Can Gerbils Eat Pineapple? (7 Interesting Facts)

Pineapple is undeniably delicious and nutritionally beneficial to us humans. But what about our pet gerbils? Is pineapple OK for the pet gerbils? Read on, to find out.

Can gerbils eat pineapple? No, gerbils should not eat pineapple. The sugar, moisture and acid content of pineapple is too high for gerbils. Moreover, the enzyme bromelain that is present in pineapple may be somewhat toxic to gerbils.

Thus it is best to resist the urge to share your pineapple with your beloved pet gerbils.

Is Pineapple Safe For Gerbils?

Pineapple is not really safe for gerbils. There are 4 things in pineapple that make it unsafe for gerbils.

Firstly, in pineapple, there is a lot of sugar. The sugar content in pineapple is such that a gerbil that feeds on pineapple is at risk of developing stomach upset.

Secondly, in pineapple, there is a high moisture content. Thus a gerbil that feeds on pineapple is at risk of developing severe diarrhea, on account of the excess moisture.

Thirdly, there is the acidity concern. Pineapples are already noticeably acidic for humans. Now just ask yourself, how much more are pineapples acidic for gerbils?

Fourthly, there is the presence of an enzyme called bromelain in pineapple. While humans may be able to withstand the bromelain in pineapple, small mammals like gerbils may find it too high. Thus there is potential for toxicity.

For all those reasons then, we can say that pineapple is unsafe for gerbils.

Is Pineapple Good For Gerbils In Any Way?

Although there are nutrients in pineapple that could benefit a gerbil, the risks of a gerbil eating pineapple are too high.  They outweigh the potential marginal benefits.

That is why it is best not to allow gerbils to eat pineapple. The risks of a gerbil eating pineapple are too high, in contrast to any (marginal) benefits a gerbil may get from pineapple.

The whole thing is similar to asking, is pineapple good for gerbils in any way? And in that case too, you find that the risks of gerbils eating pineapple outweigh the benefits.

Whatever nutrients a gerbil could get from pineapples, it can get from other sources. Therefore there is no point in feeding a gerbil on pineapple, and endangering its life.

Can Gerbils Eat Pineapple?

So far, we have seen that pineapple is very unsafe for gerbils. We have also seen that whatever nutritional benefits pineapple may have for gerbils, those are outweighed by its risks.

Considering those facts, and in all sincerity, can gerbils have pineapple as a food? The answer is obviously ‘no’.

You really don’t want to give your gerbil anything that could endanger its health.

The scenario we are looking at is similar to the one in which we often hear gerbil owners asking, can my gerbil eat pineapple? Then you have to give them a profile of the risks that the pets stand to suffer from eating the pineapple.

Once you take that sort of approach, it becomes clear that eating pineapple is not worthwhile for gerbils (or hamsters).

To add perspective to the issue, we just need to ask ourselves, do gerbils eat pineapple in the wild? And the answer is ‘no’. This then means that pineapple is an unnatural food for them.

And for that reason, it isn’t proper to feed pet gerbils on pineapple.

Can Baby Gerbils Eat Pineapple?

No, baby gerbils shouldn’t eat pineapple at all.

If a baby gerbil eats pineapple, there is a high chance of it suffering from severe diarrhea. That is due to the high moisture content in pineapple. The baby gerbil’s diarrhea may in turn translate into dehydration, which is life-threatening.

The high sugar content in pineapple meanwhile increases chances of the baby gerbil suffering from stomach upset.

And the acidic nature of pineapple, combined with the bromelain enzyme in it, can lead to complications for baby gerbils.

Therefore by all accounts, baby gerbils shouldn’t eat pineapple.

Can Adult Gerbils Eat Pineapple?

Adult gerbils shouldn’t eat pineapple either.

Pineapple has too much moisture, sugar and acidity even for adult gerbils.

Moreover, pineapple has an enzyme known as bromelain, which can be problematic for all gerbils.

Is There Any Form Of Pineapple Gerbils Can Eat?

Pineapple may be available in fresh or dried form. There are also pineapple chunks and pineapple leaves that can be procured.

What we now need to establish is whether any of these forms of pineapple may be suitable for gerbils to eat.

Can Gerbils Eat Dried Pineapple?

No, it is best to avoid feeding dried pineapple to gerbils.

Granted, such dried pineapple doesn’t come with the excess moisture concern. But nonetheless, the sugar, acid and bromelain enzyme contents in it can harm gerbils.

Therefore it isn’t right for gerbils to eat dried pineapple.

Can Gerbils Eat Fresh Pineapple?

Fresh pineapple tends to have a very high moisture content, which can cause gerbils to have severe diarrhea.

The level of sugar and acid in fresh pineapple is also unsettling, as is the presence of bromelain enzyme.

Therefore fresh pineapple is not a proper food for gerbils.

Can Gerbils Eat Pineapple Leaves?

Pineapple leaves may not be proper for gerbils to eat.

While the leaves may not have sugar as does the fruit, they can nonetheless still have much moisture and acidity.

Therefore it is best to refrain from feeding gerbils on pineapple leaves.

Can Gerbils Eat Pineapple Chunks?

Pineapple chunks are not safe for gerbils to eat.

One major problem you find in the pineapple chunks is the level of sugar they contain. This is way too high for a gerbil. It has the potential to cause stomach upsets.

Another concern is the level of moisture content in pineapple chunks. Again, this is way too high for gerbils. It has the potential to cause them diarrhea.

One also has to mention the acidic nature of pineapple chunks, as well as the bromelain enzyme they contain. None of these are any good for small pets like gerbils.

Therefore it is never a good idea to feed gerbils on pineapple chunks.

How To Prevent Gerbils From Feeding On Pineapples?

Having established that pineapple is not good for gerbils, the next question that arises is on how to prevent gerbils from feeding on it.

There are three strategies you can use, to prevent gerbils from feeding on pineapples.

First and most obviously is to refrain from deliberately giving the gerbils pineapple to eat.

Secondly, you need to ensure that gerbils don’t accidentally feed on pineapple: by keeping it out of their reach. This includes ensuring that any pineapple peels are out of your gerbils’ reach.

Thirdly, you need to ensure that any canned foods you share with your gerbil don’t contain pineapple as an ingredient. So you check through the list of ingredients, and if you find pineapple, don’t share the food with your gerbils.

Final Verdict – Can Gerbils Eat Pineapple

Gerbils should never eat pineapple. Pineapple has a lot of moisture in it. Gerbils that eat pineapple tend to end up with bad cases of diarrhea. This is a diarrhea that may leave the gerbils badly dehydrated, and at risk of dying.

Pineapple also has a lot of sugar in it. This is sugar that, in the short run, can cause stomach upsets in the gerbils. And it is sugar that, in the long run, can lead to major health complications for the gerbils.

Further, pineapple has a lot of acid, which is not good for the health of small pets like gerbils.

At yet another level, pineapple has an enzyme called bromelain. The level of bromelain in pineapple may be alright for bigger mammals like us humans. But it is way too much for small mammals like gerbils.

Therefore it is best to refrain from allowing gerbils to eat pineapple in all its forms.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet gerbil a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

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! ❤️