Gerbils favorite foods are seeds and nuts, high in fatty oils. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and peanuts are favorites of most gerbils, though they have individual preferences. Do not give them too many - you will make them fat, and unhealthy. Gerbils like them so much they will eat huge amount even when they are not hungry, and will even take them from your fingers, often. They also enjoy fruit peel such as orange and banana. In fact, gerbils will eat almost anything; dog biscuits and chews; rat food; rabbit food; guinea pig food; oats; various "special" treats from pet shops, which in fact were not appreciated nearly as much as some parsnip cores. Most weeds dubbed as safe for grazing animals like rabbits or guinea pigs are fine for gerbils, although if unsure do not take the risk. They also love veggies, but to many can cause obesity, or make them very, very sick causing diarrhea. Some gerbils love to eat treats, but some other's can limit themselves.

Although the gerbil mix will provide the gerbil with a good basic diet, gerbils also enjoy fruit and vegetables. However, it is important that fruit and vegetables should be introduced to a gerbil's diet gradually as a sudden large amount of fruit or vegetables can cause diarrhea. To begin with the gerbil should only be given a small piece of fruit or vegetable once or twice a week and over a period of weeks this gradually be increased to larger amounts fed every day. If at any time the gerbil shows signs of diarrhoea all feeding of fruit and vegetables should stop until the gerbil has recovered and then gradually re-introduced into the diet. Certain vegetables, herbs and fruit can be fed to gerbil. The gerbil should only be fed an amount it will eat as if the gerbil is fed too much and leaves vegetables and fruit in the cage it can become mouldy.

Fruit and vegetables that are safe to feed a gerbil are:

• Apple (seedless)
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower leaves and stalks
• Cucumber
• Lettuce - small amounts occasionally - in excess it can cause liver problems
• Parsley - a good tonic