Can gerbils eat Strawberries? Great treat or too much water?

Gerbils like to snack on a lot of different tasty fruits, many of which you can find in your kitchen. One of those sweet snacks, are strawberries that are not only tasty, and brimming with nutrients but also look cute when handled by a small gerbil. However, the question that needs to be answered is can gerbils eat strawberries?

Gerbils are often given fruits and veggies to supplement their diet and provide the nutrients they might miss feeding only on seeds, so are gerbils allowed strawberries?

Can gerbils eat strawberries?

Strawberries should be fed to gerbils on rare occasions, the water content of a strawberry is too high 92%, gerbils are known as desert rats, they live in an arid environment where water is very rare and their system is not used to handling foods with such a high water content such as strawberries, which are also acidic, so as a treat once a while gerbils can eat strawberries, but not as a primary part of their diet.

All water-rich foods are not good for gerbils, they sure are full of good nutrients, but when consumed in large quantities or too often they can cause diarrhea.

It is very important to look for healthy fruits to balance and supplement your gerbil’s diet, but what’s more important is to choose the best food for their main diet.

We strongly recommend feeding your gerbils pellets and not separate seeds as gerbils do tend to be picky with their food when abundant, they prefer fatty seeds and can if consumed in large quantities become fat.

The best food brand and safest for gerbils is the Oxbow Garden Select Fortified Gerbil Food (check current price at Amazon) it’s made of healthy natural ingredients and what’s great is that it’s made in the form of pellets which does not allow the gerbil to get picky.

Can baby gerbils eat strawberries?

Baby gerbils from birth to the age of three weeks feed exclusively on their mom’s milk, their teeth aren’t fully developed yet.

Newborn gerbils open their eyes at the age of three weeks and their teeth are also ready to gnaw on solid food, but they mostly feed on their mom’s milk.

Gerbil babies are weaned at the age of five weeks and can eat solid food like hay and seeds, but they have very sensitive tummies and can not handle water-rich foods like strawberries.

Gerbils are considered adults at the age of eight weeks and can eat whatever you’re feeding adult gerbils, but still, a large number of strawberries will probably cause them diarrhea.

Do gerbils eat strawberries in the wild?

Gerbils are widely known as desert rats, a name they got being desert species where water is not abundant and their buddies have adapted to that fact.

Strawberries are water-rich fruits that can not grow in the desert which means that the chances of gerbils eating strawberries in the wild are slim to none.

The natural habitat of the gerbil is an arid environment where water is hard to find that’s why gerbils don’t need to consume too much water and they make the most of the little they get that’s why they don’t pee too much and their feces are dry which make them great pets because they don’t smell.

Do gerbils like strawberries?

Despite the fact that gerbils don’t handle water-rich food very well, but that won’t stop them from consuming them when they’ve got the opportunity.

That is why you should never offer gerbils a large quantity of strawberries because they’ll eat it, and they seem to enjoy it.

Strawberries are crunchy and gerbils do love foods they can gnaw on, that’s why they do enjoy a strawberry on occasions.

How many strawberries can gerbils eat?

Like we’ve explained strawberries have too much water and low acidic content, so if consumed in large amounts they can cause gerbils diarrhea.

Half a strawberry is more than enough for a gerbil, and of course it should not be accumulated with other water-rich fruits and foods.

Gerbils that suffer from dehydration can be given a whole medium sized strawberry to help recover body fluids.

How often can gerbils eat strawberries?

Due to their water-rich nature strawberries should be fed to gerbils on occasions only to supplement their diet.

Once or twice a month is more than enough to cover your gerbil’s needs in fluids and to keep their digestive system safe.

Strawberries and similar fruits should be used as a high-value treat to tame your gerbils and encourage interaction, but not as a primary food.

Are strawberries safe for gerbils?

Strawberries are not toxic and do not present any kind of danger to gerbils even if consumed too often or in large amounts.

However, the gerbil’s digestive system can get disturbed if they consume too much and the worst thing that could happen is diarrhea.

All in all, strawberries are safe for gerbils and can be used for a complete and rich diet.

Are strawberries good for gerbils?

Strawberries like all fruits and vegetables are full of good nutrients your gerbil’s body needs, and although they’re too high in water content you can’t overlook the healthy nutrients.

Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese and also contain decent amounts of folate (vitamin B9) and potassium.

They are very rich in antioxidants which is great for your gerbil’s heart and overall health, and they do contain fiber which is also good for gerbils.

Strawberries nutrient facts

Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, manganese, folate (vitamin B9), and potassium. They contain small amounts of several other vitamins and minerals. They contain high amounts of beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants, such as pelargonidin, ellagic acid, ellagitannins, and procyanidins.

healthline.com

Vitamins

Carbohydrates

Minerals

Proteins and Aminoacids

What parts of the strawberries can gerbils eat?

Like all fruits the strawberry plant has many parts, some are edible and others are not, gerbils tend to eat roots and leaves in the wild so one may ask what parts of the strawberry are safe to feed a gerbil and if it should only be fed the flesh.

Can gerbils eat strawberry leaves?

In the wild gerbils do feed on a variety of grasses and leaves and they provide a good source of fiber, strawberry leaves aren’t toxic and can be eaten.

In most cases when bought at the supermarket or processed the strawberries we get are without leaves, but if you do get your hands on some with the greens on the top you can feed the tops to your gerbils.

It would make a better snack and easier snack to digest for a gerbil, a little fiber along with some of the sweetness of the flesh.

Can gerbils eat strawberry canes?

The strawberry canes aren’t very hard but they do not contain many nutrients, so they don’t make a good meal for a gerbil.

The goal is to feed your pet some healthy snacks to balance his diet and strawberry canes don’t have much to offer besides it’s really hard to come by unless you’re growing some yourself.

Can gerbils eat strawberry seeds?

It might come as a surprise for most people but what we call strawberry seeds aren’t actually seeds, they are in fact “the fruit” and within those fruits you can find tiny seeds.

So those “seeds” can actually be consumed safely, and it’s what gives the strawberry the crunchiness gerbils love.

Ways gerbils can eat strawberries

We as humans consume strawberries in different ways, but are gerbils allowed other than raw strawberries? are they safe for them?

Can gerbils eat frozen strawberries?

Gerbils should not consume frozen food unless it’s defrosted, food that is not room temperature can cause your gerbil’s body temperature to drop which is dangerous for a small animal.

Defrosted strawberries are not the same as the raw ones when it comes to the texture although they maintain almost the same nutrients if frozen right after picking.

It is always best to avoid feeding gerbils any sort of frozen food, they tend to be more watery and are more likely to be infected with bacteria.

Can gerbils eat dried strawberries?

Gerbils can eat dried strawberries, in fact they are healthier for them since they contain much less water and are more nutritious per weight.

The concentration of nutrients is much greater than raw strawberries, that’s why they should only be fed to gerbils in small amounts as treats and not as a primary food.

Can gerbils eat canned strawberries?

Canned strawberries or any canned food is not a good idea for gerbil food, they are full of preservatives and other chemicals that might be dangerous for a small mammal like the gerbil.

When looking for treats for your gerbil or any pet always keep away from processed and canned food anything with additions is a no-go.

Conclusion: can gerbils eat strawberries?

• Gerbils can eat strawberries in small amounts as treats.
• Strawberries can not be offered to gerbils as a part of their main diet.
• Strawberries are too rich in water for gerbils and can give them digestion problems and potentially diarrhea.
• Baby gerbils can not eat strawberries.
• Gerbils can eat dried strawberries in small amounts because of their higher concentration of nutrients.
• Canned strawberries are not good for gerbils.

Other foods gerbils can eat

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

References