Gerbils are a rodent family and great to be pets with low maintenance, good for kids, cute and small so you can carry them around. Pet owners can provide gerbils with foods like seeds, leaves, vegetables, and grains.
If gerbils can eat several types of vegetables, is cabbage safe for gerbils to eat?
Can gerbils eat cabbage? Yes, gerbils can eat cabbage because it doesn’t contain any toxins even though it tastes bitter. Cabbage has a crunchy texture, and gerbils enjoy it. You can only give cabbage to gerbils in moderation because it doesn’t contain many beneficial minerals and vitamins that gerbils need.
Now we will find out how to serve cabbage to gerbils and the benefits that gerbils get when they eat cabbage.
Can Gerbils Eat Cabbage?
Cabbage is a cultivated plant with smooth and thick crinkled leaves available in different colors. Gerbils can chew cabbage and enjoy the crunchiness, so they won’t reject any cabbage you prepare.
If you’ve never given cabbage to gerbils, try introducing small pieces of cabbage and letting them munch it. Gerbils who start to enjoy the taste and texture of cabbage can eat for another time.
Don’t worry if there are gerbils who are not interested in cabbage. You can mix it with other foods until they can try to eat it.
Can Gerbils Have Cabbage?
Yes, gerbils can have cabbage because it’s a vegetable rich in protein and fiber that is useful for gerbil’s health. You can only give cabbage to gerbils as a treat and cannot make cabbage the primary diet for your pet.
Gerbils don’t need too much water in their diet. Too much cabbage will give a lot of water content in the gerbil’s body.
Gerbils are pets that have been adapted to live in parched conditions and cannot live with too much water intake.
Do Gerbils Eat Cabbage?
Cabbage is edible for gerbils. You don’t need to rush if you want to introduce cabbage to gerbils. Put a few pieces of cabbage, and let your pet take it and taste it. Gerbils can eat cabbage without a problem, but only as a treat.
Too much cabbage can make gerbils get diarrhea because cabbage has a high water quantity, and gerbils don’t need a lot of water for their diet.
One or two slices of cabbage are enough for gerbils, and stop giving cabbage for up to a week.
Can Gerbils Eat Cabbage In The Wild?
Gerbils are omnivores. They can eat whatever they want. Wild gerbils eat lots of vegetables and can eat any cabbage they find in the wild.
But gerbils will find it challenging to find cabbage because it doesn’t grow naturally in their living environment.
Gerbils can only find cabbage in the garden or for pet gerbils whose owners specifically give cabbage as a treat.
Cabbage is harmless for gerbils in the right amount. Wild gerbils can nibble a cabbage little by little because they enjoy the texture even though it tastes bitter.
Can Baby Gerbils Eat Cabbage?
Baby gerbils need mother’s milk until they are ready for solid food. After 5 weeks, baby gerbils can start eating seeds, grains, and cut vegetables. Don’t put food in the food bowl because baby gerbils can fight for their food.
Sprinkle the food and let the baby gerbils find and eat the food you have prepared. You can prepare various kinds of food, and cabbage is one of the best treats for baby gerbils.
Remember, baby gerbils can only eat a smaller portion of cabbage than adult ones.
Are Gerbils Allowed Cabbage?
Gerbils are small animals. They can only eat one to two slices of cabbages for health benefits. Too much cabbage is not good for gerbils’ health.
You can put the cabbage pieces after being washed in cold water in their food bowl and let them finish.
Not only gerbils, but you can also give cabbage to hamsters. Is cabbage good for hamsters? Same with gerbils, cabbage is only allowed for hamsters in appropriate amounts and acts as a treat.
Cabbage contains high levels of calcium. Hamsters cannot stand high amounts of minerals and can present health complications, such as kidney stones.
Can Gerbils Eat Cabbage Leaves?
Cabbage are safe for gerbils because they are not poisonous or contain anything toxic. Cabbage has a bitter taste but gerbils enjoy eating it because of its crunchy texture and won’t resist.
Give us a small chuck of the leaf because we have to adjust the portion of cabbage, which is good for the gerbil’s health.
Giving entire cabbage leaves to gerbils can cause gerbils to get diarrhea due to too much water intake. Gerbils would have no problem eating a whole leaf of cabbage, but problems started after a few hours of eating them.
Can Raw Cabbage Kill Gerbils?
Raw cabbage cannot kill gerbils if you can serve it properly. Every vegetable you buy at the store must be washed in cold water to ensure there are no pests or pesticides still attached after harvest.
To ensure the cabbage is safe for pet gerbils, you must know the nutritional value of 100 grams of cabbage.
Nutrients | Amounts |
Carbohydrates | 5.8 g |
Fiber | 2.5 g |
Fat | 0.1 g |
Protein | 1.28 g |
Sugar | 3.2 g |
Vitamin C | 36.6 mg |
Vitamin K | 76 μg |
Calcium | 40 mg |
Iron | 0.47 mg |
Potassium | 170 mg |
Sodium | 18 mg |
Zinc | 0.18 mg |
Water | 95% |
Is It Safe To Feed Gerbils Cabbage?
Cabbage is good food for gerbils in the right amount. You can see cabbage contains acidic content and a huge amount of water. If you are not observant in giving portions to gerbils, then you can cause diarrhea for gerbils.
Gerbils will only be safe if you nibble a little cabbage as a treat, and it is not suitable to choose cabbage as a gerbil’s primary diet because there is too much water in it.
Don’t force gerbils to eat vegetables with lots of water because they don’t need that much water in their bodies.
Can you feed cabbage to hamsters? Both hamsters and gerbils can enjoy eating cabbage in small amounts. Hamsters and gerbils have the same risk if they consume too much cabbage. This vegetable should only be given in moderation to your pet.
Can Gerbils Eat Green Cabbage?
Green cabbage is the most frequently chosen by pet owners for gerbil treats other than white cabbage. The benefits of green cabbage are the same as others.
You can cook the cabbage to reduce water content while maintaining the necessary nutrients for your pet.
Don’t give any seasoning to green cabbage because seasoning like salt can harm the gerbil’s health. Gerbils have no problem with the bitter taste of cabbage because they enjoy eating it because of the crunchy texture.
But don’t be surprised if not all gerbils will like green cabbage. My gerbils won’t eat any fresh food like cabbage and choose to eat dried food.
But vets do not recommend giving too much-dried food because there are many preservatives.
Can Gerbils Eat Red Cabbage?
Yes, red cabbage is a safe food for gerbils in appropriate amounts. Red cabbage is a common variety with the same nutrients as white cabbage.
The difference is that red cabbage takes longer to cook and is crunchier in texture than regular cabbage.
When compared to white cabbage, gerbils will choose red cabbage that they like for its texture. Don’t worry if there are stains after the gerbils eat red cabbage because that color doesn’t cause any health problems.
Can Gerbils Eat Fresh Cabbage?
Fresh cabbage is a great way to serve it to your pet. You can clean the cabbage with cold water to ensure the cabbage has no dust, pests, or pesticides that can harm your gerbil.
Be careful about the portion you give the gerbils because fresh cabbage has 95% water content which can cause diarrhea for your pet.
One of the benefits of giving cabbage to treat is low carbohydrates. Gerbils will not become overweight even if they eat cabbage because they will meet your gerbil’s carbohydrates needs.
Can Gerbils Eat Raw Cabbage?
Cabbage is a healthy snack for gerbils. The right amount of carbohydrates fit the energy requirements of the gerbils.
Cabbage contains almost no fat so it is safe for gerbil’s health. Even if gerbils eat too much cabbage, they won’t gain significant weight.
But avoid giving gerbils too much cabbage because gerbils don’t need vegetables with a lot of water content.
How much cabbage can hamsters eat safely? Gerbils and hamsters will safely eat about one to two slices of cabbage once or twice a week. You can only give cabbage in moderation because it can cause gastrointestinal problems for your pet if it overeats.
Final Verdict – Can Gerbils Eat Cabbage
Gerbils love to eat cabbage because of its crunchiness, even though it has a bitter taste. You can introduce cabbage slowly until they approach it and nibble it until it runs out.
Gerbils can’t overeat cabbage because the water content in cabbage is up to 95%. Gerbils do not need food with too much water content because it can cause diarrhea.
There are many health benefits that gerbils can get when eating cabbage, such as improving their calcium intake, the right amount of carbohydrates, and preventing dehydration due to water content.
As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet gerbil a good and comfortable life!
Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️
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