Gerbils And Apples

Fruits and vegetables are a natural part of humans' diet. Apples are one of the most common fruits that people eat because of their vast dietary advantages.

However, gerbils differ from us humans and therefore, their dietary needs also vary from us. So can you give apples to your gerbils? Keep reading to find out. 

Are Apples Good For Gerbils?

Yes, you can give apples to gerbils. In fact, all varieties of apples are safe to give to them. However, they must only be given occasionally since they have high sugar and water content in them.

Gerbils cannot handle foods that have a lot of water content in them because their bodies cannot process the water. If you give them any food with high water content, it will give them diarrhea. 

Feeding your gerbil food with an exorbitant amount of sugar can also cause excessive weight gain in them, which can lead to serious health problems, even death.

That does not mean you can’t give apples to your gerbils. Many pet owners give it to them as a treat. Let’s look at the nutritional value of apples to understand more about their advantages. 

Nutritional Value Of Apples

Available in a variety of colours, flavours, shapes, and sizes, apple is a healthy fruit. It is well known for containing antioxidants. 

So apples are a very nutritious and tempting snack that can be given to gerbils. Along with antioxidants, they also contain fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and calories. Vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A and C, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium can also be found in apples. 

However, the calories in these apples are in the form of sugars, and as mentioned above, too much sugar is not good for them. So you must keep a check on the quantity of apples you give them.

How To Give Apples To Your Gerbils

When you decide you want to feed your gerbil apples, you first need to ensure that they fulfill your gerbil's dietary requirements.

Apples contain plenty of nutrients, but they do not completely satisfy your gerbil’s nutritional needs, so you need to add other essential nutrients in their diet through other staple food.

After that, you need to establish how to introduce apples to your gerbils. Start by giving them small quantities first to get an idea of how much they like to eat. This will prevent food wastage and you won’t have to find and clean up any rotten apples hiding in their cage. 

How Many Apples Can You Give To Your Gerbil

Before you give the apple to your gerbil, it is better to cut it into small bite-sized pieces so your gerbil doesn’t end up choking on them.

Make sure to also cut and remove the seeds, because they are not only a choking hazard, but also contain a small amount of cyanide which can prove very harmful to them.

After chopping the apples, just give them half a teaspoon only once or twice a week. Make sure not to exceed this amount otherwise your gerbils will suffer from stomach issues. 

If you want to feed them apples daily, the size of the serving should be smaller than the standard size. The standard size is approximately the size of the gerbil’s head per week.

Which Types Of Apples Can You Feed Your Gerbils

Some of the most common types of apples that you can give your gerbils are mentioned below:

• Fresh apples: Apples are most commonly eaten this way. Fresh apples are a juicy, tasty snack that can either be bought from an organic supermarket or grown in your own backyard. These apples should only be fed to gerbils 2 to 3 times per week, but don’t forget to remove the seeds first! You’ll also have to clean your gerbils' cage regularly if you give them fresh apples because they go bad quickly.
• Dehydrated apples: 90 to 95% water of these apples have been removed. This makes them delicious and gerbils love to eat them. However, having less water also means that these apples are more nutrient and sugar-dense, so only give these to your gerbils in small quantities.
• Dried apples: these are also commonly known as apple crisps because they are put in an oven to make them crispy. They have almost all of their water removed, which makes them nutrient-dense, so these should also be fed in small quantities. Try to make these apple crisps yourself at home because store-bought crisps have a higher amount of sugar in them.

Can You Give Apple Juice To Gerbils?

Apple juice sounds delicious and we as humans love to consume it, but it is not suitable for gerbils. Juices contain a massive amount of sugar, and apple juice is no exception.

Gerbils’ body cannot process such an exorbitant amount of sugar, and therefore it can cause them many stomach issues. It is also bad for their teeth. So it is better to just stick with natural apples and apple juice should not be given to them.

Can You Give Apple Peel To Gerbils?

Yes, you can! The skin of an apple is a substantial source of nutrients, and contains a larger amount of them than the rest of the apple.

Apple peel can be given to gerbils this means you just have to cut the apple and give it to them. No need to peel them.

However, be sure to wash them properly to get rid of any chemicals that might be present on the peel. It is best to feed your gerbils natural apples that are not sprayed with pesticides.

Conclusion

Apple is a healthy fruit that is perfectly safe for gerbils, given that it is fed only in small quantities. However, when you are first introducing apples to your gerbil’s diet, watch out for any signs of digestive issues such as diarrhea or a noticeable reduction in activity levels.

It is also important to remove the seeds of the apple because they are toxic and can even prove to be fatal for your gerbil.

Other Questions

Can gerbils eat strawberries?

Yes, strawberries can be given to gerbils. But they lack many essential nutrients such as fat, protein, sodium chloride, vitamin B, and magnesium, so balance their diet by adding staple food to it.

In addition, the amount of high water and sugar content present in strawberries is not suitable for gerbils because their body cannot process them properly. So they should be given in moderation only.

If you give them more than what is recommended, it can cause stomach issues for them. Ideally, once or twice a week, half a teaspoon of chopped strawberries is enough for them. 

Can gerbils eat carrots?

Yes, gerbils can eat carrots. Orange, white, or purple many carrots are safe for gerbils. They are delicious, and that is why they are often given to gerbils as a treat. They are rich in vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.

Most of the calories in carrots are as sugar, and an exorbitant amount of sugar is not good for gerbils, therefore, only a small quantity of carrots should be given to them.

Gerbils have a sensitive digestive tract, so carrots should be gradually introduced to their diet in small portions. If you are giving unpeeled carrots to your gerbils, wash them properly first. 

Can gerbils eat grapes?

Grapes can be given to gerbils. They make for a delicious treat but they also contain water and sugar which are not suitable for gerbils in large amounts.

The digestive system of a gerbil cannot process water and sugar, so they get sick if you give them food with high water and sugar content. Grapes are also acidic, so one or two grapes, twice a week, are fine for gerbils.

Grapes in liquid form such as juice or wine are not recommended for them, because juices are very sweet and wine contains alcohol. Even a small amount of alcohol can be dangerous for gerbils, so avoid doing that.