Anyone know anything about gerbils?

[rothenb1]

I have two gerbils. They're sisters; one is black, one is blond. They're a little over a year old, and super happy together. But my blond one is FAT. Fat like... obese. The black one is normal sized.

I feed them 75% lab chow, 25% seed mix ("Fiesta" by Kaytee), and they get a fresh salad (lettuce greens and shredded carrot) every day. They've got a wheel, always something to chew on, and a little house.

Anyone have any idea how my little blond one could have gotten so fat, while her sister is... normal? Is there anything I can do about it?

[Wild Turkey]

Sounds like too much protein, try feeding them less dog food or get their protein from another source. From what I read gerbils need up to about 20% protein diet which is high for rodents, but more than that and they will get fat. Dog food for older dogs has less protein and is used for rodents a lot because of it.

Why the other one isnt fat I cant say for sure but it probably is getting less/has a higher metabolism etc.

[rothenb1]

Sounds like too much protein, try feeding them less dog food or get their protein from another source. From what I read gerbils need up to about 20% protein diet which is high for rodents, but more than that and they will get fat.

Why the other one isnt fat I cant say for sure but it probably is getting less/has a higher metabolism etc.

It's not dog food. It's "rat chow" the same stuff given to lab rats.

[Wild Turkey]

It's not dog food. It's "rat chow" the same stuff given to lab rats.

What the % protein?

For rats its probably pretty low, but 75% of their diet is a lot.

[rothenb1]

Crude Protein 21.0%
Crude Fat 4.5%
Crude Fiber 7.0%
Moisture 12.0%

[rothenb1]

The reason I give them so little of the seed mix is because peanut, sunflower, alfalfa, and millet are some of the main ingredients, which I know are very fattening.

[Wild Turkey]

Well for the record thats too much for rats. Sounds right on target for gerbils.

Its also possible that one gerbil is getting the lions share of the food. Have you noticed anything like that?

How about exercise?

[rothenb1]

They nibble on the food throughout the day so I haven't really noticed any eating patterns. Come to think of it, I haven't seen the blond one on the wheel in a really long time. The black one runs so vigorously on it she knocks it over!

[Wild Turkey]

Factors like that are probably contributing. I would research deeper into the diet and in the mean time spend some extra time observing dietary and exercise patterns.

I keep rats not gerbils but see similar personality traits come into play with weight a lot.

Edit: Just to make sure, they are the same sex, correct?

[rothenb1]

Yup, sisters.