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It is common knowledge that Gerbils can eat some human food. Peanut butter is made from a spread of butter, sugar, and other ingredients. It is one of the most controversial foods that raise a lot of questions about Gerbil’s diet. Can gerbils eat peanut butter?
Gerbils can eat peanut butter, it is safe for them to eat in a regulated amount. Peanut butter contains Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which are both antioxidants. It also includes a high amount of monounsaturated fat that can lower bad cholesterol in Gerbils.
Nevertheless, you might find contrary information that peanut butter is far too sweet for Gerbils. While this insinuation is true, it won’t leave a damaging effect on the Gerbils if you feed it to them occasionally. It also helps if you regulate the number of sweet foods you give Gerbils.
Gerbils can’t deal with excess sugars, unlike most other mammals. And this explains why some pet lovers have the opinion that peanut butter is best avoided for Gerbils.
Do They Like Peanut Butter?
Gerbils like peanut butter because of its sweet taste and attractive aroma. Who doesn’t like sweet foods? Even humans do. They also like it because it is easy for them to eat.
Peanut butter also offers some nutritional diets. It contains a significant amount of Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which are antioxidants. These antioxidants protect your pets from the harmful effects of free radicals. It can also serve as a quick fat and protein boost for breeding females and their newborns.
Likewise, peanut butter contains monounsaturated fats. This type of fat lowers the bad cholesterol in Gerbils’ body and make room for good cholesterols. Older Gerbils with teeth problem or sick Gerbils can benefit more from this diet.
Gerbils might eat peanut butter as often as you feed it to them. But it becomes unsafe when they consume it in high quantities because of the sugar level.
Peanut Butter Nutritional Profile
Listed below is the nutritional profile for 100g of peanut butter
- Energy : 2,463 kj
- Sugars : 9.2 g
- Fat : 50 g
- Protein 25g
- Calcium 54 mg
- Iron 2.2 mg
- Magnesium 179 mg
- Zinc 2.7 mg
Source for above stats
How to Give Peanut Butter to a Gerbil
The best way to give peanut butter to Gerbils is by placing it where they can lick it. You can smear a considerable portion of it on the side of the Gerbil’s cage. Leave the Gerbils to lick it off in no time eagerly.
You can give it up to an hour before you come back to wipe off the leftover butter from the wall. Don’t be surprised if you don’t find any leftovers because of the Gerbils’ love for this butter. Also, you don’t have to worry about them getting choked on the butter because it is highly unlikely for it to happen.
It is fun to watch these cute creatures lick off peanut butter. They can get a little messy about it, but their love for peanut butter will make them often lick their paws.
Below is a video I found on youtube which shows you ways to give your gerbil peanut butter.
[youtube v=”ml_lN9cce1A” start=”03:45″]
Can Gerbils Eat Peanut Butter Pretzels?
Peanut butter pretzels are another food option for Gerbils entirely. It is slightly different from ordinary peanut butter. It is a snack food in the form of a crisp biscuit that is flavored heavily with salt.
Unfortunately, Gerbils cannot eat peanut butter pretzels because it is too salty for them. Gerbils have a tough time processing salt in their body system; hence, food with high salt content is not suitable. Too much salt can cause a big problem for your Gerbils.
Conclusion
Gerbils eat a lot of human foods, and peanut butter seems to be a part of them. However, this food option requires high regulation because of its sugar level. Altogether avoid peanut butter pretzels for Gerbils because they can’t deal with the salt content. Occasionally offer peanut butter to your Gerbils and watch them lick it off happily.
