Can Gerbils Eat Bananas? Gerbils make great pets. And expect their hoppy legs and twitchy noses to be around for as long as 10 to 12 years. If you decide to purchase a Gerbil, make sure you’re prepared to care for them long enough!
They’re also very low maintenance and won’t be running around the house scratching your sofas or chewing your favorite pair of slippers. But as with any pet, they need appropriate housing, socialization, exercise, and food.
When it comes to their nutrition, there are a few things you need to take care of. Gerbils need a well-balanced and high fiber diet to maintain their body and teeth health with unlimited access to grass or hay grass.
Can Gerbils Eat Bananas?
This may lead you to wondering whether you can feed your Gerbil bananas as they are rich in several important nutrients and relatively high in fiber. The answer is: yes, you can feed your Gerbil bananas.
What are the nutritional requirements of Gerbils? – Can Gerbils Eat Bananas?
Gerbils’ teeth are constantly growing and need to be worn down by eating small amounts of food frequently. 2 to 8g of food, 30 times a day is normal for Gerbils.
Carbohydrates
Like humans’ Gerbils also have basic nutritional needs and require an adequate amount of carbohydrates, fiber, water, and calcium. Therefore, they should have access to unlimited grass to nibble on.
If your Gerbils stay indoors mostly and don’t have access to grass, you can use grass hay is an alternative source of carbohydrate. Gray hay is also one of the best treats for Gerbils.
However, make sure you’re feeding them store-bought grass hay and not lawn clippings because they rapidly ferment and may give your Gerbil an upset stomach.
Fiber
Fresh green vegetables, for example, celery, broccoli, lettuce, and cabbage are also an essential part of a balanced diet but shouldn’t be their only source of food.
The fiber content in these vegetables is very low and as mentioned above, Gerbils need a diet high in fiber. They also need a tablespoon of commercial Gerbil nuggets twice a day, every day.
High fat and high sugar foods, for example, carrots and other root vegetables should only be used as environmental enrichment and should be fed in very small amounts.
This raises the question: what should you not feed your Gerbil? There are many toxic food and plants growing in your garden that you should avoid feeding your Gerbil.
In addition, many people have this misconception that muesli is good for Gerbils because it is high in fiber. Do not feed your Gerbils muesli! They aren’t huge fans of muesli and tend to leave the bits they don’t like – leading to nutritional deficiencies. It can also cause dental disease.
Water
While it goes without saying, fresh and cool water must be always available to them. Water is vital and Gerbils must always have access to plenty of water. Gerbils eating more grass and greens will drink less water, whereas those eating hay will drink more.
Water is absolutely essential for keeping cells and organs of the body alive; it is a major part of blood, and your Gerbil wouldn’t be able to survive without it; water keeps everything moving in the gut and it will flush out excess calcium which can be toxic for Gerbils.
If your pet isn’t well-hydrated, their digestive system won’t work properly. Ingested food has to be kept moist at all times so it moves freely through the gut – you don’t want food sitting in a Gerbil’s gut because it can be quite life-threatening.
Calcium
Calcium is a very important mineral for Gerbils. They need it for strong, healthy bones and teeth. In addition, calcium is also essential for preventing dental problems and osteoporosis in Gerbils.
Some leafy greens, such as, collards, dandelion greens, escarole, Swiss chard, parsley, and kale are rich in calcium. Unlike humas, Gerbils absorb every bit of calcium from their food to keep their bones and teeth strong.
And just as little calcium can cause problems, excess can too. For this reason, these foods should be fed in limited quantities as they can lead to development of bladder stones if fed in excess.
Are Bananas Good For Gerbils?
Gerbils love the flavor of bananas! Bananas are the best fruit for Gerbils as they can safely eat them.
You can also feed them the peel of bananas, as long it’s washed first. However, start slow and see how your Gerbil reacts to the new food.
Can Gerbils Eat Bananas Every Day?
Yes – according to vets, Gerbils can eat bananas in small amounts safely, every day. Keeping in mind that an average adult Gerbil shouldn’t be fed more than 2 tablespoons of bananas in a day.
Are Bananas Harmful To Gerbils?
There is some caution against bananas and some veterinarians even recommend limiting all kinds of fruits to very small quantities.
When feeding Gerbils bananas, keep in mind to start slow and give them time to react to the new foods.
Do Gerbils Like Bananas?
Yes – Gerbils seem to love the flavor of bananas!
Can Gerbils Eat Banana Peels?
Yes – you can feed Gerbils banana peels but make sure you’re washing it first.
Can Eat Banana Leaves?
Yes – banana leaves are safe for Gerbils. Your Gerbils may like nibbling on banana leaves and can be introduced as a part of a balanced diet.
What Is A Gerbil’s Favorite Treat?
Sweet vegetables like carrots and squash are the best treats for Gerbils. Fruit treats like apples (without the seeds), apricots and blackberries are also a great addition to your Gerbil’s diet.
This triad of fruits make great treats and are rich in essential nutrients. Banana peels are also a good treat but make sure you’re feeding them sparingly.
Conclusion – Can Gerbils Eat Bananas?
Can Gerbils Eat Bananas? In conclusion, your best bet would be to visit a local vet, a pet shop near you or a Gerbil breeder and speak to them about the most suitable diet for your pet. Remember, it is important that you introduce new foods to their diet slowly to avoid stomach upset.