It's a good idea to take out most of the sunflower seeds and feed them by
hand as a treat- gerbils get fat quickly on these.
I feed every other night- I find this forces them to resort to eating some
of the more nutritional bits in the mix and also wastes less food.
I use food bowls in all my tanks and every single bowl is thoroughly
covered with bedding. This is a natural instinct they have to hide their
food supply from other animals that might intrude into their burrow. They
dig a small hole into the bedding when they want food from the dish but
they don't uncover it completely. If I'm worried that they've forgotten
about it, I just un-bury it to remind them.
A good item to add in with the mix that I've found most gerbils like are
rolled oats. You can also offer non/low-sugar cereals on occasion- mine are
partial to cheerios and rice krispies. I also give chunks of plain, no-salt
rice cakes that they go nuts for.
It's okay to offer fresh foods in small amounts- apples, carrots, leaf
lettuce (not iceberg). Mine aren't too crazy about most of those, although
I have a couple apple eaters and 1 romaine lettuce eater.
Welcome to the list!
Jill
----------
> From: Sharon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: New to list and eating question
> Date: Thursday, March 15, 2001 11:12 PM
>
> Hi,
>
> My name is Sharon and I joined this list a couple of weeks ago. I have
> a gerbil named Duncan, who I did not buy but acquired when a
> developmentally disabled client whom I worked with moved away and left
> her behind. I had been wanting a hamster but wouldn't buy an animal to
> keep in captivity (not judging here, just saying what's right for me).
>
> So, now I have Duncan and am hoping to give her the best life I can.
>
> I've seen a person or two mention that they are vegetarians, so just
> thought I'd mention that I am too.
>
> Now for my question. I've had Duncan for about 2 months. I've
> noticed that she seems to only eat the dried corn and sunflower seeds
> out of her food mix. She may eat some of the other parts of the mix
> occassionally, but I'm not sure about this. I do know for sure that
> she eats the two mentioned above, though. I've also tried to give her
> lettuce, carrot and apple, which she did not eat.
>
> I'm concerned about whether she is getting enough nutrients if she is
> just eating corn and sunflower seeds. What does everyone think? And
> if not, what can I do?
>
> Also, she has a food dish and when I put food in it at night, the next
> day she usually has filled the dish up with bedding material and has
> covered the food. I'm concerned about this also, because I don't
> know if she would uncover the food and eat if she got hungry. She
> doesn't seem to, but rather seems to go without after she covers the
> food.
>
> In addition to being concerned about her, I feel like she's wasting lots
> of food and I don't know what to do.
>
> Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sharon
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