils eat?

Raspberries are often used as a treat and not as primary food so feeding your gerbil too many raspberries would have a direct impact on his diet.

It is more appropriate to feed your gerbil one raspberry, and it’s more than enough for him to get the nutrients he needs to balance his diet.

As a general rule of thumb fruits and vegetables should not make more than 10% of the gerbil’s daily diet.

How often can gerbils eat raspberries?

Gerbils should be fed a variety of fruits and vegetables to benefit from different nutritious elements their pellets or seeds diet might lack.

So it would be best to feed your gerbil raspberries once a week or every couple of weeks and rotate with other fruits and vegetables to make it more balanced.

Are raspberries good for gerbils?

Raspberries are low in calories but high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, raspberries are also one of the lowest sugar fruits.

Vitamins C and E, selenium, beta carotene, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin are all examples of antioxidants, and they are all present in raspberries.

The fiber and water content in raspberries if consumed in reasonable amounts can help prevent constipation in gerbils and maintain a healthy digestive tract.

Raspberries are especially good for gerbils because they’re low in sugar and calories so they make a great treat to supplement and balance your gerbil’s diet.

Can gerbils eat wild raspberries?

Gerbils can eat wild raspberries, however, you should be very careful when feeding them to your gerbil as these can be easily mistaken for some very poisonous wild berries.

If there is one thing to remember is not to eat or feed your gerbils what you don’t know, if you are not used to picking wild raspberries and other wild berries it’s probably a good idea to avoid feeding them to your gerbils.

You should also be aware that even wild raspberries – although not exposed to pesticides- should be cleaned thoroughly before fed to your gerbil.

Raspberries nutrition facts

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

Here is the full nutrient data for raspberries:

Vitamins Carbs Fats and Fatty Acids Minerals

Can gerbils eat other parts of raspberries?

The raspberry bush has many edible parts that your gerbil can feed on, but still, the part that is safest and has the most nutrients is the fruit itself.

Can gerbils eat raspberry leaves?

Raspberry leaves are not poisonous so gerbils can eat them, in fact, they do contain plenty of nutrients that can be beneficial to the gerbils, they’ve been used for so long to make raspberry tea, but precautions have to be taken.

Commercially grown raspberries are often treated heavily with pesticides, in fact, they are number 23 on the Environmental Working Group Dirty Dozen list of fruits with the most pesticide residue.

It should also be noted that wilted or only partially dried out raspberry leaves have a toxic quality which can lead to diarrhea or gastric lesions in worst cases.

This is due to change in the chemical compounds present in the leaf as it starts to dry, that’s why raspberry leaves should be harvested fresh, cleaned thoroughly, and used right away.

Can gerbils eat raspberry canes?

Although not poisonous raspberry canes are not a good source of nutrition, they do contain some nutrients but they are not a good choice of food for gerbils.

Feeding gerbils low-quality plants is not a good idea and would only cause health issues and weight loss.

Ways gerbils can eat raspberries

Gerbils can and should eat raw raspberries because they are the most nutritious and safe for them, however, there are other ways gerbils can have raspberries.

Can gerbils eat frozen raspberry?

While still frozen raspberries should not be fed to gerbils but they can eat frozen raspberries once they have thawed and are brought to room temperature.

But it’s important to know that serving frozen fruits and vegetables can cause gastric issues to your gerbils if not thawed properly.

There is also the fact the frozen fruits lose some of their nutrients, so if the goal is a balanced and healthy diet it would be best to feed your gerbils raw raspberries or other fresh fruits if you can’t find any.

Can gerbils eat dried raspberry?

Gerbils can eat dried raspberries, although the portion should be much smaller in weight than raw raspberries.

When dried raspberries lose a lot of their weight and the concentration of sugar and other nutrients is very high compared to raw raspberries.

According to studies, dried raspberries contain approx five times more sugar as compared to raw raspberries.

If you are used to feeding your gerbil one raw raspberry then he should have one dried raspberry although it’s smaller and lightweight compared to raw fruits.

Dried raspberries are in fact healthier for gerbils if consumed in moderation because they contain very little water content.

Can gerbils eat canned raspberries?

Gerbils can not eat canned raspberries, in fact, they should not eat any canned food for that matter, they contain a lot of substances that could be harmful to your gerbil.

Canned fruits contain extra sugar or salt, color, preservatives, and many other ingredients that may be harmful to pets in general.

Gerbils should always be fed natural raspberries and canned fruits should always be avoided for all pets and not just gerbils.

Conclusion: can gerbils eat raspberries

• Gerbils can eat raspberries and they are a healthy treat they can consume to balance their diet.
• Gerbils can eat wild gerbils but if not sure you should not venture with wild fruits since they can be mistaken for other poisonous berries.
• Dried raspberries are also good for gerbils but the nutrients’ concentration is too high and should be fed in small amounts.
• Baby gerbils can eat raspberries starting from the age of 3 weeks.
• Raspberries are safe and healthy for gerbils but should not be consumed every day.

Other foods gerbils can eat

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

References