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Post by gerbilsandme on Jan 5, 2004 21:09:17 GMT -4
Hello everyone!
We had some good conversations about bedding, food, etc. going before the board was hacked and deleted.
Last week, I was going to ask what type of food everyone buys/makes/mixes for their gerbils and why you use the type of food that you do. Especially since we have members in both the US and the UK, where availability of various gerbil foods may vary. Thanks!
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Post by shashig on Jan 5, 2004 21:30:21 GMT -4
Hi.
I feed a half and half mix of Gerri Gerbil and various other commercial foods, varying the brands. One of my gerbils' favorites is Kaytee Fiesta.
When the food thread was going before, I mentioned that I pick the pumpkin seeds and raisins out of the Gerri Gerbil. Someone replied that there weren't that many and that they helped make Gerri Gerbil a balanced food. I wanted to clarify that, although I do pick them from the food, I hand-feed them as treats.
My gerbils seem healthy and active, so what I'm feeding seems to be working pretty well--but I'm always open to new ideas.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 5, 2004 23:04:21 GMT -4
I have posted on numerous "food" threads. So let me summarize.
LM Vita Vittles often changes its Gerbil Gold formula - if it has whole corn in it they are selling hamster mix as gerbil mix, and for more money. Do not buy it and complain. I can sometimes still find the real LM VV Gold Gerbil mix, and that is fine. LM Bonanza mix is more suitable for hamsters, but as hams are less likelty to eat the colored bits I give most of those to the gerbs, but my gerbs never eat whole corn. I sometimes take the colored bits (dried veggies and fruit) and put them inside cheese or baby food to get the hams to eat more of it.
That is what I mostly give them, along with the occasional treat such as more peanuts, a pumpkin seed, bits of cheese, cooked egg whites, baby food, and of course veggies.
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Post by rasputin on Jan 6, 2004 2:20:55 GMT -4
My Pet Supplies Plus stopped carrying Kaytee Fiesta, so I'm using a brand whose name I cannot recall. It does include whole corn. My gerbs love whole corn! But if I can find Fiesta on sale in bulk again, I'm there!
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Post by jeannie on Jan 6, 2004 13:48:02 GMT -4
I use a combination of different mixes - Gerri Gerbil, Kaytee Exact and Hagen Gourmet, and add in some Kashi, which is highly recommended by people at AGS. Apparently gerbils mixes (in the US at least) tend to be low in grains, so the Kashi is a great way to supplement their diet.
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Post by angelic on Jan 6, 2004 14:26:27 GMT -4
I stick to Gerri Gerbil. I bought something different over Christmas, that had extracts of turkey in it (thought it would be seasonal), but it was rubbish. gerbs didn't like it, and I got through a bag in 2 weeks, whereas Gerri Gerb lasts me about a month.
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Post by calvinator1 on Jan 7, 2004 10:41:04 GMT -4
Jeannie, do they have a preference on the Kashi? I've seen puffed, crunchy and honey.
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Post by gerbilsandme on Jan 7, 2004 15:55:37 GMT -4
Jeannie, do they have a preference on the Kashi? I've seen puffed, crunchy and honey. I'll let Jeannie answer for herself, but I thought I'd chime in with how I use Kashi. I buy both the Puffed Kashi and Kashi Pilaf. I use the Puffed Kashi as a hand-fed treat. It makes an incredible hand-taming tool. Many days, my gerbils are at least as interested in Puffed Kashi as they are in sunflower seeds. I mix the Kashi Pilaf in with my regular gerbil food. I use about 20% Kashi Pilaf to give my gerbils some extra grains. The other types of Kashi I've seen are all sweetened, so I've stayed away from those, but the Puffed and Pilaf have been great.
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Post by adara on Jan 7, 2004 19:38:31 GMT -4
I use Gerri Gerbil, and always have for the past 8 years
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 7, 2004 21:35:17 GMT -4
I started a thread on the Hamster forum about "Living World Hamster/Gerbil" food. Please all check it out and add any comments there or here.
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Post by rasputin on Jan 12, 2004 3:04:29 GMT -4
I got some Kashi (puffed) for the gerbs -- and I'm starting to like it myself.
Youse guys are dangerous -- I may have to start eating breakfast again!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 12, 2004 5:16:54 GMT -4
I never eat cereal - too many refined carhohydrates (protein bars and shakes instead), although the puffed kashi is pretty good and the critters do seem to like it.
Looks like the REAL gerbil LM VV gerbil food is being phased out; I could only find smaller bags of it at the Nassau Street Petland Discounts. in NYC; the bigger bags were the hamster mix in the gerbil bag.
I have never seen any of my twelve gerbils touch whole corn. And they have left scores of kernels I had to remove. I will try it again and see what happens.
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Post by rasputin on Jan 12, 2004 5:23:27 GMT -4
I wonder if it's a New York vs. Kentucky thing?
As I said, they eat the corn happily -- it's almost as popular as the seeds.
I don't buy the LM, though -- I want to know what I'm paying for, not be tricked.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 12, 2004 6:13:06 GMT -4
I know what it is - hamster food disguised as gerbil food. But I'd never buy the alleged "gerbil" food as it is costlier than the hamster mix, that at Petland Discounts here in NYC.
I complained to both PD and LM without any results, why I look for other brands.
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Post by jeannie on Jan 12, 2004 13:45:48 GMT -4
Glad to hear the puffed Kashi was a hit. My gerbils sure like it.
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