Pineapple is a perfectly fine and safe treat for gerbils. However, it should be offered in small quantities due to the high presence of natural sugar. They are a rich source of vitamins C, A, fiber, potassium other essential nutrients, which offer great health benefits to your gerbils.
However, as I said, they have a high sugar content which is not suitable for gerbils, so you should offer them in small quantities. Overfeeding may upset their stomach, causing diarrhea, loose stool etc.
Also, high sugar can lead to obesity and diabetes.
Therefore, keeping the serving small is important to avoid health problems.
Read to know more
Table of Contents
What Do Gerbils Usually Eat?
In the wild, gerbils scavenge their food and eat everything.
Originally, gerbils are found in the sandy areas of the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Gerbils are omnivores and prefer foods like grass, plant root, seeds, fruit, or vegetables.
Typically gerbils eat –
- High-quality gerbil mix, seeds, and pellets should be a staple part of their diet.
- Gerbils can have 10% of their total diet as fruits or vegetables; they have a high nutritional value which helps them balance their diet.
- While gerbils do not drink much water, they should have access to fresh water 24/7 in their cage, preferably by a pet bottle.
- You can also sparingly give mealworms, crickets, and other insects a few times a week. They are a good source of protein.
In general, gerbils eat low-water-based foods due to their environment. Gerbils do not need high water in their diet; if they do so, they will likely experience digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhea or loose stool.
Can Gerbils Eat Pineapple?
Technically yes, gerbils can have pineapple, but it’s not recommended. The reason is simple; the acidic level of pineapple is near 3-4 pHs which is much higher than required. The high amount of citrus acid in pineapple is particularly irritating to the tongue and the delicate mouth of your gerbil when they eat it.
Besides, the water and sugar content of pineapple isn’t suitable either. They are relatively high and can easily mess up their sensitive digestive system, leading to gastric diarrhea, which contributes to dehydration.
Pineapples have health benefits but are not worth the risk, so I do not recommend feeding them to your gerbils.
Thus, avoid pineapple as much as possible to keep your gerbil healthy and happy.
Can Pineapple Be Bad For Gerbils?
Yes, pineapple can be bad!
While pineapple doesn’t contain anything toxic compound, overfeeding can negatively impact your gerbils. Pineapple is a tropical fruit with a high sugar content that is not suitable for gerbils.
A small bite of pineapple won’t likely make your gerbil sick, but overfeeding can upset their stomach leading to bloating, diarrhea, or loose stool.
Pineapple has natural sugar, but the excess sugar can be harmful to gerbils. It can make your gerbils gain some extra pounds. Also, there is a high chance of diabetes as well.
Lastly, pineapple has a presence of natural acids which can cause discomfort in the mouth, tongue and internal lining of the stomach.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid feeding pineapples and keep an eye out if they have some.
Do Gerbils Like Pineapple?
Yes and no.
Generally, gerbils enjoy having sweet treats; however, they may not like pineapple due to its high acidic content. Gerbils may experience an irritating sensation in their mouth lining and tongue after having it, so some may not eat it.
Moreover, pineapple doesn’t provide really provide any nutrients that gerbils can’t go without. So, it doesn’t really matter if you feed it or not.
Thus, consider feeding gerbils some safe foods that can offer them better health benefits, like seeds, nuts or pellets, instead of experimenting with pineapple.
Health Benefits of Pineapple for Gerbils
Pineapple is highly nutritious; they are a rich source of vitamin A, C, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and other inflammatory properties.
Despite its high sugar content, this tropical fruit has some notable health benefits if fed in small quantities.
According to the Healthline article, one cup of pineapple contains:
- Calories: 83
- Fat: 1.7 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Carbs: 21.6 grams
- Fiber: 2.3 grams
- Vitamin C:
Other potential health benefits of pineapple include:
The vitamin A of pineapple is highly beneficial for your gerbil’s eyes. They help improve your pet’s eyesight and lower the chance of eye problems. Also, a diet rich in vitamin A boosts the immune system and keeps the reproduction system, another organ, in proper function.
While small omnivore can produce their own vitamin C, a hint of it won’t harm your gerbils. They will boost tissue growth and immunity, especially if your gerbil is recovering from illness.
Pineapple also contains a decent amount of calcium, potassium and phosphorus, which helps the body’s overall growth.
They are also a rich source of antioxidant properties, preventing the body from the harmful effects of free radicals.
Risks To Consider When Feeding Pineapple
Pineapple itself is highly nutritious. They are a rich source of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, and potassium. It is also famous for its antioxidant properties; however, pineapple has some potential risks when considering it for your gerbils.
Here are some potential risks of feeding pineapple:
Digestive issues –
Gerbils have a sensitive digestive tract, and an upset stomach is the most common issue when they eat something new, like pineapple. Also, the high acidic content of pineapple can lead to gastrointestinal problems like bloating, diarrhea and loose stool.
Therefore, if your gerbils are eating pineapple for the first time, give it a bite and see how they react. If you notice any adverse effect, immediately stop giving it further.
Obesity –
Another problem that arises with pineapple is obesity. Pineapple has a high amount of sugar which is not good for gerbils. In the wild, gerbils do not consume high sugary fruits so their body cannot handle high sugar leading to unnecessary weight gain and obesity.
With obesity, your pets are more likely to feel high blood pressure and cholesterol problems. Also, it increases the chance of all types of heart diseases and strokes. It can also raise the possibility of diabetes.
Highly Acidic –
Pineapple is a highly acidic tropical fruit. They have a low pH level which makes them acidic. This is the reason you feel discomfort while eating pineapples. Similarly, this may cause irritation in your gerbils’ mouth, tongue and stomach.
So, it’s best to avoid giving pineapple to your gerbils. Opt for other safe and healthy choices.
Also, avoid canned pineapple as they contain a high amount of sugar, salt, artificial flavors and preservatives, which is unsafe for gerbils. They can cause several digestive problems like bloating, diarrhea, loose stool, and serious issues.
Malnourishment –
Pineapple itself is a nutrient fruit but not sufficient enough for gerbils. Feeding pineapple frequently has the risk of missing out on important nutrients they might get from a balanced diet and variety of fruits.
This could further lead to serious issues like malnourishment.
So, to deal with this problem, you must have a balanced diet for your gerbils that includes grains, seeds, pellets and various fruits or vegetables. Commercial food like gerbil mix should also be a staple part of their diet.
How Much Pineapple Should Gerbils Have?
Tiny bites!
To be honest, gerbils shouldn’t eat pineapple at all. They are highly acidic, which can irritate their stomach and may lead to other issues. Also, they are high in sugar, which can cause unnecessary weight gain.
However, generally, gerbils shouldn’t have more than 10% of their total diet.
If your gerbils eat a small bite of pineapple, they should be fine, but more than that can be harmful to your pets. Therefore, you should strictly monitor what your gerbils eat. Otherwise, they’ll fill up their stomach with low nutrients food and miss out on essential vitamins and minerals.
How Often Can Gerbils Eat Pineapple?
Pineapple is not recommended for gerbils; however, you shouldn’t feed this tropical fruit more than twice to your gerbils.
The reason is simple; pineapple contains a high amount of sugar which is not good for gerbils. Due to their natural habit, their digestive system cannot handle a large amount of sugar in their diet, leading to digestive problems such as diarrhea, gas and loose stool.
Also, high sugar can cause your gerbils to gain some extra pounds.
Lastly, the acidic content of pineapple may cause discomfort in your gerbil’s stomach and irritate their mouth, tongue etc.
Thus, it’s best to avoid feeding pineapple and choose healthy treat options.
How To Properly Prepare Pineapple For Gerbils?
Pineapple is a highly nutritious tropical fruit, but it needs a little preparation before you eat it. Similarly, you must prepare it for your gerbils. You can’t simply throw a pineapple at them at say, “hey buddy eat it” No, that’s not the case.
However, preparing a pineapple for your gerbils is pretty simple and easy.
- Begin with selecting the right pineapple for your gerbils. The pineapple you have chosen should be properly ripped, soft and sweet smelling otherwise the tartness or acidic content would be much higher.
- Now cut off the top and peel the pineapple. Also, remove the eyes of the pineapple. Cutting pineapple could be tough, so I advise you to get it cut from the selling vendor.
- After, you wash the pineapple thoroughly to remove the dirt probably attracted while peeling off the skin.
- Then slice the pineapple into pieces, remove the middle part of it, and chop it into small pieces so that your gerbils can enjoy it freely.
- Lastly, once your gerbil has completed eating, remove any leftover fruit from its cage before it goes bad and starts smelling. It may also attract flies after some time as well, which is not good for your pet.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, gerbils can have pineapple, but it’s not recommended. Gerbils are small omnivore rodents that typically eat almost everything, including seeds, nuts, and various fruits and vegetables. Though pineapple doesn’t contain any toxic compounds, I do not recommend it for multiple reasons.
Pineapples are very high in citric acidic, irritating the internal lining and tongue and may cause reflux symptoms. Also, the sugar content of pineapple is way higher than required leading to stomach upset, gastric problems, diarrhea and other issues.
Considering all these factors, avoiding pineapple is best to keep your gerbils healthy instead of opting for other safe treats like gerbil mix, seeds and pellets.
For more information, you can also contact your vet.
Other Useful Articles: