It can bring a lot of anxiety feeding your gerbils strawberries without knowing the impact it will have on their health.
Let’s find out from this article if your gerbils can have strawberries.
Can Gerbils Eat Strawberries?
Gerbils can eat strawberries but in moderation. Strawberries are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial ingredients for your gerbils’ health. Overfeeding strawberries leads to digestive issues such as diarrhea. Gerbils can eat the top and leaves of strawberries. Feed your gerbil a small piece of strawberries once or twice a week.
What Are strawberries?
Strawberries are bright red, juicy aggregate fruit. It is sweet and delicious. Strawberry has tiny yellow seeds on the skin.
Nutrition Facts About Strawberries
Strawberries are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial ingredients for your gerbil’s health. Strawberries have approximately 92% of water content.
According to the United State Department of Agriculture, 1 medium of strawberries(12g) has the following nutritional values.
- Calories -3,84 kcal
- Water – 10.8g
- Protein – 0.08g
- Fat – 0.036g
- Carbohydrate – 0.92g
- Fiber – 0.24g
- Sugars -0.58g
- Calcium – 1.92mg
- Magnesium-1.56mg
- Phosphorus – 2.88mg
- Potassium – 18.4mg
- Vitamin C -7.06mg
- Vitamin B6 – 0.006mg
- Folate – 2.88mcg
- Vitamin E – 0.035mg
Are Strawberries Good For Gerbils
Strawberries have benefits for your gerbils if fed in moderation.
Here is a list of the benefits of strawberries for your gerbils
Good Fiber
Strawberries contain good fiber. Fiber plays an essential role in the diet of your gerbils.
Fiber helps with the digestive system of your gerbils.
A diet high in fiber helps your gerbils get fuller without overeating.
You must remember not to feed your gerbils too many strawberries.
Good Hydration
Gerbils mostly get water from the food they eat. Strawberries are high in water content. The water content is approximately 92%.
Strawberries are a good source of hydration for your gerbils. But too many strawberries lead to an upset stomach.
Yes, gerbils don’t drink a lot of water. You must provide them with fresh water in a bottle secured to their cage. This is to prevent your gerbils from depending on their food for hydration.
Weight Management
Strawberries are generally low in fats, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids. Strawberries help if you want your gerbils to maintain their weight.
Your gerbils will not need to put on extra weight, which can impact their health.
Prevents Seizures In Gerbils
Strawberries have a good amount of magnesium. Studies have shown that gerbils fed food high in magnesium are less prone to seizures.
So feeding gerbils foods high in magnesium should reduce any seizures in your gerbils.
Healthy Bones and Muscles
Potassium is high in strawberries. Potassium helps in the growth and maintenance of your gerbil bone and muscles.
Is It Safe For Gerbils To Eat Strawberries?
Gerbils are safe for your gerbils to eat. But when you overfeed your gerbil strawberries, you risk harming their health.
Here are some of the risks we found.
Digestive issues
From the nutrition facts listed above, you can see strawberries contain sugar and high water content.
Feeding your gerbils too many strawberries lead to digestive issues such as diarrhea.
Pesticides Contamination
Strawberries are known to have residual pesticides even after washing. So as a gerbil owner, you must always look for organic fresh strawberries for your gerbils.
This will help avoid any nasty pesticides harming your gerbil
How To Feed Strawberries To Your Gerbils
Gerbils can eat strawberries. But how do you prepare it and feed them to your gerbils?
Here are a few instructions to follow
- Buy organic strawberries if you can
- Wash them properly to get rid of dirt or any residual pesticides
- Cut the strawberries into bite size to prevent choking
- Remove any leftovers from your gerbil’s cage after an hour
If this is the first time you feed your gerbil strawberries, start with a small piece and watch how they react to it.
If you observe any digestive issues, stop feeding gerbil strawberries and speak to a veterinarian.
How Many Strawberries Should You Feed Your Gerbils?
Gerbils should not eat strawberries every day. It would help if you fed your gerbil a small piece of strawberry once or twice a week.
Strawberries should be given as a treat.
Can Gerbils Eat Dried Strawberries?
Dried fruits contain high amounts of sugar. Dried strawberries also contain sugar which can impact their health,
So, gerbils can eat dried strawberries but in moderation. Most dried fruits from your supermarket have sugar added. So avoid them.
You can buy unsweetened fruits from health food stores.
Give your gerbils raw, fresh strawberries instead if they are available.
Can Gerbils Eat Frozen Strawberries?
Gerbils can eat frozen fruit but in moderation. We interviewed some gerbil owners and 80% confirmed they give their gerbils’ frozen strawberries.
They also confirmed they don’t give them too much and restrict it to only once a week as a treat,
Can Gerbils Eat Strawberries Leaves?
Gerbils can eat strawberry leaves. They do not contain any toxic substance that harms your gerbils.
Strawberry leaves are a source of iron, antioxidants, potassium, and other nutrients which are beneficial to your gerbils’ health.
Just like any food, feed your gerbils strawberry leaves in moderation.
Can Gerbils Have Strawberry Juice?
Gerbils can’t have strawberry juice. Strawberry juice contains added sugar and preservatives.
Too much sugar leads to digestive issues such as diarrhea.
Can Gerbils Eat Strawberry Jam Or Jelly?
Gerbils shouldn’t be fed jam or jelly. Strawberry jam or jell contains sugar and other preservatives.
These ingredients can impact their digestive health.
Can Gerbil Eat Strawberry Seeds?
Gerbils can eat strawberry seeds. The seeds are found on the outside of the fruit.
They are safe for your gerbils to eat. They do not pose any choking risk.
Can Gerbils Eat Strawberries Tops?
Gerbils can eat strawberry tops. The strawberries are less sweet than the flesh itself. This is good for your gerbils.
If your gerbils prefer to eat the flesh over the flesh, don’t worry. In that case, you need to limit the amount they eat.
Other Fruits Gerbils Can Eat
Apart from strawberries, there are other fruits you can feed your gerbils.
Here is a list of other fruits your gerbils can eat:
- Apples(without seeds )
- Blueberries
- Melons
- Peaches
- Pears
- Bananas
- Grapes
Final Thoughts
Gerbils can eat strawberries but in moderation. Strawberry has a significant amount of water. It contains around 92% water. It has also a substantial amount of sugar.
Strawberries are also full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial for your gerbils’ overall health.
If feed your gerbils too many strawberries it can lead to digestive issues such as diarrhea.
You can feed your gerbils strawberries leaves, seeds, and tops. But remember to feed in moderation.
Your gerbils shouldn’t be given any strawberry byproducts such as strawberry juice or strawberry jam. They contain too many sugars and preservatives.
So feed your gerbils a small piece of strawberries once or twice a week. Remove any leftover strawberries from your gerbil’s cage within an hour.
References
Nutrients Requirement of the Gerbil
Strawberries remain at the top of pesticide list, report says