Table salt is made up of just under 40% sodium by weight, so a 6 g serving (1 teaspoon) contains about 2,300 mg of sodium.
Salt is present in most foods, but in naturally occurring foodstuffs such as meats, vegetables, and fruit, it is present in very small quantities.
It is often added to processed foods (such as canned foods and especially salted foods, pickled foods, and snack foods or other convenience foods), where it functions as both a preservative and a flavoring. (source)
Can gerbils eat salt?
No they can’t unfortunately. Salt is incredibly bad for them and should be avoided altogether.
Eating it in foods let alone eating pure salt will harm them and cause the problems.
It is best avoided altogether whether in foods or on its own.
For more foods that gerbils can and can’t eat, check out our gerbil food list